• Unexciting but logical dashboard layout
• Crisp 10.25-inch infotainment system
• Handy seven-inch display between gauges

How is the quality and the layout?

Good. The dashboard feels very sturdy, and you have to look deep into the footwells before you find any cheap plastics. The switchgear feels equally positive and, thankfully, Hyundai hasn’t buried the climate controls in a sub-menu on the touchscreen. Instead, there’s a series of buttons under the screen, which you can use without pulling your eyes off the road.

When it was launched, the i30 Fastback was offered with a full complement of trim-levels, but now, you can only have Hyundai’s the range-topping N-Line and N specifications. These both come with electrically adjustable sports seats trimmed in quality fabric upholstery.

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Infotainment and tech

Unlike its hatchback sibling, every i30 Fastback comes with a 10.25-inch infotainment system and a seven-inch display set into the analogue gauge cluster. The touchscreen is great – the graphics are sharp and it’s quick to respond to your inputs. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also come as standard.

The digital gauge screen is a useful tool. It was added as part of the i30’s recent facelift and displays information like the car’s speed, gear, average fuel consumption and range. It also changes colour depending on which driving mode you’re using, glowing green in Eco mode, blue in Normal and red in Sport.

Comfort

• Supportive sports seats as standard
• Plenty of adjustment in steering column
• Large wheels produce a choppy ride

Hyundai thought carefully about how to make the i30 hatch a comfortable car – and most of that engineering has filtered into the Fastback model. But, as it’s only available in the firm’s two most sporty trim levels (both of which come with lowered sports suspension), the ride is a bit firmer than the standard i30. The suspension isn’t harsh enough to rattle your fillings out, though.

Hyundai’s bucket seats offer plenty of support, especially in the bends where the strong side bolsters pin you in place like a wrestler. The seats can also be tweaked in an almost infinite fashion – and they feature extendable thigh supports – meaning anyone should be able to get comfortable behind the wheel.

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Our biggest gripe is Hyundai’s choice of wheels. Yes, we know big wheels look sporty – but the 18-inch alloys fitted to the i30 Fastback have impacted the car’s ride quality. The effect isn’t as bad here as on some rivals, but the lack of sidewall makes for quite a choppy ride on back roads, especially over sharp bumps.