• Standard 1.5-litre petrol is frugal enough
• Automatic model slightly more efficient
• N Performance model trades economy for speed

What are the running costs?

Hyundai says the i30 Fastback is as economical as the standard i30 hatchback. Combined WLTP fuel economy figures for the 1.5-litre four-cylinder N-Line variant are rated at 44.8mpg for the manual model and 46.3mpg for the automatic. 

These figures are thanks in part to the engine’s 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which features a compact motor/generator connected to the crankshaft via a belt. It harvests the energy that would otherwise be lost when the car is decelerating, stores it in a battery pack and uses it to assist the engine when accelerating for better economy.

The flagship i30 Fastback N Performance doesn’t have this technology, which means it’s a lot less efficient. Hyundai says the manual model will return 35.3mpg on the WLTP combined cycle, while the automatic musters 33.6mpg. However, we’d say that’s a fair price to pay for the amount of extra performance you get.

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Servicing and warranty

Hyundai offers a five-year unlimited mileage warranty with all of its cars, along with a 12-year anti-perforation warranty for the bodywork. Buyers also receive 12 months of free roadside assistance – and Hyundai will renew the package for free each time you take the car back to an authorised dealership for its annual service.

Hyundai also sells a customisable service plan that allows buyers to spread the cost of maintenance. Term lengths range from 12 months to 10 years, and the cost of annual MOTs can be bundled into the same plan. We price-checked the service plan with a quote for a 1.5-litre i30 Fastback N-Line. At the time of writing, a three-year contract for the car (with MOTs included) was separated into 30 monthly payments of £29.81, followed by a final payment of £29.66. The total cost of the plan over the three years worked out at £923.96.

Reliability

Like the standard i30 hatchback, the i30 Fastback has proven itself to be a reliable car. The only fault the i30 has suffered since it was launched in 2016 is some incorrect sunroof motor software – but that issue only affected cars that were built in 2018.

The i30 Fastback’s engine and gearboxes are also tried and tested units found in other Hyundai Group vehicles, such as the Kia Ceed and the Hyundai Tucson. We haven’t heard any mechanical horror stories from those cars, so the i30 should be a safe bet.