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Hyundai i20 vs Hyundai i30 comparison

Compare performance (90 HP vs 150 HP), boot space and price (18,600 £ vs 24,600 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Hyundai i20 or Hyundai i30?

Hyundai i20 vs Hyundai i30: Key differences

Hyundai i20

4 (1 Reviews)
rate
  • noticeably cheaper
  • marginally more efficient
  • a bit lighter
details

Hyundai i30

4.3 (2 Reviews)
rate
  • noticeably more power
  • noticeably quicker 0–100 km/h
  • a bit more trunk space
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All details on performance, efficiency, range and trunk space can be found in the technical comparison below – including user reviews for both models.

By Achim Sedelmaier

i20

Hyundai i20 VS Hyundai i30 — concise comparison for buyers

Hyundai i20 VS Hyundai i30 pits a compact, value-focused hatch against a more substantial, comfort-oriented compact. The Hyundai i20 leans into city agility, lower entry price and surprising interior room for its segment, while the Hyundai i30 aims for composed motorway behavior and stronger engine choices. That means the i20 will often feel lighter on its feet and kinder on the wallet, whereas the i30 gives a steadier, more assured experience when distances and loads grow. Read on to see which trade-offs matter for your daily use rather than spec-sheet wins.

i30

Character and driving feel

The Hyundai i20 feels chirpy and city-friendly with easy steering and a compact footprint that makes urban manoeuvres simple, but its engine and gearbox deliver only modest excitement. By contrast, the Hyundai i30 presents a calmer, more grown-up character: it accelerates with more authority and rewards motorway overtakes with confidence. That extra muscle in the i30 makes it less nervous under load, while the i20’s lighter setup translates to a more playful, predictable feel around town. Choose the i20 if you want nimbleness and fuss-free parking, pick the i30 if a relaxed, effortless pace on longer runs is your priority.

i20

Comfort and long-distance behavior

On long trips the Hyundai i30 shows its strengths with a more settled ride and a quieter cabin when motorway speeds dominate, so it tires drivers and passengers less over hours on the road. The Hyundai i20 is no slouch for short journeys, but it tends to feel firmer over city bumps and lets more wind and tyre noise into the cabin at higher speeds. If most of your mileage is cross-country or you regularly carry passengers on long stints, the i30’s composure will be appreciated; if your routes are short and urban the i20’s firmer setup feels more direct and efficient. Both are comfortable at moderate speeds, but their comfort priorities are different—sportier agility for the i20 versus relaxed cruising for the i30.

i30

Practicality and family usability

The Hyundai i20 punches above its size with roomy front and rear seats for the class and a generously useable boot that works well for everyday family tasks. The Hyundai i30, particularly in its Tourer form, is the more practical choice if you regularly load bulky items or need a lower loading sill and wider aperture. In the hatch comparison the i30’s boot shape and payload feel a touch more flexible, but the i20’s clever packaging keeps it highly competitive for two adults and a couple of kids. For parents who prioritise easy loading, long trips and luggage space the i30 Tourer is the clearer fit, while city-centric families will value the i20’s compact convenience and surprising interior room.

i20

Cabin feel, controls and perceived quality

Both Hyundai i20 and Hyundai i30 favour straightforward layouts with plenty of physical controls, so neither overwhelms with gimmicks—but that sensible approach also exposes older graphics and abundant hard plastics. The i20’s abundance of tactile buttons makes daily operation fast and familiar, although some reviewers find its infotainment slower to respond. The i30’s interior reads slightly more mature and composed on long drives, yet it too shows signs of being conservative rather than cutting-edge. If you care most about modern screens and premium materials, neither will feel like a top-tier rival, but the i20 gives better value for a pragmatic, button-first cockpit while the i30 feels marginally more assured for regular motorway use.

i30

Which buyer suits each car — practical fit and next steps

If your life is mostly urban commuting, tight parking and shopping runs, the Hyundai i20 matches that rhythm: lower entry cost, nimble handling and generous usable space for its class. If your priorities tilt toward motorway comfort, stronger on-demand performance and greater cargo flexibility (especially in Tourer form), the Hyundai i30 is better aligned with longer trips and heavier loads. Both are rational choices built around different trade-offs — the i20 trades outright power and long-distance hush for price and manoeuvrability, while the i30 trades a bit more cost and heft for composure and muscle. Use this fit guidance to focus which technical details matter most to you before jumping into the spec sheet and a test drive.

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

i20

Costs and Efficiency:

Price and efficiency are key factors when choosing a car – and this is often where the real differences emerge.

Hyundai i20 is noticeably cheaper – starting at 18,600 £ , while the Hyundai i30 costs 24,600 £ . That’s a price difference of around 5,957 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Hyundai i20 uses 5.7 L/100km and is marginally more efficient than the Hyundai i30 with 5.9 L/100km. The difference is about 0.2 L/100km.

i30

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration are the classic benchmarks for car enthusiasts – and here, some clear differences start to show.

When it comes to engine power, the Hyundai i30 offers noticeably more power – delivering 150 HP compared to 90 HP. That’s roughly 60 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Hyundai i30 is noticeably quicker – completing the sprint in 8.9 s, while the Hyundai i20 takes 11.5 s. That’s about 2.6 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Hyundai i30 delivers clearly more torque with 250 Nm compared to 172 Nm. That’s about 78 Nm more.

i20

Space and Everyday Use:

Beyond pure performance, interior space and usability matter most in daily life. This is where you see which car is more practical and versatile.

Both vehicles offer seating for 5 people.

In terms of curb weight, Hyundai i20 is a bit lighter – 1,145 kg compared to 1,315 kg. The difference is around 170 kg.

Looking at boot space, the Hyundai i30 offers a bit more boot space – 395 L compared to 352 L. That’s a difference of about 43 L.

When it comes to payload, the Hyundai i30 carries barely more – 485 kg compared to 465 kg. That’s a difference of about 20 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Hyundai i30 holds a decisive overall lead in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from £24,600
i30

Hyundai i30

  • Engine Type : Petrol
  • Transmission : Manuel, Automatic
  • Drive Type : Front-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP : 115 - 150 HP
  • Consumption L/100km : 5.9 - 6.3 L/100km
Hyundai i20
Hyundai i30

Costs and Consumption

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Engine and Performance

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Dimensions and Body

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Hyundai i20

The Hyundai i20 is a cheeky small car that mixes smart styling with sensible practicality, feeling more polished and roomy than you might expect for the money. It’s an easy car to live with, offering engaging handling, a comfy cabin and useful equipment that make daily commutes and weekend errands notably less dull.

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Hyundai i30

The Hyundai i30 proves that sensible can also be stylish, offering a confident driving character wrapped in neat, modern design. It serves up a roomy, well-equipped cabin and composed ride that make everyday motoring feel like a clever purchase rather than a compromise.

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Hyundai i20
Hyundai i30

Costs and Consumption

Price
18,600 - 24,000 £
Price
24,600 - 31,400 £
Consumption L/100km
5.7 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
5.9 - 6.3 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
-
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
128 - 129 g/km
co2
134 - 142 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body

Body Type
Hatchback
Body Type
Hatchback
Seats
5
Seats
5
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,145 - 1,170 kg
Curb weight
1,315 - 1,435 kg
Trunk capacity
352 L
Trunk capacity
395 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,775 mm
Width
1,795 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
455 - 465 kg
Payload
445 - 485 kg

Engine and Performance

Engine Type
Petrol
Engine Type
Petrol
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Dual-Clutch Automatic
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Dual-Clutch Automatic
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Power HP
90 HP
Power HP
115 - 150 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
11.5 - 12.8 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
8.9 - 11.7 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
172 Nm
Torque
172 - 250 Nm
Number of Cylinders
3
Number of Cylinders
3 - 4
Power kW
66 kW
Power kW
85 - 110 kW
Engine capacity
998 cm3
Engine capacity
998 - 1,598 cm3

General

Model Year
2025
Model Year
2026
CO2 Efficiency Class
D
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, E
Brand
Hyundai
Brand
Hyundai
DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.