2017 Honda Civic VTi-LX vs Hyundai i30 SR Premium comparison
Two new-generation hatches, hugely important for each brand both in simple number terms and, more importantly, making a strong argument for the attentions of increasingly savvy buyers in the small-car market.
One of these cars, the new 2017 Honda Civic, boasts a pedigree nearly 50 years old, with the same name and with a very well-regarded history of solid engineering.
The other, the new 2017 Hyundai i30, wears a badge only a few generations into its line. And, while the brand has been making variations of the small car formula for decades in its own right, its history in the west is both shorter – and far less shiny.
Still, the Civic story has not been all roses and sunshine in recent years. Underwhelming powertrains and challenging combinations of pricing and packaging have, for some models, robbed the badge of some appeal.
Hyundai, on the other hand, found plenty of fans through the first two generations of its i30, thanks both to improved product and a willingness to go hard on price. The new-generation i30 has tested well with CarAdvice, achieving scores in the realm of 8/10 and 8.5/10 in six outings since arriving in Australia two months ago.
Thankfully, the Civic is likewise back in form, having earned straight 8/10 scores in its first six visits to the CarAdvice garage and a respectable 7.5 in its most recent.
Here, Curt and Trent go for a spin in the top-shelf models in both hatch ranges: the $33,590 Civic VTi-LX and the $33,950 i30 SR Premium.
The Civic’s 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine offers 127kW and 220Nm, and the i30’s 2.0-litre turbo petrol unit dials up an even warmer 150kW and 265Nm.
Clearly there is at least one winner in at least one category for these two, but, overall, which do the blokes like best?
Catch our video above, and more coverage of both cars at the links below.
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