2021 Hyundai i30 facelift revealed

UPDATE 27/02/2020: Hyundai has officially uncovered the facelifted 2021 i30 small hatchback, ahead of its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

The updated i30 cops a new front end in the form of a more angular front apron, new headlights and a wider grille. The side profile remains largely similar to its predecessor but new wheel designs will feature; and around the rear there is a new set of taillights and an updated rear bumper.

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Adding more substance to the style update is a choice of new engines, including a newly-developed 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine with 82kW, a 1.0-litre turbocharged unit with 88kW, a 1.6-litre diesel engine with 100kW and finally a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with 118kW. Every engine but the naturally aspirated entry will come with 48-volt mild hybrid technology but it's worth noting that these are European engines - we are unsure what's on the Australian menu as yet.

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A pair of new digital displays are found in the new i30's interior, a 7.0-inch instrument cluster screen and new 10.25-inch infotainment screen team up to bring the Hyundai small car's interior back up to date.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring will be compatible with the new system, even wirelessly. So too, wireless smartphone charging will be available.

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Safety equipment is also boosted with the i30 update, with the new car scoring improved Hyundai SmartSense advanced safety items like Lane Following Assist which can steer you along inside a lane, Rear Collision avoidance Assist which will brake in reverse if it detects an accident and Leading Vehicle Departure Alert which wakes you up when the car in front takes off at a traffic light.

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We'll get more a of a look at the 2021 Hyundai i30 when we visit the Geneva Motor Show early next month, with European deliveries to start shortly thereafter. Aussie cars won't be around until the second half of 2020 and we'll know more about what specification we're getting closer to that date.

Click through the gallery at the top of this article to see more of the 2021 Hyundai i30.

In terms of teaser photos previewing facelifted cars, Hyundai has been remarkably generous with these revealing photos. The entire front apron is on display, and given we don't expect any great sheetmetal changes they may as well have revealed the whole thing

Looking like it’s been ripped right from the racetrack, the much more aggressive-looking i30 features sharply designed edges on the front bumper, new grille mesh and wears a low chin spoiler likely reserved for the N Line trim variation.

Speaking of which, you can expect the everyday run-of-the-mill i30 to be toned down somewhat, but nonetheless we’re excited to see whether the mean styling continues around the rest of the car.

The headlights stay fairly familiar in overall shape to its predecessor but score an aggressive V-shaped LED daytime running light arrangement for 2021.

As for the rest of the car, while you can’t see it from these images the rear of the car is said to feature a revised rear bumper, refreshed taillight cluster and new wheel designs.

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Current generation Hyundai i30 N Line

Inside, the facelifted i30 is expected to score a couple new screens in the form of a fully-digital instrument cluster and new 10.25-inch infotainment screen.

The third generation i30 dates back to 2016 and has since been surpassed by a number of its rivals like the Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3 and Ford Focus.

Expect to catch the newly facelifted Hyundai i30 at the Geneva Motor Show which kicks off from March 2, and we’ll hopefully see the car itself touching Down Under before the end of 2020.