A warmed-over, locally developed version of Hyundai’s best-selling hatch prepares for its final fling.

WHAT IS IT? Hyundai’s last-gasp effort to spice up the showroom appeal of its i30 SR hatch before the second series is superseded by an all-new model.

WHY WE’RE TESTING IT The Hyundai i30 is the best-selling car in Australia so far this year, and this revision ups driver involvement by adding flappy paddle shifters to auto versions. Right now, the SR is as close as we get to the impending i30 N Performance, and it’s worth reminding ourselves about how far Hyundai has come.

MAIN RIVALS Mazda 3 SP25, Ford Focus Sport, Holden Cruze SRi Z-Series

THE WHEELS VERDICT A little extra fruit should help move the last batch of warmed-over i30 SRs. The peppy, practical small hatch does a believable rendition of a fun to drive, every day car.

PLUS: Ride and handling balance, well-appointed interior, five-year warranty MINUS: Dull steering, out-powered by competitors, about to be replaced

Hyundai i30 car

Rather than let the current car leave quietly, Hyundai has upped the allure of its sporty i30 SR warm hatch with cosmetic interior and exterior upgrades, and paddle shifters in automatic models.

Pricing stays at $26,550 for a six-speed manual version, with a six-speed auto costing $2300 more.

Momentum comes from the same all-alloy “Nu” engine as before – a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol unit generating 124kW and 201Nm. It’s satisfyingly eager spinning to redline and has a good serve of useable torque, although slight top-end buzz lacks refinement.

Hyundai i30 interior

It’s no couch potato, though. The development credo for i30 SR was “fun to drive” and the car does quite a respectable job of fulfilling it. The locally calibrated suspension is a standout element, offering a ride that is firm and well controlled, and sending road surface feedback to the driver without letting bumps become intrusive. Over patchy rural roads the package feels expertly screwed together.

New paddle shifters for the auto model raise driver involvement even though the box is a little lazy on downshifts. It does a fine job otherwise, and is well suited to the i30’s urban home ground. Ratios are shorter in the auto and it feels marginally quicker with the throttle pinned.

Hyundai i30 price review

The interior feels convincingly upmarket, especially when fitted with the panoramic glass sunroof available as a $2000 option on SR models and as standard on SR Premium. For an extra $4700, the SR Premium adds HID headlights and satellite navigation.

With the new model so close, this minor update doesn’t address the i30’s flawed steering or lack of safety tech such as autonomous emergency braking and blind spot monitoring. What it does is make an already popular warm hatchback a sharper proposition for buyers.

SPECS Model: Hyundai i30 SR Engine: 1999cc, 4cyl, dohc, 16v Max power: 124kW @ 6500rpm Max torque: 201Nm @ 4700rpm Transmission: 6-speed auto Weight: 1283kg Fuel economy: 7.7L/100km Price: $28,850 On sale: Now