Hyundai i30 · GD
Generation 2 2012–2017
Designed in Rüsselsheim and built in Nošovice, the GD is the car that made Hyundai a mainstream European choice. Simple, roomy and extremely cheap to run, with a five-year warranty that means many Polish examples are first-owner cars with dealer history. Petrol 1.6 GDI and diesel 1.6 CRDi are the mainstream engines; the Wagon (kombi) is one of the most practical estates for the money. Not exciting, rarely broken.
Photo: OSX · Public domain
Recognition
How to tell it apart
- •Pre-facelift (2012–2015): large hexagonal grille with a mesh insert, swept-back halogen headlamps, LED daytime lights in a vertical fog-lamp bezel
- •Facelift (2015–2017): slimmer grille with horizontal chrome bars, reshaped lower bumper, new alloy designs; Turbo has a black grille, red accents and twin tailpipes
- •Three bodies: 5-door hatchback, 3-door (i30 3-door / 'coupé' in some markets) and the long-roof Wagon
2015 facelift (MY2015)
- Revised hexagonal grille with horizontal bars, new bumpers and LED daytime running lights integrated in the fog-lamp surrounds
- 1.6 CRDi updated to 136 hp with the new 7-speed dual clutch (7DCT) as the automatic option
- 1.6 T-GDI 186 hp 'Turbo' added with sport styling, twin exhausts and a firmer chassis
- New navigation with a 7-inch touchscreen and a lightly refreshed interior
Engines
Engines
1.4 MPI · 100 hp
2012–2017
Petrol · Manual · FWD
Port-injected base petrol; slow but almost unbreakable and happy on LPG. The right engine for a city car on a budget, not for a loaded Wagon.
1.6 GDI · 135 hp
2012–2017
Petrol · Manual / Automatic · FWD
The mainstream petrol: direct injection, timing chain, 6-speed manual or a conventional 6-speed automatic. Brisk enough, economical, and the automatic is a torque converter rather than a dual clutch, a real plus.
1.6 T-GDI (Turbo) · 186 hp
2015–2017
Petrol · Manual · FWD
Warm hatch with the Veloster Turbo engine, manual only. Quick in a straight line, not a hot hatch; rare in Poland and a curiosity rather than a collector piece.
1.4 CRDi · 90 hp
2012–2017
Diesel · Manual · FWD
Frugal small diesel with a DPF and a dual-mass flywheel; adequate in the hatchback, slow in the Wagon. Only makes sense for very high annual mileage.
1.6 CRDi · 110 hp
2012–2015
Diesel · Manual · FWD
Lower-output tune of the same diesel as the 128; fleet favourite. Ask about DPF regeneration and clutch history rather than the engine itself.
1.6 CRDi · 128 hp
2012–2015
Diesel · Manual / Automatic · FWD
The best pre-facelift diesel: 128 hp with a 6-speed manual or a torque-converter automatic. Durable, 5 l/100 km on the motorway, chain-driven cams.
1.6 CRDi · 136 hp
2015–2017
Diesel · Manual / Dual-clutch automatic · FWD
Facelift diesel; the manual is the one to have. The automatic is the 7-speed dry dual clutch (7DCT), which must be test-driven from cold for judder.
| Engine | For sale now | Years | Gearbox · drive | Sought after | Robust | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.4 MPI · 100 hp Petrol · Gamma 1.4 MPI (G4FA) | 337 | 2012–2017 | Manual FWD | Port-injected base petrol; slow but almost unbreakable and happy on LPG. The right engine for a city car on a budget, not for a loaded Wagon. | ||
1.6 GDI · 135 hp Petrol · Gamma 1.6 GDI (G4FD) | 157 | 2012–2017 | Manual / Automatic FWD | The mainstream petrol: direct injection, timing chain, 6-speed manual or a conventional 6-speed automatic. Brisk enough, economical, and the automatic is a torque converter rather than a dual clutch, a real plus. | ||
1.6 T-GDI (Turbo) · 186 hp Petrol · i30 Turbo · Gamma 1.6 T-GDI (G4FJ) | 18 | 2015–2017 | Manual FWD | Warm hatch with the Veloster Turbo engine, manual only. Quick in a straight line, not a hot hatch; rare in Poland and a curiosity rather than a collector piece. | ||
1.4 CRDi · 90 hp Diesel · U-II 1.4 CRDi (D4FC) | 70 | 2012–2017 | Manual FWD | Frugal small diesel with a DPF and a dual-mass flywheel; adequate in the hatchback, slow in the Wagon. Only makes sense for very high annual mileage. | ||
1.6 CRDi · 110 hp Diesel · U-II 1.6 CRDi (D4FB) | 184 | 2012–2015 | Manual FWD | Lower-output tune of the same diesel as the 128; fleet favourite. Ask about DPF regeneration and clutch history rather than the engine itself. (some details unverified) | ||
1.6 CRDi · 128 hp Diesel · U-II 1.6 CRDi (D4FB) | 27 | 2012–2015 | Manual / Automatic FWD | The best pre-facelift diesel: 128 hp with a 6-speed manual or a torque-converter automatic. Durable, 5 l/100 km on the motorway, chain-driven cams. | ||
1.6 CRDi · 136 hp Diesel · U-II 1.6 CRDi (D4FB) | 23 | 2015–2017 | Manual / Dual-clutch automatic FWD | Facelift diesel; the manual is the one to have. The automatic is the 7-speed dry dual clutch (7DCT), which must be test-driven from cold for judder. |
Versions
What the badges mean
Classic
commonbase
2012–2017
Entry trim: manual air conditioning, steel wheels or small alloys, radio without touchscreen. Many fleet and taxi cars.
Comfort
commonequipment line
2012–2017
The volume trim: automatic climate, heated seats, Bluetooth, alloys, cruise control. The sensible target.
Style
commonequipment line
2012–2017
Comfort plus 16/17-inch wheels, heated steering wheel, LED daytime lights, rear camera with navigation on many cars.
Premium
uncommonequipment line
2012–2017
Top trim: leather, Smart Key, panoramic roof on many, navigation, 17-inch wheels. Uncommon on GD because Polish buyers stopped at Comfort or Style.
Turbo
rareperformance model
2015–2017
The 186 hp 1.6 T-GDI with sport bumpers, black grille, red interior accents, twin exhausts and firmer suspension. A distinct model, not a sticker pack.
Watch out: Some sellers write 'Turbo' on any turbocharged diesel; the GD Turbo is petrol, 186 hp and manual.
Go!
uncommonspecial edition
2016–2017
Run-out special edition on Comfort basis with 16-inch alloys, navigation with camera and a few cosmetic touches; good value when priced as a Comfort.
Options
Options that matter
uncommon
Smart Key with push-button start
Premium-level feature on GD; marks a well-specified car.
uncommon
Panoramic glass roof
Premium-only option; adds light but also creaks and a heavier roof on an otherwise simple car.
uncommon
Leather upholstery
Premium trim; rare on GD and a strong sign of a top-spec order.
uncommon
Factory navigation (7-inch touchscreen)
Adds the reversing camera and a nicer console; dated maps but reliable hardware.
common
Heated front seats
Standard from Comfort in Poland; its absence points to a base Classic or a grey import.
common
Heated steering wheel
Hyundai's signature cheap-to-have comfort item; Style and Premium cars usually have it.
uncommon
Reversing camera
Bundled with navigation; useful on the Wagon.
common
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Comfort and above; Classic cars have manual air conditioning.
common
Rear parking sensors
Common but not universal on Classic cars.
uncommon
Tow bar
Common on Wagons and diesels; check it was fitted properly and that the clutch has not towed a caravan to death.
common
17-inch alloy wheels
Style/Premium and Turbo; cosmetic, slightly firmer ride.
Before you buy
What to know
Strengths
- +Simple, durable mechanicals: chain-driven engines, conventional automatic on 1.6 GDI/CRDi, no rust problems
- +Five-year Hyundai warranty means a large share of Polish cars are first-owner with complete dealer history
- +Very cheap parts and labour, and every independent garage knows the car
- +Wagon offers 528 litres of boot in a car priced like a supermini
Expensive when they fail
7DCT clutch pack1.6 GDI high-pressure fuel systemDiesel DPF
Polish market
One of the most common used compacts in Poland, with an unusually high share of Polish-registered, first-owner, dealer-serviced cars thanks to the five-year warranty. The 1.6 CRDi Wagon dominates the diesel supply (much of it ex-fleet); 1.6 GDI and 1.4 MPI hatchbacks are the private-owner cars. Prices are low and flat, spend the extra on a documented Comfort or Style rather than on a cheaper Classic.
Known weak points
- moderate1.6 GDI direct injectionHigh-pressure fuel pump and injector wear at high mileage, carbon deposits on intake valves, and a timing chain tensioner that can rattle when cold after 150,000 km. Not epidemic, but the engine to inspect rather than assume.Check: Ask for a cold-start video (listen for a two-second chain rattle), check for rough idle and any fuel-pressure fault codes.
- moderateDiesel clutch and dual-mass flywheelThe 1.4 and 1.6 CRDi wear the clutch and DMF by 150,000–200,000 km, and many were fleet cars. A replacement runs 3,000–4,500 PLN.Check: Feel for judder pulling away and a rattling idle that quietens with the clutch pressed; ask whether the DMF was replaced.
- moderateDPF and EGR on short-trip dieselsCity-driven CRDi cars clog the particulate filter and soot up the EGR; forced regenerations and removed filters are common on cheap cars.Check: Ask how the car was used; check for a DPF warning and whether the filter is original (removal fails the Polish inspection).
- moderate7DCT dry dual clutch (2015+ 1.6 CRDi automatic)Hyundai's first dry dual clutch judders in traffic and can wear its clutch pack early; the torque-converter automatic of the earlier 128 hp car does not have this problem.Check: Test drive from cold in stop-and-go traffic; any shudder in first and second gear is a reason to walk away or renegotiate.
- moderateElectric power steering column couplingThe flexible coupling in the MDPS steering column wears, producing a clunk or knock over bumps and a vague centre. Cheap part, common complaint on all Hyundai/Kia of this era.Check: Rock the steering wheel left-right with the engine off and listen for a knock from the column.
- noteAir conditioning compressor and evaporatorCompressor clutch failures and evaporator leaks appear after 8–10 years; a recharge that lasts a week is the giveaway.Check: Confirm the air conditioning blows genuinely cold and ask when it was last serviced.
- moderateFleet, taxi and rental historyThe GD was a favourite of Polish fleets and taxi companies, so odometer plausibility and interior wear matter more than usual.Check: Compare wear of the driver's seat bolster, steering wheel and pedals with the stated mileage; check the vehicle history report.
- noteRear brakes and handbrakeRear discs corrode and the handbrake cables seize on cars that sit; a cheap but common inspection failure.Check: Check handbrake holds on a slope and look at rear disc surfaces.
From the market
Real cars on sale right now
From the market
Engines actually on sale
Grouped from 832 live listings: what people are selling, at what price and mileage.
| Engine | Share | Typical price | Median mileage | Gearbox · drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1.4 Petrol · 100 hp 1.4 Classic | 38% | 29 900 PLN | 143 000 km | Manual · FWD / RWD |
1.6 Diesel · 110 hp 1.6 CRDi Comfort | 20% | 24 800 PLN | 197 600 km | Manual / Automatic · FWD / RWD |
1.6 Petrol · 135 hp i30cw 1.6 Fifa World Cup Edition | 16% | 32 999 PLN | 170 849 km | Manual / Automatic · FWD |
1.4 Diesel · 90 hp 1.4 CRDi Classic + | 8% | 19 999 PLN | 191 254 km | Manual / Automatic · FWD / RWD |
1.6 Petrol · 120 hp 1.6 Classic + | 3% | 29 800 PLN | 160 000 km | Manual / Automatic · FWD |
1.6 Diesel · 128 hp 1.6 CRDi Style | 3% | 24 800 PLN | 201 500 km | Manual / Automatic · FWD |
1.6 Diesel · 136 hp 1.6 CRDi Premium | 3% | 32 800 PLN | 177 200 km | Manual / Automatic · FWD |
1.4 Petrol · 109 hp 1.4 Blue Comfort | 2% | 25 900 PLN | 162 900 km | Manual · FWD |
From the market
Price by model year
Typical price and mileage for each model year on sale.
From the market
Most common versions
- Classic46
- Comfort41
- Style40
- Classic +31
- Premium30
- Fifa World Cup Edition16
- Trend15
- Advantage13
From the market
Equipment seen most often
Electric front windows 100%Radio 97%USB socket 97%Power steering 94%Passenger airbag 94%Fog lights 91%ABS 91%ESP stability control 91%Driver airbag 91%Bluetooth 88%Steering wheel audio controls 88%Front side airbags 88%Front curtain airbags 85%Traction control 82%
Our picks
Versions worth looking for
1.6 GDI Comfort or Style, manual or 6AT, Polish first owner
Durable, cheap to run, no dual clutch and no DPF; the best GD for most buyers.
1.6 CRDi 128 Wagon with a 6-speed manual for high-mileage drivers
Pre-facelift diesel with the conventional gearbox options and 5 l/100 km; confirm DMF and DPF history.
1.4 MPI Comfort as a first car or LPG runabout
Slow but essentially unbreakable and the cheapest to insure and fuel.