Enough puff?

At present we are looking at the Hyundai i30 as a good new buy. However I am not too sure if the 1.4 petrol engine would have sufficient power for long distance or Motorway driving. We took it for a test drive and it did not appear to be very responsive. All the other points on this car are very attractive, but this would be the first time I have owned a car with this sized engine. It appears the modern 1.4 is a match for the 1.6, but I am not convinced and am wondering if I should look for a vehicle with a larger engine, if not a diesel. I would be grateful for any comments you have which may help me.

Asked on 14 November 2009 by

Answered by Honest John

The Hyundai i30 1.4 is actually more powerful than the Ford Focus 1.6 and it's a sweet, very quiet, chain-cam engine. If you spend a lot of time in your car alone, then it's perfectly adequate. But if most of the use of the car is fully laden with family and luggage, then you might need more power. In which case, if you also do a lot of miles, the 1.6 diesel may be worth paying £2,000 more for.

Tags: buying small family cars new cars

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