RE: BMW M235i Gran Coupe vs. Hyundai i30 Fastback N

[big_rob_sydney]

It's st like this that makes me despair for ICE's. Think about it; BMW have had years to come up with a new design. And this is what the world gets? BMW are getting smashed in their home country by an American firm (Tesla) in markets within which they compete, and this is the piss poor effort they come up with? And now the once-fabled firm is beaten by an upstart...

I've been wondering what to replace my car with, and it has me thinking that even brand new ICE's just aren't doing it today, so how will they be in a year or two from now? I suspect these type of cars will just make me hang on to my current car for a little longer, before taking the plunge into electric.

Just one more reason.

[BevR]

Dale487 said:

Without even reading the review - purely based on looks and the 25% lower as test price - it has to be the Hyundai for me.

Even normally you can get the Hyundai for ~£28k and for the black Friday weekend they did an offer where you could get a new one for ~£23k. That's brings it to closer to half the cost.

I was considering one but parts of the car just felt a little to cheap, I knew where the money had been spent and I am sure its a fantastic drive but it was going to be my only car and I dont think the SO would have put up with it.

Still think they look great on the road.

[Demonix]

These 2 cars are so bland and mundane this £30-45k compact 4 door segment is beige motoring, would take the budget and spend it on something used and exciting but most of all better looking!

[redhanded]

There seems little to commend 'prestige' car brands in this sector now. Back in the day the gulf in style and substance was such that BMW and Mercedes etc. were rightly prized. Not so much any more.

[Jim the Sunderer]

"It's the ultimate driving machine!"

S. Wonder, 2020.

[culpz]

I think I prefer this fastback version over the hatchback, as it just looks a bit less awkward and fussy from the back.

I’ve been a big advocate of BMW needing switch up their interiors for a while now, but I’m just not convinced on the digital dials. The rest looks fairly decent though.

The thing is, you just know that BMW will sell this new era of cars by the bucketload, yet Hyundai will struggle in comparison.

[nickfrog]

big_rob_sydney said:

I've been wondering what to replace my car with, and it has me thinking that even brand new ICE's just aren't doing it today, so how will they be in a year or two from now? I suspect these type of cars will just make me hang on to my current car

A BMW dealer will happily sell you a M2, new or used. I just got one and it's brilliant.

[justa1972]

Good grief BMW are producing some stunningly ugly cars at the moment ?!!?

Who the heck signed that monstrosity off ?

Absolutely hideous !!

[Amanitin]

out of these two you should get the Kia Proceed GT.

[Vee12V]

Never thought I'd say this but I'd take this Hyundai over the BM any day of the week. Kudos to the Koreans.

[DanielSan]

I'd go i30N in hatchback form personally.

[Murphy16]

I live on a military camp and there's a carpark out the front of our barrack blocks. The block is full of youngish 19-28 year old lads and the car park is a sea of M140s, S3s and Golf Rs, as no one really has any bills. There was a brand new white 1 series in M Sport trim and some guy came outside with his friends to go somewhere in it, and his mates absolutely ripped him apart for how it looked. He looked genuinely gutted, he was obviously proud of it before but good god it's ugly. He said he only got it because it was good monthly deal.

[loop swing]

I find it alarming how quickly adding options can add up. The more 'budget' brands seem to offer their cars with minimal options available and plenty of kit standard off the bat. Hyundai and Suzuki are two manufacturers that spring to mind instantly. Even Honda tend to only have very limited (and usually) trim related options.
To me, the 'as tested' figures here show the comparison between manufacturers from different ends of the market.

[RichFN2]

Demonix said:

These 2 cars are so bland and mundane this £30-45k compact 4 door segment is beige motoring, would take the budget and spend it on something used and exciting but most of all better looking!

If you want 300ish bhp, 4WD, 2.0 litre 4 cylinder, reserved styling in an average sized car that can creep to over £40k with a few options ticked then you are spoilt for choice!

They might not be to everyone's taste but atleast the FK8 Type R and latest Megane RS stand out from the crowd and are a hoot to drive

[Jon_S_Rally]

DaveyBoyWonder said:

Second response in and spot on. I clicked on the link expecting to just respond "BMW every time". Then I saw it. Jesus christ... I know the front ends on these new BMWs are gopping but what the hell is going on with the rear? I suppose you don't get to look at it whilst you're driving which is a good thing but think of all the kids you'll make cry as you drive past.

The Hyundai isn't much better in the looks department. Usual middle of the road nothing-too-flash, nothing-too-out-of-this-world, seamlessly melt into a Tesco car park without anyone batting an eyelid.

Surely this can't be the pinnacle of what £40k buys you? Surely?

Thankfully the i30 is nowhere near £40k!

Demonix said:

These 2 cars are so bland and mundane this £30-45k compact 4 door segment is beige motoring, would take the budget and spend it on something used and exciting but most of all better looking!

Have you driven either of them? The Hyundai is brilliant and not mundane in the slightest. What warranty will your used car have, out of interest? Fve years, like the Hyundai, I assume?

[anonymous-user]

Triumph Man said:

cerb4.5lee said:

aston addict said:

Both look ste.

Agree and both are a terrible colour as well. These two cars make me question why I'm actually interested in cars at all. I hope that they are much more exciting to drive than they are to look at for sure.

Coming to a high street, farting and popping, near you soon.

I don't even see them making the high streets on a good lease deal. Yoofs will stick with the AMG A class and Golf R I think.

[3yardy3]

Let's face it the next 10 years is people making the decision to keep a fun mechanical car for a little bit longer before the inevitable electric-only choice is mainstream.

With that being said BMW and others seem to be building these hideous cars that don't really fall into any category with ease. It's still mechanical but lacks fun, it's damn ugly (Subjective but as trends go most people agree), it's not actually any better in real-world running costs than previous models. surely it's just making people keep their existing car longer?

[Ray_Aber]

The BMW is clumsy looking to my eyes, with jarring dash graphics. Long gone is the elegant dash of the E46. The Hyundai is a better resolved design, but it's still rather anodyne.

If driving dynamics were not the be all and end all, I would instead buy the Audi S3 saloon. It's the most attractive car in its class for me, with good performance and a decent dash inside. It splits these two on price, but would give me the feel good factor of ownership.

Where are BMW going with their styling? I though that Bangle was bad (I still really do not like the E60), but Hooydonk presides over an appalling mess of styling. Was it only 8 years ago that the 6 Gran Coupé was released?

[Limpet]

Jon_S_Rally said:

Have you driven either of them? The Hyundai is brilliant and not mundane in the slightest. What warranty will your used car have, out of interest? Fve years, like the Hyundai, I assume?

Agree totally.

Did pretty well in the hot hatch megatest in EVO a few issues back too (second only to the CTR).

I also suspect that once you raid the BMWs options list to give it the spec that comes as standard on the i30, and you consider real world prices, the BMW will be getting on for half as expensive again as the Hyundai.

[philmots]

Surely you’d just buy the CLA35

It looks great, has the German polished feel and is a really decent drive.