Should I buy a Toyota Corolla Hybrid or a Hyundai i30?
2021 Toyota Corolla ZR Hybrid v Hyundai i30 N Line Premium comparison review
We compare the flagship variants of two of the most popular small cars to find out which one best meets the needs of Australian consumers.
Overview
Small cars are still very popular with Australian new car buyers despite the rise of larger and more practical SUVs, and these are two of the best.
For much of the last decade, the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai i30 and Mazda 3 have fought for honours in small car sales, but in the last couple of years the Mazda 3 has fallen away dramatically. Whether that's because of supply issues or major updates to the Corolla and i30, it's hard to say. The end result, however, is that in 2021 the Corolla and i30 are well out in front.
Between them, the Corolla and i30 account for three in every five small car sales, and there are many reasons why they're so popular. To find out, come with us as we put these two under the microscope to learn which is the better small car for Australians in 2021. And to do that, we've grabbed the top-spec, highest-equipped versions of each.
Introduction
Hyundai i30
As one of the mainstays of Australia’s small car segment, the 2021 Hyundai i30 range offers a little bit of something for everyone, from cheap runabouts to hot hatch heroes.
Second only to the Corolla in sales, the i30 includes – for the first time – sedan and hatch variants. The edgy sedan is a new design, but for now the hatch is an updated version of a model available since 2017.
In the case of the 2021 Hyundai i30 N Line Premium hatch, the updates may not appear at first glance – externally there’s not much to set the new model apart, but inside the changes are more pronounced.
Sitting just below the i30 N hot hatch hero, the i30 N Line Premium starts from $34,220 plus on-road costs base price – a comfy $10K under the i30 N, and just under $11K more than a base i30 – all when equipped with a manual transmission.
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The more popular option, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, adds $2000 to the price. Opting for one of the available premium paint finishes, like the Intense Blue seen here, adds another $495.
As far as options go, though, that’s it. The i30 N Line Premium hatch is otherwise standard with a full swag of equipment (more in a moment) – of particular note, though, are the sporty exterior styling cues.
Gloss-black mirrors, 18-inch alloy wheels, N design front and rear bumpers, a mesh grille, black bezel LED headlamps, and partial LED tail-lights all help set the N Line apart from other members of the i30 range.
In a similar vein, sport styled and warm hatch models like the closely related Kia Cerato GT, Mazda 3 G25 GT, or the Skoda Scala Monte Carlo might also fall on your consideration list – falling into a similarly sporty niche with close mid-$30K pricing.
Toyota Corolla
Though they may have fallen from grace in the Australian market, where buyers prefer SUVs over all else, cars like the Toyota Corolla still play an important part in our new car market.
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The Corolla's combination of compact size, practicality, dependability, safety, and comfort are part and parcel of the needs of many Australians. Importantly, too, they tend to remain affordable enough for everyone.
That said, the top-specification 2021 Toyota Corolla ZR Hybrid hatchback costs $34,695 before on-road costs. From a range starting just above $25,000 and towards that $35K-ish mark, is the flagship variant worth it?
The current-generation Toyota Corolla has been around since 2018 without significant update, though it carries on as the most popular small car in its segment against rivals such as the Hyundai i30 and Mazda 3.
Within Toyota’s own range, the Corolla fits the bill as the Japanese brand’s small hatchback passenger car (though it can come in a sedan body style). Bigger than the Yaris light hatch, but smaller than the Toyota Camry large sedan and incoming Corolla Cross small SUV.
Like many Toyota products these days, the Corolla is available with a hybrid powertrain. The ZR Hybrid stocks a closed-loop 1.8-litre petrol-hybrid powertrain that will help keep running costs down across the vehicle’s lifespan.
Luckily there are no extra optional equipment boxes to tick on the ZR Hybrid, but our car does wear the handsome two-tone Silver Pearl with black roof colour combo that costs $775.
Other hallmarks of the ZR Hybrid specification include bi-LED headlights, chrome and black accent trim and 18-inch alloy wheels. The accentuated bum also scores LED lights and – a little nerdy hint for you – those blue-tinged badges signify a hybrid powertrain in Toyota land.
Key details | 2021 Hyundai i30 N Line Premium | 2021 Toyota Corolla ZR Hybrid |
Price (MSRP) | $36,220 plus on-road costs | $34,695 plus on-road costs |
Colour of test car | Intense Blue | Silver Pearl with black roof |
Options | Metallic paint ($84) | Metallic paint ($775) |
Price as tested | $36,715 plus on-road costs, $40,867 drive-away (Melbourne) | $35,470 plus on-road costs, $40,321 drive-away (Melbourne) |
Inside
Hyundai i30
As one with the lot, the i30 N Line Premium carries a long list of standard equipment.
Leather-appointed seats, steering wheel and gear selector, N Line front sport seats, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, and wireless phone charging are all along for the ride.
Setting the N Line Premium apart from other models in the range are exclusive features like a powered driver’s seat, heating and ventilation for the front seats, solar-control window glass, a panoramic sunroof, and a self-dimming interior mirror.
The exterior may be dressed up in activewear, but inside there are plenty of items to pamper occupants.
With a relatively tall and upright roof line, compared to swoopier hatches like the Mazda 3 or Toyota Corolla, the i30 provides useful space for adult occupants, both front and rear.
While the front seats have a sporty profile and additional bolstering, they’re still roomy enough for freedom of movement. Rear seat passengers get a more traditional bench seat, with flash red seatbelts, and rear ventilation outlets.
As nice as it is inside, the interior presentation feels a little off the pace. The interior is certainly well-built and feels sturdy, but looks a touch dated. All the more so when you place the i30 hatch alongside its fresher sedan counterpart.
The way the infotainment screen sticks out, and the clunky digital display integration, feels like a bit of a rushed effort.
Boot space is a decent 395L to the rear seats, or 1301L with the rear bench folded. Under the boot floor is a space-saver spare tyre.
Toyota Corolla
From a wider perspective, there are relatively few ways to tell a ZR car over its lower-spec alternatives, but you do get an intuitive interior layout and enough niceties to keep you occupied and happy.
The ZR variant is highlighted by gear including a JBL premium stereo system, Ultrasuede and leather-trimmed sports seats, head-up display, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, a 7.0-inch instrument cluster display, and an 8.0-inch infotainment screen with smartphone mirroring.
In the hot seat, the Corolla presents as a competent command centre and a comfortable place to spend your life. The Ultrasuede seat inserts feel great to the touch and – in concert with the bolsters – hold you in place cosily for back-to-back corners. Small wonder that Toyota was happy to repurpose these pews inside the GR Yaris hot hatch.
In fact, the overall vibe inside is a bit sporty – but it’s not at the expense of comfort, which remains high no matter which seat you’re in. Materials use gets a pass mark on most surfaces, but some of the rarer touchpoints are covered in harder materials, which does diminish the ZR’s premium positioning somewhat.
Storage-wise, there’s just a small amount of space on offer to cater to loose items. The centre console contains two spots for drinks, but a shallow wireless charging tray and small centre console bin are about the extent of other available storage. Things like wallets and phones might have to stay in handbags or pockets on occasion.
It’s more of a stylised area rather than a functional one. For example, the ergonomics of placing a phone on the wireless charging pad are awkward.
Thankfully, the dual-zone air-conditioning controls are simple and include an Eco mode. Whether it’s the Eco mode or otherwise, the system itself is very quick to cool down the cabin – perfect for hot summer days.
The driver’s seating position affords a good view out of the cabin, both out over the bonnet and when you look behind. I’m 193cm tall and find the space in the front row entirely comfortable, as there’s good adjustability between the steering wheel and electrically controlled seat. However, the passenger seat misses out on electric seat adjustment.
The back is a bit more of a struggle inside the Corolla, especially with this hatchback body style. Those after ultimate space in the Corolla range are better served by the Corolla Sedan, but there’s limited space for adults to stow their knees, and the unconventional tapering roof line cuts into headspace.
Limited storage options are on offer in the second row, and the cupholders are mounted weirdly in the door card, which could cut into leg space.
The boot space in the Corolla ZR Hybrid hatchback is rated at 333L. In practice, it’s better suited to backpacks rather than luggage, but the seats do fold in 60/40 format to swallow something bigger if needed.
Keep in mind there is no spare tyre in this variant, only a puncture repair kit – far from ideal if you’re running a Corolla in a rural area.
2021 Hyundai i30 N Line Premium | 2021 Toyota Corolla ZR Hybrid | |
Seats | Five | Five |
Boot volume | 395L seats up, 1301L seats folded | 333L seats up |
Length | 4345mm | 4375mm |
Width | 1795mm | 1790mm |
Height | 1453mm | 1435mm |
Wheelbase | 2650mm | 2640mm |
Infotainment and Connectivity
Hyundai i30
The driver faces a 7.0-inch partial digital instrument cluster, and infotainment is delivered by a 10.25-inch touchscreen.
Within there’s access to AM/FM/DAB+ radio, Bluetooth connectivity, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and inbuilt satellite navigation. A seven-speaker Infinity sound system delivers your tunes – but it could stand to be a bit punchier.
The system is quite simple to understand. The graphics look modern, and there’s no real lag or extended loading times if you jump from menu to menu.
Toyota Corolla
At odds with the Corolla ZR’s otherwise sporty design theme, the 8.0-inch infotainment screen looks plonked on as an afterthought. Functionality from the unit is good thanks to the hard-button shortcuts alongside the unit, but the software design is rather basic.
Switching between menu systems is fast and intuitive, but there’s just not a lot of content there to explore. This may be a positive or negative depending on who’s buying the car. The Bluetooth system is quick to connect upon re-entry to the vehicle, and the eight-speaker JBL sound system does a great job of faithfully playing your tunes.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring is available, but only through a wired connection. Annoyingly, the USB input is in a hard-to-reach spot near the passenger footwell.
Other screens of note to the driver include a 7.0-inch display inside the instrument cluster that provides navigation, song track and fuel information, plus a head-up display that shows a speedo and the car’s hybrid status.
Safety and Technology
Hyundai i30
The Hyundai i30 hatch range carries a five-star ANCAP safety rating dating back to 2017.
Safety gear for the N Line Premium includes seven airbags, a rear-view camera, tyre pressure monitoring, front and rear parking sensors.
Under the Hyundai SmartSense label, the i30 includes autonomous emergency braking with both pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, and driver attention monitoring.
Perhaps a little oddly, the N Line and N Line premium miss out on blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and safe exit warning (available on the i30 Elite) which feel like features the N Line Premium, at least, should get. Hyundai blames the vehicle’s (older) design for not being able to accommodate the required hardware.
Toyota Corolla
Safety is seen to by seven airbags and a complement of active safety technologies including high- and low-speed autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-centring assist, speed sign assist, all-speed adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and a reverse camera.
ANCAP last awarded the Corolla a five-star safety score in 2018, marking it 96 per cent for adult occupant protection, 83 per cent for child occupant protection, 86 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 76 per cent for safety assist systems.
At a glance | 2021 Hyundai i30 N Line Premium | 2021 Toyota Corolla ZR Hybrid |
ANCAP rating & year tested | Five stars (tested 2019) | Five stars (tested 2018) |
Safety report | ANCAP report | ANCAP report |
Value for Money
Hyundai i30
While the i30 may appear largely unchanged from the outside, in N Line Premium trim it’s not featured like an out of date vehicle. There’s plenty of equipment loaded in, and some features rivals just can’t match for the price.
Hyundai offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Capped-price servicing is also available, at $299 per visit for the first five 12-month or 10,000km service intervals. It's worth noting that i30 variants which don't have the 1.6-litre turbo engine have longer 15,000km service intervals.
Claimed fuel consumption is 7.1 litres per 100km, with 91-octane regular unleaded suitable. On test we recorded 9.4L/100km from a week largely spent within the confines of metro Melbourne, with only a couple of quick freeway jaunts.
Toyota Corolla
All Toyota products come as standard with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, but the engine and driveline warranty can be extended out to seven years as long as you stick to your annual service schedule.
On top of that, Toyota warrants its hybrid battery system for up to 10 years after delivery – an extra little bit of peace of mind for customers a bit wary of moving to electrified drivetrains.
In terms of servicing, the Corolla ZR Hybrid’s maintenance intervals stand at 12 months or 15,000km. Each of the first five services costs $205, though service pricing does get more expensive after that point. Importantly for this hybrid engine vehicle, the official fuel claim stands at 4.2L/100km. On our testing, we’ve recorded a real-world 5.0L/100km reading, which is remarkably close to the claim.
At a glance | 2021 Hyundai i30 N Line Premium | 2021 Toyota Corolla ZR Hybrid |
Warranty | Five years, unlimited km | Five years, unlimited km |
Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km | 12 months or 15,000km |
Servicing costs | $897 (3 years), $1495 (5 years) | $615 (3 years), $1025 (5 years) |
Fuel cons. (claimed) | 7.1L/100km | 4.2L/100km |
Fuel cons. (on test) | 9.4L/100km | 5.0L/100km |
Fuel type | 91-octane Regular Unleaded | 91-octane Regular Unleaded |
Fuel tank size | 50L | 43L |
Driving
Hyundai i30
With a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine under the bonnet, and 150kW/265Nm outputs, the N Line Premium sits neatly between the 120kW non-turbo 2.0-litre base i30 and the 206kW i30 N hero.
Warm hatch positioning feels about right for this one too. It’s sensible enough to handle the daily grind, but if you do find yourself on a more exciting piece of road, it’s not out of its depth either.
There’s not a heap of character from the engine around town, and arguably, where you’d like things to simply be point-and-shoot, that's not a bad thing. It’s got enough torque in reserve to duck in and out of fast-flowing traffic too.
The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic isn’t the newest kid on the block. Whereas the more sophisticated control of Hyundai’s newer eight-speed DCT in cars like the i30 N, Sonata and Santa Fe makes for smoother and more seamless low-speed manoeuvering, the i30 still has some minor rough edges.
It’s not enough to make driving a chore, but from time to time you can catch the car unsure of how to tackle a low-speed reverse park up a hill, or caught momentarily between gears as you roll to a slow, but then jump back on the accelerator.
Without going overboard, the handling package feels suitably sporty, nimble and agile. The ride is buttoned down and firm, without being bone-jarring.
The odd sharp-edged pothole will crash through, but most of the time the i30 N Line is decently well-mannered around town.
Even things like road noise, often a bugbear of cars that skirt the performance spectrum, is well-managed here. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres fitted here aren’t an aggressive performance tyre, but nor are they a cheap and gripless economy tyre.
Couple the focussed ride and handling with some decently weighted steering, and the i30 N Line Premium is a much more engaging car on the right stretch of road than you might expect.
Toyota Corolla
Anyone who’s recently spent time in a Toyota Camry Hybrid taxi will be able to draw parallels between that car’s powertrain and what we’ve got in the Toyota Corolla Hybrid.
It’s the same kind of deal, just with smaller motors and outputs. A 1.8-litre petrol engine is paired with a battery-powered motor, and the power produced by both is sent through a continuously variable transmission.
Key outputs from the ZR Hybrid include the 72kW and 142Nm petrol engine with a 53kW and 163Nm electric motor. The car will automatically switch between or combine the two, with a total output of 90kW.
The switch between the two forms of power is impressively unobtrusive. Most of the time you’ll pay no mind to the way it comes on and off combustion power. In practice, the electric motor handles low-speed driving and manoeuvring, which can make for a serene commute through traffic and around car parks.
Push the accelerator harder and the combustion petrol engine will kick into life and get you up to speed. Make no mistake, though, the Corolla does lack torque and power to get you anywhere in a hurry, so overtakes need to be carefully judged.
The car does have a button to run in full electric mode too, but it’s not long before the battery depletes and the car reverts to hybrid configuration.
Unlike some other continuously variable transmissions, the Corolla’s unit isn’t overly thrashy and doesn’t cause undue engine noise to drone through the cabin. It’s a little different to traditional torque convertor automatics, in that the power delivery does exhibit a slight stretchy feel in some situations.
Though perhaps not as dynamic as its styling would have you believe, the Corolla can be a bit of a fun steer with a nice and direct steering feel. The straight-line speed won’t have anyone losing their hat, but it can be an entertaining car to sling around connecting corners when you’re further afield.
The ride control is excellent over speed bumps and across changing road surfaces. It’s a comfortable car that’s perfectly suited to the suburban landscape.
Key details | 2021 Hyundai i30 N Line Premium | 2021 Toyota Corolla ZR Hybrid |
Engine | 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol | 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol hybrid |
Power | 150kW @ 6000rpm | 72kW petrol engine 53kW electric motor 90kW combined |
Torque | 265Nm @ 1500-4500rpm | 142Nm petrol engine 163Nm electric motor |
Drive type | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
Transmission | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic | Continuously variable automatic transmission |
Power to weight ratio | 104kW/t | 64kW/t |
Weight | 1436kg | 1400kg |
Tow rating | 1300kg braked, 600kg unbraked | n/a |
Turning circle | 10.6m | 11.4m |
Conclusion
Choosing between the Hyundai i30 N Line Premium and Toyota Corolla ZR Hybrid on appearance alone is a mug's game. Both are striking propositions, both have LEDs and ride on 18-inch alloy wheels.
Both cabins are very well equipped, although the Hyundai's is more practical with a bigger back seat, more storage areas up front, a spare tyre (admittedly a space-saver) and a bigger boot.
Both have smartphone charging mats, but only the Hyundai has wireless smartphone integration. It also has a bigger touchscreen for interacting with the infotainment system.
When it comes to safety, both are five-star cars with decent active safety suites, although the Corolla pulls ahead here with a few systems (such as rear cross-traffic alert) that the Hyundai does not have.
With running costs, it is a comfortable win to the Corolla. It's cheaper to fuel thanks to its hybrid powertrain and it is cheaper to service. Firstly, the Toyota's actual per service cost is cheaper, but also because the Hyundai's 10,000km intervals mean you'll visit more regularly.
The most dramatic difference between the two is how they drive. The Hyundai's 150kW turbocharged engine and sportier suspension are all about sports performance, whereas the Toyota's hybrid powertrain is all about saving you money between A and B. Choosing between the two will come down to personal preference because some will prioritise fuel efficiency, while others will want the Hyundai's turbocharged vitality.
So, in summary, the Hyundai is more practical and better equipped, but the Corolla has more safety equipment and is cheaper to own. The Hyundai is more enjoyable to drive, but both will get you where you need to go.
For our money, we'd buy the Hyundai and enjoy its day-to-day practicality advantages and more peppy performance. But if you choose the Corolla, you'll enjoy everyday savings and added peace of mind.