THE i30 is a real gem. Hyundai’s little champion looks great, drives beautifully and delivers excellent economy.

But what if you want more room for back seat passengers or additional cargo space?

Enter the i30cw. The cw stands for “crossover wagon’’, marketing speak for a car that bridges the gap between hatch and wagon.

Priced from $20,890 _ just $1500 more than the hatch _ the 4475mm wagon is 230mm longer and 40mm taller than the hatch and sits on a 50mm longer wheelbase. This equals more leg room in the back and 415 litres of luggage space. With the rear seats folded, there’s 1395 litres of space, enough for a stroller, bicycle or surfboard.

The wagon is slightly heavier than the hatch, around 40kg, which is barely noticeable.

The i30cw comes with the choice of 2.0 petrol or 1.6 CRDi turbo-diesel engine.

Standard features include an audio system that incorporates USB audio input with iPod® compatibility, an air conditioned glove box, tilt and telescopic (reach) steering wheel and a 12 volt power outlet in the rear cargo area.

Safety equipment on all versions includes ESP Stability Control incorporating Traction Control System (TCS), Anti-skid Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), active head restraints for driver and front passenger, driver and front passenger airbags.

The base model is the SX, which has 15 inch wheels, roof rails, blue and white illuminated instrument cluster, electric folding side mirrors with integrated side repeaters, manually adjustable air conditioning and a dust and pollen filter, external temperature display, woven cloth seat fabric, retractable cargo cover and luggage net.

The mid-spec SLX adds driver and front passenger side (thorax) airbags and front and rear passenger curtain airbags, 16 inch alloy wheels with 205/55 R16 tyres, front fog lights, body colour door handles, chrome interior door handles, auto climate control, cruise control, leather wrap steering wheel and transmission shift knob, aluminium effect on dash, steering wheel and front floor console, mesh cloth seat fabric, driver’s lumbar support, dual position cargo net, trip computer, 3 function steering wheel audio controls and two additional (tweeter) speakers.

The top-of-the-range i30cw Sportswagon variant ups the ante with 17-inch alloys with chrome inserts, 225/45 R17 tyres, auto-dusk sensing headlights (with override switch), rain sensing wipers, alloy sports pedals with rubber insert, leather-faced seats, an in-dash 6 CD stacker with externally amplified speakers and special Sportswagon carpet mats.

The i30 wagon behaves just like its hatch sibling, which is a good thing.

Like the hatch, the i30’s suspension and steering have been specially calibrated for Australian driving conditions, which involved refining European settings to accommodate our lumpier, bumpier roads.

A relatively long wheelbase and wide wheel tracks give the i30 plenty of poise on the road.

The Hyundai feels solid and secure on the road and corners with conviction.

Our CRDi test subject was a little slow off the mark but once up and running was a delight to pilot. Its ability to cruise frugally and comfortably on the open road makes it a dream for commuters.

Petrol and diesel offerings come with choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmissions. This is one of the few areas where the Hyundai lags behind some of its competitors, some of whom offer 6-speed manuals.

Economy is outstanding in all i30s, the petrol versions sipping 7.3 litres of fuel for every 100km travelled and the diesels an average 4.9 litres.

The cw is another example of how far Hyundai has come in regard to build quality.

Backed by its price, practicality and equipment, the Korean beauty is going to put a dent in the sales of rivals, including Holden’s Viva wagon and the Peugeot 207 and 308 wagons.

A range of Genuine Hyundai Accessories is available for customers to ensure their i30cw is tailored to their needs. The range includes iPod® connection cable Cargo Liner, ‘Whispbar™ Roof Racks to carry snow boards, surf boards and bikes, Bluetooth® Phone Kit and Reverse Park Assist. All Genuine Hyundai Accessories are covered by Hyundai’s Australian first 5 year Accessory warranty with unlimited kilometres.

i30cw – model range:

2.0 petrol powertrain (available in i30cw ‘SX’, ‘SLX’ and ‘Sportswagon’ trim):

105 kW of peak power @ 6,000 rpm

186 Nm peak torque @ 4,500 rpm

5 speed manual or 4 speed automatic

Fuel consumption* 7.3 litres / 100 km (man), 7.7 litres / 100 km (auto)

CO2 emissions 174 g / km (man), 183 g / km (auto)

Towing capacity

Braked – 1,200 kg

Unbraked – 500 kg

1.6 CRDi turbo Diesel powertrain (available in i30cw ‘SX’ & ‘SLX’ variants):

85 kW of peak power @ 4,000 rpm

255 Nm peak torque @ 1,900 to 2,750 rpm

5 speed manual or 4 speed automatic

Fuel consumption* 4.9 litres / 100 km (man), 6.0 litres / 100 km (auto)

CO2 emissions 128 g / km (man), 159 g / km

Towing capacity

Braked – 1,200 kg

Unbraked – 500kg

Pricing:

i30cw SX 2.0 petrol 5 speed manual

$20,890 RRP

i30cw SX 2.0 petrol 4 speed auto

$22,890 RRP

i30cw SX 1.6 CRDi turbo Diesel 5 speed manual

$23,390 RRP

i30cw SX 1.6 CRDi turbo Diesel 4 speed auto

$25,390 RRP

i30cw SLX 2.0 petrol 4 speed auto

$27,390 RRP

i30cw SLX 1.6 CRDi turbo Diesel 4 speed auto

$29,890 RRP

i30cw Sportswagon 2.0 petrol 4 speed auto

$29,990 RRP

Optional metallic / mica paint

$320 RRP

Optional 5 star Protectz pack for SX

$700 RRP

Optional cruise control with cruise control with front fog lamps for SX

$400 RPP