Hyundai’s green ‘i’ is no monster

If you spot a new Hyundai i30 with a green ‘i’ badge on the front wings, you’ll have every reason to be ‘green-eyed’ with jealousy. Not only is the owner driving a desirable hatchback, but they are saving hundreds of pounds in tax – and helping to lower CO2 emissions. The new version of the highly acclaimed i30, available from January, will have an official CO2 emission figure of just 119g/km. That drops the new model into VED Group B, cutting the cost of an annual tax disc from £115 to £35.But it’s business drivers who will see the really impressive savings. From the 2008/09 tax year a new company car band will be introduced for diesels producing less than 120g/km which will drop the rate from 18 to just 13 percent, saving higher rate tax payers hundreds every year. There’s even better news for drivers who live or travel into the London Congestion Charge zone, as the i30 would be entitled to a 100 percent discount from 4th February 2008 if the mayor’s proposals are approved. This could save drivers entering the capital daily a massive £2,080 each year. The new version of the i30 uses a 90PS version of the current model’s advanced 115PS 1.6-litre CRDi turbodiesel engine. To prove that it’s not just the headline CO2 figure that matters to Hyundai, the ‘green’ i30 also features a diesel particulate filter to remove ‘soot’ from the exhaust gases. Unlike some rivals, the i30’s advanced design means there has been no need to resort to measures such as skinny tyres, expensive stop-start systems, long gearing or lowered suspension to achieve the low CO2 figure. This ensures that the i30’s roadholding, drivability, ride and equipment levels are unaffected. The new model remains affordable too, with prices starting below £13,000 despite an enviable equipment list that includes ESP, air conditioning and alloy wheels as standard on all versions. As with all new Hyundai models, the i30 is also covered by a five year, unlimited mileage warranty. For those who want to ‘go green’ before January, both Getz diesel models also fall into VED group B with a CO2 output of 118g/km, while the Santa Fe was named as the ‘greenest’ large 4x4 by What Car? magazine recently. Full prices for the new i30 CRDi will be announced nearer the car’s launch.