COMPARISON: 2019 Ford Focus ST-Line v Hyundai i30 N-Line v Kia Cerato GT

Three comfortable but heated-up hatches with reasonable price tags, go head-to-head.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Our videos are created by expert and unbiased journalists who are passionate about their work. We have fun making these videos and we hope you enjoy them too.

We welcome the opportunity to answer your questions and encourage discussion. Don’t hesitate to ask us a question in the comments section.

Subscribe to CarAdvice for your regular fix of automotive news, reviews and entertainment.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE

CONNECT WITH US

JOIN OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER

[anakinskywalker]

I absolutely love the design & the extra practicality of the Kia does it for me. It just looks so cool

[MrFijibati]

Just love the comparison reviews of different vehicle categories.. gives us the consumers more vital information in each segment.. keep it coming !

[richieollie]

Just got my ST line fully optioned, love it! So much fun to drive and 182hp Turbo 3 cylinder is very responsive...

[JacobHall]

i30 for me I love the N performance and the N Line catches the spirit of that gem nicely 👌🏻

[gopies]

I just brought the i30 n line base model last week for $31, 200 inc on road costs and paint protection, tinted windows and car mats. Reduced the initial asking price $4, 000 and love it. I was deciding between the Kia GT or the N Line but chose the N line simply due to the style of the car and I love it!

[jay-uobi]

GT, I bought it over the N-Line. It's about 1.3k cheaper with more features, more space and its mechanicly better and the chassis is more sporty. You can tell that the chassis is more sporty when you drive it, more harsh suspension but better handling. Many deny this car is actually somewhat different in the driving experience then the Hyundais. The engine was revised. "The engine has been revised to include a new pressurized cooling system, higher compression ratio of 10, electronically actuated wastegate, and a new ECU (CPEGD2.20.3)."

[ytdlow]

Hyundai i30 N Line for me. Recently test drove both the Cerato GT and the i30 N Line. The poor roads around where I live make the "less comfortable" suspension on the Cerato hard to live with day to day. Plus I prefer the conservative styling on the i30.

[jay-uobi]

That Focus and i30 price is not the drive away price... Its actually much more expensive then Cerato GT.

[jacoblongmore]

I’d go the Kia. The Hyundai would be a close second but the price is a bit more than the Kia for basically a sunroof, which I wouldn’t want in the Aussie heat. The Ford is interesting but it just lacks in a lot of things.

[mysterymeat]

I'll have the Ford's exterior, the Kia's interior and the Hyundai's manual transmission option. Thanks.

[graantmnz]

I bought the Cerato GT - having had a couple of VW's with DSG I found it very VW like in the setup and the way it drove ...was not having a bar of a Ford auto gearbox. The GT has quite a firm ride on crappy roads, but just fine when on the open road - and its very quick for a 1600 turbo....very pleased with it . And - your review should have mentioned how GOOD the stereo system is apart from it didnt have a CD player ( my wife likes audio books ) but $100 gets you a USB CD player to sort that issue out. Dont like the fact that the mirrors retract when you turn it off ( more things to fail ) and still have to find out if that can be turned off ..but overall a really nice car and quick too, with a nice DSG type gearbox.

[bartp]

Just an update, the interior and dashboard of the Focus ST-Line X has had a little update(love the red brake calipers), the dashboard is completely digital now and the sync 3 system has been improved a lot. Biased because I received my 6-speed manual 150 bhp a month ago but still, it drives really really well, got all the options except the sunroof and it's been amazing so far, would highly recommend it. (PS: The magnetic grey paint looks amazing irl)

[cameronm]

We’ve owned a LW Focus Sport, LZ Focus Sport and now the SA ST-Line, and the Rear suspension isn’t an issue in terms of ride and handling, it’s more sporty and smoother than the IRS, more refined too. Plus it’s lighter.

[suspensiondude]

I wanted the Fiesta ST, but when i was told it wasn't due until 2020 i coughed up more coin and bought the i30N Performance! And I'm absolutely stoked with how good it is!

[adamcottrell]

Just ordered the I30 N line. Cheers for the review 👍

[franudd]

Cerato GT is the best by far, tested all three of them, all great cars, but the Kia got the full package, premium equipment, the looks, the power that ford lacks, driving feeling, I mean, the only thing you could critize is the manual break but you end up liking it

[NyghtStrix]

I have the KIA Cerato GT. Best decision I've ever made.

[th-l]

All Focus in ST-Line guise, or if they have an engine of greater than 140 BHP have independent rear suspension - a softer version of the suspension fitted to the Fiesta ST

[shivamjay]

Shot at cardinia reservoir?
Reviews of cars like these please show how the exhaust sounds

[Eccentricplum]

You mentioned the 0-100 time for the ford, what about the others? Interested to know what you achieved in the Kia.