Written by Alan Taylor-Jones Updated: 20 March 2023

Overview

With affordable hot hatches becoming rather thin on the ground, the Hyundai i30 N is starting to look like something of a bargain. After all, you get a potent 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with a slick six-speed manual or eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, a limited-slip differential, adjustable suspension and even a switchable exhaust for less than key rivals.

That pool of direct rivals got slightly smaller given the massive price increase the Honda Civic Type R has seen, although there’s still the Ford Focus ST, Cupra Leon and the Volkswagen Golf GTI to beat. We could mention the four-wheel drive crowd such as the Audi S3, BMW M135i and Volkswagen Golf R, but they all cost you in excess of £40k. The i30 N is comfortably under that figure.

But the i30 N isn’t just the cheapskate’s option. With plenty of chassis tuning in Europe including on the fearsome Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany, it’s a car that’s great fun on road and track. Hyundai even includes track day cover in its five-year unlimited mileage warranty.

14

What’s it like inside?

Not a great deal different from the regular i30, for better and worse. The perforated leather steering wheel feels good with easy-to-use physical controls. This includes a couple of buttons to switch driving modes, something that makes a big difference to how the car drives. You’ll find more physical controls for the heating and stereo, while the 10.25-inch infotainment system has sharp graphics and responses, proving easy to navigate, too. Well-integrated Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and wireless charging is also standard.

Space up front is good, although taller individuals will find rear legroom is a bit tight, especially with a lofty driver. A Cupra Leon has more rear space and also a more inviting interior. As solidly built as the i30 is, with soft materials where you’d want them, it’s all very dark and dour.

The i30 N’s boot is a little bigger than rivals, although you can buy a Ford Focus ST Estate which is naturally far more cavernous. If you’re not quite ready for an estate, the Hyundai i30 Fastback N has a slightly more capacious rump than the hatchback.

For more details on the interior, space and practicality and reliability of the i30 range, have a look at our main Hyundai i30 review.

14

Comfort

We’ve no complaints regarding the heated sports seats which come as standard with electric adjustment and memory for the driver, extendable seat base cushions and lumbar support. Lightweight sports seats are optional if you’d rather shave a few kilos, but we’ve no issues with the standard chairs.

Despite heavy bolstering that keeps you in place during committed cornering, they’re comfortable on a long journey with plenty of adjustment to keep a wide range of heights happy. There’s also plenty of reach and rake adjustment for the heated steering wheel.

Safety

The i30 scored an impressive five-star Euro NCAP safety rating back in 2017. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that the regulations have toughened up since then, so it might not perform quite as well.

14

Despite this, the i30 should still be a very safe car. Overall, Euro NCAP was pleased with how well the car protected its adult and child occupants, identifying only a few of risk points under the dashboard that could cause injury in the event of an accident. The passenger compartment remained stable in the front offset impact test, though, and the front seats offer good protection against whiplash.

When the i30 was updated in 2020, Hyundai added its SmartSense safety equipment. The package includes lane following assist (which automatically adjusts the steering to keep the car in its lane); rear collision avoidance assist (which brakes if you’re about to reverse into an obstacle) and leading vehicle departure alert – a system that beeps at you if the car ahead in traffic moves but you don’t.

What’s it like to drive

An old-school turbocharged hot hatch, and all the better for it. The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder makes 280hp that’s all channelled to the front wheels via a clever electronically controlled limited-slip differential. A sweet-shifting six-speed manual gearbox with a rev matching function for smoother downshifts is standard, with an eight-speed dual-clutch auto an optional extra. It’s good, but you want the manual for the full N experience.

14

The engine itself has a pleasingly gruff tone overlaid with pops and crackles with the exhaust set to unsociable mode. It requires a few more revs to really get going than the Cupra Leon, Golf GTI and Focus ST, but that’s all part of the fun.

Even with the standard adjustable dampers in their softest setting, the 19-inch wheels mean you’re best avoiding sharp-edged potholes while you’re certainly very aware of poorly surfaced streets. It settles down at speed, staying on the comfortable side of firm on motorways and A roads. Sport mode improves body control and makes the car feel a little sharper, but N mode is best left to the track as it’s just so stiff.

Thankfully you don’t have to stick to Hyundai’s pre-set driving modes, with an individual setting allowing you to keep the dampers (relatively) supple, set the engine and diff to maximum attack, and probably have the steering in a more mellow setting.

14

N mode ramps up the weight significantly, leaving Sport or Comfort the better option. Get past some numbness around the straight ahead and the steering proves precise and provides a few clues as to what the front tyres are doing. This includes some torque steer and thumping as the front tyres struggle to put down all of the power; while traction in the dry is good, you’ll get used to the stability control light flashing away when it’s rainy.

With the limited-slip differential in N mode, it tries exceptionally hard to apportion power to the front tyre that can best receive it, helping to haul you out of low-speed corners and resist understeer. To make doubly sure you’re not washing wide in turns, you’ll find the i30 N is more than happy to tighten its line into a corner with a little lift, while a more abrupt approach can unstick the rear tyres a little. It’s no Fiesta ST or Megane RS here, but the enthusiastic driver certainly has options.

Ultimately, while it’s certainly more exciting than the Golf GTI or Cupra Leon and certainly feels a more capable track weapon than a Focus ST, it can’t quite match the laser focus of the Type R or its level of involvement.

14

Ownership costs and maintenance

While you’ll certainly save a bit of cash on the purchase price of the i30 N, it’s not the cheapest of hatches to run. Both manual and auto versions are in the top 37% bracket, although more company car friendly plug-in versions of the Cupra Leon and the Golf GTE aren’t as engaging to drive.

Of more concern to the private buyer is the i30 N’s thirst. Even when driven gently, you’ll struggle to see 30mpg in the manual, where similarly potent Leons and even the four-wheel drive Volkswagen Golf R can easily hit 35mpg.

At least there’s the peace of mind of a five-year unlimited mileage warranty that even covers track days, although we’d check the fine print of that claim. Hyundai reliability is impressive and the i30 is no exception, so you should have a relatively trouble-free ownership experience.

14

What models and trims are available?

Save for passing special editions, there’s only one trim level with a choice of gearbox, colour and a one option. On top of all the kit we’ve already mentioned, there’s auto wipers and LED lights, dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, an N-specific bodykit, front and rear parking sensors and a rear camera. The sports seats we mentioned earlier are the only other thing you can add.

Click through to our verdict page to see if we’d recommend the i30 N over rivals.