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- Hyundai's i30 N is a terrific hot hatch with many performance settings.
- Considering the prices of SA's most potent hot hatchbacks, this model is almost perfectly priced.
- And it's more fun than Volkswagen's Golf 8 GTI.
Open the boot, and the rear strut brace is just behind the rear seats. You know you are driving something fun if that is the case. The Hyundai i30 N has received several accolades (local and international) since its launch in South Africa around three years ago, and it seems to be continuing.
It was only a matter of time that Hyundai would decide to launch a hot hatch. Even so, it remains a brave move as many manufacturers are moving away from designing and manufacturing these compact and fun cars. Several will now instead, or are forced to, focus on (usually heavy) electric vehicles.
Hyundai probably showed its most evident intent when Albert Biermann, former head of BMW M, joined them in 2014. The i30 N is one of his products, which shows from the moment you climb in. There is the driving mode button on the left of the steering wheel and the "race" mode button on the right, marked with an appropriate chequered flag. The latter can also be customised to your specific settings, just like in an M car.
Behind the wheel
Being a five-door hatch, the i30 N is practical, which is a bonus. However, this car is all about the performance and fun it offers the driver.
With Racelogic's Vbox testing system, I achieved a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 5.81 seconds. The dash from 100km/h to 140km/h took just more than four seconds.
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But straight-line speed is only one of the feathers in the i30 N's cap. Although there are several modes, I stuck to only two. I drove the car mostly in Eco mode, and when the right piece of road presented itself, I selected Custom mode. The latter allows you to set the following perimeters: engine and transmission response, e-LSD (electronic limited-slip differential), exhaust sound, electronic stability control (ESC), steering and suspension.
On a billiard-smooth stretch of tarmac, you can select the firmest suspension setting, but be warned – it is one of the firmest settings I've ever experienced in a road car.
The i30 N feels even more compact and "together". Direction changes are dealt with quickly and with feedback through the steering wheel. The 2.0-litre engine reacts with a real sense of vigour and is fully strong with little turbo lag. The paddles fixed to the steering wheel allow quick gear changes through the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, and when you go down the gearbox, there are the accompanying exhaust farts.
Heading through several corners, the seats are comfortable and keep you neatly in place. Focus on the road, and thankfully, the rev lights (above the small centre screen) illuminated higher up the rev range indicate when you approach the rev limit or red line. Even the RPM can be set as to when these lights should come on.
The brakes feel strong, and you get a good sense of confidence through the pedal. Analysing the test results, the braking times are on par with recently tested cars.
Summary
That is probably one of the stand-out features of the i30 N, the adjustability of so many elements of the driving experience. Even doing the performance testing, you can set (as is the case with BMWs) the engine speed, at which point the engine should rev to when conducting launch control. Too high, and the wheels might spin too much; too low, and grip levels might be too high.
At R779 900, the i30N is priced above a Volkswagen Golf GTI (R744 200), but with more power and torque and offering a more focused experience when required, it is a small price to pay. It also offers a lot more fun than a GTI.
Well done to Hyundai for building such an incredibly competent hot hatch – now I just wish we can sample the i20 N on local roads!
Price: R779 900
Engine: 2.0-litre, turbocharged petrol
Power: 206kW at between 5 500 and 6 000rpm
Torque: 392Nm between 2 100 and 4 700rpm
Gears: Eight-speed, dual-clutch, front-wheel drive
0-100km/h: 5.81 seconds (tested)
Top speed: 250km/h (claimed)
Consumption: 9.5 litres/100km (tested)
Warranty: 5 years or 150 000km (7 years or 200 000km on the drivetrain)
Service Plan: 5 years or 75 000km
Braking:
Emergency brake test 1 (120-0 km/h): 3.31 seconds (52.85 metres)
Emergency brake test 2 (120-0 km/h): 3.17 seconds (52.64 metres)
Acceleration (km/h):
0-60: 3.21 seconds
0-80: 4.40 seconds
0-100: 5.81 seconds
0-120: 7.62 seconds
0-140: 9.88 seconds
In-gear acceleration (km/h):
80-100: 1.40 seconds
100-140: 4.07 seconds
60-120: 4.42 seconds
Consumption during the test: 9.5 litres/100km
