Hyundai i30 N Hatchback 2.0L Turbo Petrol T-GDi (2021-2026)

Hyundai i30N Hatchback- 2024 model First impressions brilliant. Amazing Performance & handling & that exhaust note is on another level. The only thing unfortunately that lets the experience down is the Hyundai service as mentioned regularly on other reviews & media outlets. Would I recommend you to buy one Absolutely..BUT service the vehicle with a reputable service centre NOT Hyundai if you want peace of mind & hassle free experience.

The best front wheel drive hot hatch you can buy for under $60,000 – The base i30N can be had in either manual or the new DCT for a mere $44,500 before on-road costs. I had the i30N Premium without sunroof, only available in manual, which retails for $47,500 before on-roads. You can top out the range with the i30N Premium with a sunroof, available both in the manual and DCT again, which will set you back $49,500 before on-roads.

If you want to make the most of your i30N, get the Premium. It comes with lighter forged alloy wheels that save 14.5kg to the car’s kerb weight. Additionally, the added leather and 2.2kg lighter bucket seats add even more to the cabin experience than the base cloth interior.

Hyundai offers its 5 year/unlimited kilometre warranty with the i30N, with services being capped over this period. Service intervals are 10,000km or 1 year. The i30N also is one of the only cars on sale in the world that offers a track day warranty. Meaning you can comfortably push your i30N out in the real world, without having to cover up your license plate for the track day photographer.

I’ll get the elephant out of the room and say yes, this isn’t going to be the quietest car for the highway.

After 6 hours of highway time in the N, I was a little exhausted at some parts of the drone those Michelin tires make at high and constant speeds. It’s a tire roar with what sounds like some restricted air in the wheel wells.

The engine sound itself isn’t too unique - it’s a familiar sounding inline four-cylinder note similar to what you find on many hot hatches at this price point. What makes it exciting is the very large turbo situated just centimetres away from the front occupants and the exhilarating intake sound heard under acceleration.

What brings this segment to a mighty bang is the exhaust sound. Oh my, this isn’t just your normal hot hatch, this is a unique beast. It takes advantage of a rudimentary form of anti-lag, which sends exhaust gasses back through the turbocharger when it’s usually not spinning to keep it spooled for a more rapid response.

You’re going to get complaints from the neighbours, scare little children and laugh your head off when you open up this exhaust system in it’s most aggressive setting.

The bright red N-branded calipers are not just for show, but also a show of Hyundai’s pride, seeing as these 360mm brakes have been developed in-house. This is rare for a car at this price point, as usually these brakes are easier to outsource to the likes of Brembo.

According to Hyundai, that could have driven up the price past what they wanted, and I also believe under ex-BMW M division lead, Albert Biermann, he wanted to do it in-house for more control and suitability for the car.

Here’s the juicy part. Under the bonnet is a rally car inspired 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder unit, producing a whopping 206kW at 6,000rpm and 392Nm at 2,100-4,7000rpm.

That’s 139.4kW per tonne of power! Sure, 0-100km/h times aren’t as rapid as a Golf R or a Toyota GR Yaris, claimed at 5.9 seconds for the manual.

This torque delivery is unique too, as it’s engaged as an overboost feature, meaning instead of dumping all of your peak power mid-way through the rev range, you’re able to experience power right through to the redline. No more short shifts or awkward drops in power - the i30N’s power plant delivers more than what you’d expect for a hot hatch.

It’s still a very quick car, but it also allows you to use all of the rev range through to third gear without getting yourself into too much trouble.

There’s a trick launch control system with a customisable rpm limit, but I found it to be confusing to engage at first. Also, I will have to admit launching a front-wheel drive manual car is not the smoothest of tasks, so I found myself enjoying low-rpm launches from a stop instead.

A slick, notchy and perfectly sized manual shifter is any driver’s idea of paradise - especially when mated with over 200kW of turbocharged goodness.

There are 6 gears to choose from in this transmission, with first gear feeling slightly too short as usual for hot hatches with this much power.

Redline seems to creep up a lot quicker than you’d expect in the i30N when you get carried away, so you better make the most of those shift lights. Placed at the top of the driver’s instrument cluster, you get 5 race car inspired lights that appear incrementally and increase in colour intensity as you approach redline.

Before you have the chance to bang off the limiter, these lights all blink in unison indicating that you need to shift to the next gear.

What an awesome touch, and it’s a lot better than just an audible beep or nothing at all.

What a treat the i30N is to take on some of the best back roads in Australia. A pretty common complaint is just how heavy this car is out on the track.

The suspension in this hatch is adjustable three-ways, and it’s certainly noticeable. The softest setting is still going to be too stiff for those who like the idea of a hot hatch but really need to move on into a fast cross-over. It’s comfortable enough for myself and for passengers, and smooth enough to transport a delicate birthday cake and let my partner fall into a deep sleep - rare for many of the cars I test with her in the passenger seat.

When I want to awaken what I had for breakfast that morning, the stiffest setting works best. It’s responsive, rapid, but surprisingly not spine-shattering like the Abarth 500 is.

The mechanical limited slip e-differential works wonders to avoid the front wheels from consuming the driving experience with torque steer. Instead, it works with the front tires to put power to the road as you might hope, making the most of the power at hand rather than fighting it.

The drive modes are actually my number one selling point for the i30N, as the versatility of a car like this makes it the car that can most likely respond to any complaints one might have with a hot hatch. ‘Make it quieter!’ - sure! ‘It’s too bumpy.’ - sorted. ‘Can it do my tax return?’ - not quite.

At over 12L/100km across 1000km of driving, this is a thirsty car.

There’s a minimum of 381L available here in the i30N. That’s plenty of space for daily driving and even more. Two suitcases would fit perfectly in the back, with day bags able to be placed on top to make the most of the space back here.

Fold the seats down in a 60:40 split to reveal 1287L of boot space, and you have enough space to take a spare set of wheels and tires to the track and air them up using the 180W charge port in the rear.

I nearly had pen to paper ordering a 2019 i30N a few years ago. That should already have you assuming what my answer to the above is.

2021 has only made the i30N better: it’s more lightweight, more capable and leans even more into the sports car N brand Hyundai is quickly evolving.

In a field of competent competitors, the i30N stands out as the loudest one yet. For me, it has everything I’m looking for in a hot hatch. It’s beyond capable for my needs, it’s practical, it’s versatile and it makes me smile.

As modern day hatches get quieter, the N brand is focused on giving drivers a chance to end the petrol-era with an almighty exhaust bang.

It’s engagement at its finest, and it’s the car that transformed my feelings for Hyundai from a brand that’s a bit meh to a brand that clearly is trying its hardest to produce the best products that you and I can afford. The plan seems to be working, and the i30N underscores that purpose.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.

Safety is terrible! – I loved my Hyundai but then it was hit by a tram and the air bags did not go off!! The safety of these cars are clearly not accurate