Hyundai i30 Fastback N (2018-2020)

Only worth buying if you like how it looks...otherwise just get a i30N hatch – There was no noticeable difference between the build quality of the Fastback versus the hatchback or even the sedan. The sports bucket seats, upgraded performance pieces, bodykit and trim all fit nicely together and are exactly what you’d expect for the price you’re paying. The starting price for the i30 Fastback N is $49,000 before on-road costs for the manual, and $52,000 for the dual-clutch automatic pictured here.

For a 200+kW, front-wheel drive hot hatch, it’s a fair price for the equipment and performance you’re getting in return.

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.

Plus, if anything mechanical fails during a track day, Hyundai won’t void your warranty claim, thanks to an included track day warranty.

Prepaid servicing plans can be purchased for 3 years/30,000km for $1,005, 4 years/40,000km for $1,340 or 5 years/50,000km for $1675.

One word comes to mind when driving in the i30 Fastback N: rambunctious.

At low speeds, there’s a deep rumble emanating from those massive cannon exhausts. Turn the car on to the full fat N mode, and you’ll have this car producing pops and bangs exceeding 100dB!

It’s so loud that an owner in the United States was pulled over and fined for having an excessively loud exhaust, even though it comes from the factory like that.

The maximum power output from the 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder unit is 206kW (276hp) and 392Nm in overboost. Also, the 0-100km/h time is claimed to be just 5.4 seconds!

This thing feels quick. The turbo is quick to spool and you always feel like you have more than enough power at your disposal.

Traction is my only issue here; there’s only so much you can do to combat front wheel slip, which can be hard to avoid when using launch control. N Grin Shift (NGS) is how you access that overboost, providing 10 seconds of more power to use to launch out of a corner, or perform a daring overtake.

There’s no denying the i30 Fastback N is a spectacular car in the handling department. Adjustable dampers allow you to avoid a constantly stiff ride, and you can even tailor the Individual drive mode to have a softer riding car without compromising on performance.

I saw fuel figures between the 10-13L per 100km mark when daily driving. The claimed fuel efficiency is 8.8L per 100km combined. It’s not the most fuel efficient hot hatch, but it’s also not going to break the petrol budget either.

The i30N Fastback has the same interior to the i30N hatch, which is all very conventional but with some sporty flair.

With the rear seats up, you’re getting more boot space than the hatchback. You’re looking at 436L of storage, and a total of 1337L with the seats folded. It doesn't get in the way of boot space, and it’s cool to see the exposed rear strut that helps keep the car more rigid.

Rear head room is impacted most due to that sloping roofline, especially when compared to the hatchback design. At 5'11", my head touches the roof if I place it against the headrest and sit upright.

If you’re in love with the design of this car, it’s absolutely worth grabbing one while you can, as this is a limited model.

If this design isn't your thing, then the hatchback is a great alternative. There isn’t that much difference between this car and the hatchback, so it all comes down to personal preference.

You can’t beat the manual transmission as an option, but if that scares you for daily driving, the DCT is an equally and somewhat superior option when it comes to performance.

If you want the fastest i30N, you’ll need to opt for the more angular sedan, which some might argue is the better alternative to the Fastback.

*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.