It would make sense then for Hyundai to launch its first foray into the performance hatchback on local soil. Despite having been on sale in Europe for around two years, the i30 N has only recently arrived locally and I travelled to the Western Cape to sample it recently.
The story of ‘N’
Each brand that markets its performance products places a badge on the hot versions, this of BMW with ‘M’, Mercedes with AMG, Audi with ‘RS’ or ‘S’ and so forth. Going forward, performance Hyundai products will carry the ‘N’ logo, which stands for Namyang, the area in which the brands R&D centre is located and of course, is associated with the iconic Nürburgring, the German race track at which the i30 N was tested and developed.
The i30 N
South Africans aren’t very well versed with the i30, having only received the previous model on showroom floors after the brand decided against the current generation’s introduction. Therefore, the N will be the only i30 on sale locally. The N benefits from a host exterior enhancements which includes a larger front grille, more aggressive front and rear bumpers, dual exit exhaust, a rear spoiler, 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in special Pirelli rubber and blue accents denoting its performance credentials.
The interior is more restrained; however, there is a pair of supportive, heated bucket seats, a bespoke steering wheel which includes drive mode selectors, an 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a performance application that shows live performance information such as boost, G-Force and a lap timer, to name a few. Additional interior niceties include cruise control, a heated steering wheel, climate control and parking sensors.
Driving i30 N
Hyundai’s first attempt at a performance hatchback is deeply impressive, thanks in no small part to two gentlemen that used to work at BMW’s M division having been tasked with the development of the i30. Under the bonnet of SA-spec cars are a 2.0-litre turbo petrol motor that develops 202 kW and 353 N.m with 378 N.m being available on overboost. Expect 100km/h to come up in just over 6.0 seconds and for a top speed of 250km/h to be achievable. As a pukka driving machine, the N is only available with a six-speed manual gearbox with an auto-blip function while a dual-clutch derivative is currently in development. Power is sent to the front wheels and is assisted by an electronic limited-slip differential.
The driving modes alluded to earlier include an ‘N’ mode, which turns everything up to eleven, including the exhaust, which pops and bangs in the upper echelons of the rev range. The various modes provide markedly different driving experiences, with the N mode being incredibly stiff and ‘Normal’ producing a surprisingly compliant ride, for a performance car, a clear sign that those adaptive dampers are working very well. We were allowed to drive the i30 around a private test track in Franschhoek at the launch event. The level of grip and efficacy of the electronic differential was impressive, with the i30 providing a predictable, fun and engaging front-wheel-drive experience. Out on the road, the i30, with the aforementioned settings set to a comfort-oriented mode is agreeable and is just about acceptable as a daily driver across our pock-marked roads.
Verdict
The performance hatchback segment is incredibly competitive, with cars as capable as the Honda Civic Type-R, as value-filled as the Renault Sport Megane and with new a new Volkswagen Golf GTI on the way all making strong cases for themselves.
When viewed in isolation, the i30 N is a remarkable product, however, when its price is considered, and the fact that it a manual-only vehicle, I foresee many a hatchback buyer putting their money elsewhere. For those that take the plunge, there’s a rewarding and beautifully engineered hot hatchback from South Korea waiting at one of the 14 selected Hyundai dealerships across the country.
Service plan and warranty
The i30 N comes with a seven-year/200 000 km warranty as well as a five-year/75 000 km service plan.
Pricing
Hyundai i30 N – R 679 900
