The Hyundai i30 N Line Has Hot Hatch Looks But Only 138bhp
If you like the idea of the i30 N hot hatch but find the insurance premiums just too disastrous, Hyundai has a solution. It’s called the i30 N Line, and on first glance, it looks rather similar.
In fact, if you spotted one of these coming the other way, you might mistake it for the full-fat version if you don’t look closely. The front and rear bumpers strongly echo the N’s, and there are new 18-inch wheels that fill the arches much better than anything you’d find on a normal i30. At the back, you’ll find a twin-exit exhaust pipe.
On the inside, there’s the option of upgrading to super-sporty N-branded suede seats with bigger side bolsters. The steering wheel is clad in perforated leather, and there’s a nice N logo on the gear knob to further liven up proceedings.
Pleasingly, it’s not just an aesthetic makeover. Hyundai has “refined” the suspension and the responsiveness of the engine, although we’re not told exactly what’s been done. Stiffer springs would be our guess.
Hyundai has said that the brakes are bigger, with the 15-inch front discs swapped out for 16-inch rotors. The finishing touch is a set of grippier Michelin PS4 tyres.
Sounds like an interesting package, but there’s a bit of a snafu in the engine department: it’s just a 1.4-litre inline-four with a mere 138bhp to its name. Ah.
No performance figures have been given, but it’ll be similar to the regular 1.4 i30, which means the 0-62mph time will be around 9.2 seconds.
It’ll go on sale late summer, although we’re currently not sure how much it’ll be in the UK.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
I mean I can understand ST-line and R-Line, maybe. But the i30 N was always too subtle IMO. So the N-line will literally change nothing about your car (from a perspective of a normal non car person). To me, Type R-line would make the most sense.
My 2 cents
note, I’m only taking about the looks, not the suspension/brake upgrades
I don’t know why but for some reason reminds me of this:
The i30 N is a hot hatch
This is a not hatch
Breaking News: In shock announcement, Korean hatchback with only 138bhp determined to be not a hot hatch
To be honest, you could have changed the headline to “Hyundai i30 Facelift Revealed” and I would believe you. It looks like an ever-so-slightly updated version of the i30, not really like a sport version. The i30 N was relatively subtile after all, if you compare it to the Civic R or the Focus RS.
The only way I could personally tell the i30 N apart from the normal one if I’m seeing on of them on the road (besides the colour and badges of course) are the dual exhausts and the rear spoiler, neither of which this one has.
The Elantra GT Sport (US market anyway) comes with 201hp and pretty much everything you could ask for options wise all for under 28k USD.
Heated and cooled ventilated leather seats. Leather shiter and steering wheel. Dual climate zone. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Wireless charger. Remote start and climate control. Best in class safety, equipment, and luxury. IHS top safety pick (so cheap to insure)
Oh and it comes in manual too! (Or a DUAL CLUTCH automatic if that’s your thing)
What a great little car!
And if hatches are not your thing you can get the sport in a saden as well. Here’s one at my local dealer that I was thinking about.
We don’t have that in the UK sadly
Stock cvics have more horsepower figures
Yes indeed
This is great but there is the Civic Si and the new Corolla Hatchback just saying
Both are more expensive. I just went to Honda’s website and built an Si with just a few options (the ones that matter) and it was over $30k USD!
MADNESS!
S-line
M550
AMG line
N-line
ok
I think this will live up to the “slow cars can be fun cars” mentality very well
Wow,amazing logic Hyundai! Stock i30’s are as fast as that piece of ,so just buy a normal one
Why would you buy the boring looking base model if you could get the aesthetically superior one?