New Hyundai i30 N Line ‘warm hatch’ is sporty and sensible

Hyundai turns down the heat on the i30 N to create the i30 N Line

The new Hyundai i30 N Line is a ‘warm’ alternative to the i30 N hot hatch, which has so impressed critics since launch. It follows a tried-and-tested formula of combining a sporty appearance with a more fuel-efficient engine.

Unlike rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf R-line and Ford Focus ST-line, the i30 N Line is only offered with a single engine – and it’s a petrol, not a diesel. The 1.4-litre T-GDI motor produces 140hp, positioning it suitably far from the 250hp 2.0-litre turbo i30 N and 275hp N Performance.

Sales start in the summer, and prices will be announced soon.

N Line, looking fine

Typical of the breed, the i30 N Line gets special logos, new front and rear bumpers that carry an ‘N Line’ silver paint strip, twin exhausts and, for the first time on a five-door i30, 18-inch wheels. The black roof spoiler is a neat addition, and black door mirrors also help it stand out from the regular car.

There’s a perforated leather steering wheel and N gearknob inside, plus Hyundai’s offering a set of N-branded suede sports seats. It otherwise looks little different to other i30s inside, presumably to keep costs sensible.

Mind you, Hyundai has, pleasingly, spent more on sharpening up the underpinnings – something that isn’t always guaranteed with this type of car. The firm says the suspension has been tuned to make it feel a bit sportier, and the response of the engine has also been sharpened up.

Bends and brakes

Hyundai i30 N Line

Michelin PS4 performance tyres are fitted, too, along with larger brake discs – an interesting move, given that the engine doesn’t have any more power. Presumably Hyundai is assuming people will be driving it harder, so will have more need for a decent set of anchors.

Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, vice president of marketing and product at Hyundai Motor Europe, rather forgettably said: “Our i30 N has been hugely successful since launch, showcasing our capabilities in high-performance engineering and emotionalising our brand with its fun-to-drive factor.

“Now we are extending that feeling to a wider audience with the new i30 N Line. We believe the comprehensive package of design and engineering enhancements will continue to attract more new customers to the Hyundai brand in Europe.”

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Richard Aucock
Richard Aucockhttps://www.richardaucock.co.uk/
Richard is director at Motoring Research. He has been with us since 2001, and has been a motoring journalist even longer. He won the IMCO Motoring Writer of the Future Award in 1996 and the acclaimed Sir William Lyons Award in 1998. Both awards are run by the Guild of Motoring Writers and Richard is currently vice chair of the world's largest organisation for automotive media professionals. Richard is also a juror and Steering Committee director for World Car Awards and the UK juror for the AUTOBEST awards.

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