Hyundai i30 N Line warm hatch gets 1.0-litre petrol power

Hyundai has announced a new base-model i30 N Line. The new addition is fitted with the brand’s least-powerful, but very popular, 118bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine. This lowers the entry price to the N Line trim by around £1,000. As such, prices now start at £19,995.

This new engine joins the i30 N Line trim level’s existing 138bhp 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol unit, sharing the same revised suspension setup and beefier brakes. Like the larger engine, its throttle has supposedly been tweaked to deliver sharper response compared to standard i30 models. The smaller engine is only available with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the larger unit offers an optional seven-speed dual clutch automatic.

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Hyundai’s i30 N Line range is designed to appeal to those who want motorsport-themed styling without the hot hatch performance and fuel consumption. Borrowing the full-fat i30 N’s racier appearance, Hyundai’s most recent warm hatch follows in the same vein as Ford’s ST-Line models and Skoda’s SportLine derivatives.

The front and rear bumpers closely match the ones fitted to the i30 N, Hyundai’s first proper hot hatch, though the bottom lip spoiler at the front is finished with a silver pinstripe rather than a red one. Twin exhaust pipes are found around the back, and wheels up to 18 inches are wrapped in grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres.

There are two derivatives to choose from: N Line and N Line +. The N Line can be specced with either engine and features LED tail lights, cloth sports seats, black headlining, a leather sports steering wheel and an N branded gear knob. Infotainment functions are taken care of through an eight-inch touchscreen equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

N Line + models  are only available with the larger 1.4-litre engine and add LED headlights, heated and electrically adjustable sports seats trimmed in leather and suede, plus a heated steering wheel and dual zone climate control. Regardless of spec, built-in sat-nav is a £250 optional extra.

On sale now, the i30 N Line starts at £19,995 for the 1.0-litre three cylinder model, climbing to £21,255 for the a manual-equipped 1.4-litre four-cylinder, and £22,255 for the auto. N Line + variants of both the manual and auto cost £2,000 more than their equivalent N Line models.

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