New 2021 Hyundai i30 N facelift on sale now from £33,745

The updated Hyundai i30 N gets refreshed styling and an optional eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox for the first time

Hyundai’s facelifted i30 N hot hatchback is on sale in the UK now, priced from £33,745 for the standard car and £34,495 for the coupe-inspired Fastback.

Launched as the brand’s first N performance, the i30 N has been a huge success for the Korean firm, establishing it as a serious player in the segment and providing it with a credible competitor for the Volkswagen GTI.

Hyundai’s latest update for the i30 N brings a few styling tweaks, some more power and a new optional eight-speed automatic gearbox, which can be had for an extra £1,950.

The i30 N’s design hasn’t altered drastically over the old car’s. Hyundai has made a few subtle revisions, fitting a wider radiator grille and some fresh LED headlamps, with a new V-shaped lighting signature. There’s also a couple of extra fins on the front bumper, which Hyundai says improves the car’s aerodynamics at high speeds.

At the rear, the hatchback features a new roof-mounted spoiler, which is fitted with the firm’s trademark triangular high-level brake light. The tail-lights are another new addition, as are the larger twin-exit exhaust tips. However, the rear of the Fastback remains unchanged over the outgoing model.

Every i30 N fitted with Hyundai’s Performance Pack, (which is the only version available to UK buyers) now gets new 19-inch forged alloy wheels, which shave 14.4kg off the weight of the car. The wheels are wrapped in high-performance Pirelli P-Zero tyres.

Hyundai’s updates are a little more noticeable inside. There’s a new 10.25-inch infotainment system, which features a redesigned interface for the i30 N’s adjustable driving modes. Now, owners can tweak the engine, exhaust and steering settings on one spiderweb-style graphic rather than having to cycle through menus like before. It’s a similar set-up to the brand’s recently launched i20 N.

The new infotainment screen also brings an improved voice control system and the latest version of Hyundai Bluelink. The latter upgrade adds a host of connected services, such as live parking information, last mile navigation and user profiles for each of the car’s drivers.

Hyundai has also introduced some new N Light Sport Seats as an optional extra. The upgrade costs £600 and swaps the car’s standard chairs for some lightweight bucket seats, which save 2.2kg. They’re trimmed in leather and Alcantara, and feature illuminated N badges on their headrests.

As before, the i30 N is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, but power rises from 273bhp to 278bhp, while torque is up by 39Nm, to a total of 392Nm. A six-speed manual transmission remains the standard set-up, although buyers can specify an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic as an optional extra.

The DCT has several unique features. First up is ‘N Power Shift’, which helps to maintain engine revs during upshifts to reduce the loss of drive torque and improve performance. The second – what Hyundai calls ‘N Grin Shift’ – is accessed via a steering wheel-mounted button labelled ‘NGS’. 

Press it and all of the i30 N’s variable parameters are put into their most aggressive setting for 20 seconds. That means increased engine power, faster gear shifts and an overboost function are all activated to deliver an instant hit of performance.

Partnership
Need to sell your car?
Find your best offer from over 5,000+ dealers. It’s that easy.

The gearbox also has a function called ‘N Track Shift’, which recognises the driving style by monitoring the driver’s steering, brake and throttle inputs. If it detects a sporty driving style, the system automatically adjusts the gearbox map to a more aggressive setting.

Hyundai says the i30 N’s steering and suspension set-ups have been re-tuned to improve handling and performance, while a new anti-roll bar has been added at the rear to increase rigidity. Buyers also get upgraded brakes with red calipers.

Standard equipment for the i30 N includes privacy glass, black door mirror caps, puddle lighting and a reversing camera. Inside, buyers get black headlining, N-branded treadplates, a heated steering wheel and a wireless smartphone charger.

The i30 N comes with a raft of standard safety kit, including forward collision avoidance, lane assist, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert and a new e-call system that can be used in case of emergencies. As with the rest of the Hyundai range, a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty is also standard.

What will the new Hyundai i30 N have to beat? These are the best hot hatchbacks on sale right now

Recommended

Cupra Leon line up revised with new Design Edition trims
Cupra Leon 242bhp
News

Cupra Leon line up revised with new Design Edition trims

With the addition of new Design Edition models, Cupra’s hot hatch now starts from £30,455
13 Sep 2023
New Volkswagen ID.3 GTX: first spy shots and all the latest on VW’s electric hot hatch
Volkswagen ID.3 GTX - front cornering
News

New Volkswagen ID.3 GTX: first spy shots and all the latest on VW’s electric hot hatch

Volkswagen’s family-friendly ID.3 will soon get the sporty GTX treatment
7 Sep 2023
Mercedes-AMG A45 S vs Honda Civic Type R: 2023 twin test review
Mercedes-AMG A45 S and Honda Civic Type R - front tracking
Car group tests

Mercedes-AMG A45 S vs Honda Civic Type R: 2023 twin test review

A refresh has upped the ante for Mercedes-AMG’s A 45 S. How does it shape up against our reigning Hot Hatch of the Year, the Honda Civic Type R?
26 Aug 2023
New Mercedes-AMG A 35 2023 facelift review
Mercedes-AMG A 35 - front action
Road tests

New Mercedes-AMG A 35 2023 facelift review

The A 35 is still one of the most refined hot hatches you can buy, but its new facelift isn’t a particularly thorough one
24 Jul 2023

Most Popular

New Jaguar XF Sportbrake 2024 review: big estate with value boost
Jaguar XF Sportbrake - front tracking
Road tests

New Jaguar XF Sportbrake 2024 review: big estate with value boost

Jaguar's XF Sportbrake may be 8 years old but it just got a whole lot cheaper!
7 Dec 2023
New Nissan Qashqai to get radical look and all-electric power
Nissan Qashqai exclusive image - front
News

New Nissan Qashqai to get radical look and all-electric power

Major investment in Nissan’s Sunderland plant underpins the new fourth-generation Qashqai
8 Dec 2023
Deal of the Day: Volkswagen ID. Buzz brings retro-style and practicality for £311 per month
Volkswagen ID. Buzz - front cornering
News

Deal of the Day: Volkswagen ID. Buzz brings retro-style and practicality for £311 per month

All-electric MPV offers style and substance - making it our Deal of the Day for Wednesday 6 December
6 Dec 2023