Hyundai’s hot hatch hero has been treated to more power, more equipment, and a new look for 2021 – and its price has risen accordingly.
The entry-level 2021 Hyundai i30 N with a manual transmission kicks off at $44,500 before on-road costs, up $3500 over the previous entry model.
It’s also $500 more than the previous i30 N with Luxury Pack range-topper.
Despite the rise, the i30 N still undercuts the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Honda Civic Type R, Ford Focus ST, and Renault Megane RS on starting price.
At the top end of the range, the i30 N Premium with sunroof tips the range over the $50,000 marker for the first time.
Five models are offered in the updated range, two of which feature a new wet dual-clutch transmission.
Under the bonnet, there’s a revised 2.0-litre turbo four with 206kW (+4kW) and 392Nm (+39Nm).
Hyundai claims the 100km/h sprint is dispatched in just 5.4 seconds.
The i30 N will start arriving in dealers during July.
Pricing
- 2021 Hyundai i30 N manual: $44,500 (+$3499)
- 2021 Hyundai i30 N DCT: $47,500
- 2021 Hyundai i30 N Premium manual: $47,500
- 2021 Hyundai i30 N Premium with sunroof manual: $49,000
- 2021 Hyundai i30 N Premium with sunroof DCT: $52,000
All prices exclude on-road costs.
Engine
Power in the i30 N still comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, but its outputs have been boosted to 206kW and 392Nm.
A six-speed manual is still available, but the headline transmission for 2021 is the new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
It’s a wet-clutch unit, which Hyundai says makes it capable of handling higher torque outputs and temperatures.
There are two catchily-named features on board to up the appeal of Hyundai’s new dual-clutch unit. The first is dubbed N Grin Shift, which enables 20 seconds of overboost and sharpens up gearshifts for extra, well, grin factor.
The second is N Power Shift, which automatically kicks in when the throttle is depressed beyond 90 per cent. It’s designed to minimise torque reduction on flat-out upshifts, essentially slamming them home harder and faster than in normal driving.
It’s worth bearing in mind, a number of carmakers program their dual-clutch transmissions to shift harder and faster in Sport Mode, which sounds very similar to what Hyundai is promising.
The i30 N hits 100km/h in just 5.4 seconds with the DCT fitted, or 5.9 seconds with the manual. Previously the i30 N hit the 100km/h mark in 6.1 seconds.
Fuel Economy
Hyundai hasn’t confirmed final Australian fuel economy figures for the 2021 i30 N.
Servicing and Warranty
Hyundai’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty applies to the i30 N, and extends to owners who want to use their car on track.
Service prices haven’t been confirmed for the 2021 model, but the manual 2020 cars cost $897 to service on a prepaid three-year plan, $1296 on a four-year plan, and $1595 on a five-year plan.
Maintenance is required every 12 months or 10,000km.
Expect pricing to stay similar for the manual, but it’s not yet clear how much the DCT will cost to maintain.
Safety
When the Hyundai i30 was tested by ANCAP in 2017, it received a rating of five stars.
That rating was based on a frontal offset score of 14.01 out of 16 and a side impact score of 16 out of 16. Whiplash and pedestrian protection were rated Good and Acceptable, respectively.
At the base level, the i30 N manual gets:
- Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Lane-following assist
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Driver attention monitoring
- Reversing camera
Opting for the DCT adds:
- Blind-spot assist
- Rear cross-traffic assist
Standard Equipment
The i30 N features:
- 10.25-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Black cloth seats
- Active variable exhaust
- Adaptive suspension
- Uprated (360mm) brake package
- 19-inch forged alloy wheels
- Leather-trimmed steering wheel
- 4.2-inch colour trip computer
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Rear parking sensors
- Reversing camera
- LED headlight and tail light clusters
- Dual-zone climate control
- LED puddle lights
- Power folding mirrors
- Keyless entry and start
- Wireless phone charging
Opting for the N Premium adds:
- Front parking sensors
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Rear privacy glass
- N Light bucket seats
- Leather and Alcantara trim
- Auto-dimming interior mirror
- Heated seats
- Heated steering wheel
The N Premium with sunroof also has a panoramic glass sunroof.
Six colours are available. Performance Blue, Engine Red, Shadow Grey, and Polar White are no-cost options, while Dark Knight and Phantom Black cost an additional $495.
