Hyundai i30 N 2023 Review | Goodwood Test

It seems obvious now, in the years since the i30 N first arrived, that the brand that has brought us the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, could produce such a genuinely spectacular car. But back in 2017 when it first arrived, we’d never seen anything like this from Hyundai before. The ‘N’ brand was something we’d first seen in motorsport back in 2012, as Hyundai began its eventually successful run in the WRC, but this was the first time we’d seen it on a road car.

You might think a company embarking on a new journey would be reserved, maybe taking two or three attempts before finding the sweet spot. Not so in the case of Hyundai, the i30 N immediately caught the eye of road testers around the world. At the first swing of the bat, this was a genuine competitor for the likes of the Honda Civic Type R and Ford Focus ST.

Even as this i30 N begins to age, it still feels bang on trend as a modern hot hatch. In many ways, its more reserved styling has worked in its favour, as other manufacturers in the sector (I’m looking at you Honda) have toned down their own design philosophies for a more mature and considered appearance.

So, more than half a decade later, the style of Hyundai still holds up well. A facelift in 2020 helped, but overall, the tidy front end matched with a bold but sporty rear makes for a solid balance when it comes to looks. It stands on 19-inch alloy wheels covering a set of red brake calipers.

There’s plenty of interest to be found in some of the more subtle detailing, too. The bodywork around the front bumper is intricately sculpted, while the rear spoiler is noticeable but not obnoxiously large. The red trim on the front splitter and diffuser, along with the ‘i30 N’ badging identify that this is indeed the N model.

And you’ll be glad you’re driving the N model because long story short, the i30 N is simply hilarious fun to drive. Even if it weren’t a real car capable of taking you from A to B, it would pass perfectly as possibly the world’s greatest toy.

At times there is simply too much power for this car to handle, but it’s all the better for it. The front wheels will struggle to keep up with demand if you slam the peddle to the floor, through first, second and even third gear, but it doesn’t take long for the torque vectoring to get things under control.

Stick it in the racy N mode and the steering becomes wonderfully weighted and snappy, reacting to your inputs with consistency and accuracy. The car feels well poised through corners, you can throw it in and it will go with you. There’s no fuss unless you ask for it, at which point any slip is conveyed through the wheel in such a way that you always feel one step ahead.

The six-speed manual gearbox in the i30 N is an absolute godsend. It feels simple, with no unnecessary tech trying to mess with the shifts, and the result is a wonderfully slick experience. The inclusion of rev matching is an interesting one. The system works remarkably well on this car, and you can see how it might appeal to a driver looking for an easy entry into a higher-performance car, which the i30 N represents.

Of course, being a hot hatch, this car is ultimately tailored towards offering that stiffer, more direct feel. As a result, the ride is rough, but not quite on the same level as something like the Honda Civic Type R. The i30 N feels consistent, and the firmer setup is generally a welcome and enjoyable experience. As always with cars like this though, it does become tiresome after an hour or so on the road.

There is a level of simplicity to what you’re presented with when you’re sat inside the i30 N. Overall quality of the interior is good, there’s no rattling and the materials used are solid and durable. Nothing feels cheap or underdone.

The leather steering wheel reserved exclusively for N models is chunky and a good size, mounted on it are buttons for media controls, and additional blue switches for drive mode selection on one side, and the N mode on the other. There are also heated leather and Alcantara sports seats that offer a modicum of support mixed with genuine comfort that does stack up well on longer journeys.

For all the good, though, the infotainment screen that has been rather unceremoniously plonked on top of the dashboard does bring the feel of the interior down somewhat. It looks and feels like it doesn’t belong inside what is an otherwise very pleasant space. The boot is also slightly frustrating because while luggage space is good, the lip is unreasonably high, which makes lifting and loading heavier items unnecessarily difficult.

I mentioned the infotainment. It’s a 10.25-inch touchscreen display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity and voice control. Those keen to monitor their driving performance can see power and torque demand figures, turbo boost and G-force measurements. Behind the steering wheel is a second 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster.

Climate control comes as standard on the i30 N, as does the heated steering wheel, cruise control and rear-view camera. There’s wireless phone charging, too.

Alongside the convenience features, there’s also the standard list of safety tech. Lane-keeping assist, blind spot monitoring and autonomous emergency braking are all included.

The Hyundai i30 N is a car that delivers far beyond its remit. It entered as a minnow in a hot hatch class absolutely packed with long-established motoring icons from Volkswagen, Honda, Renault and Ford, but has well and truly elbowed its way in.

It’s impossible to hide the joy that comes from driving this car. Whether it’s the raucous engine note forced out of the exhaust, the spectacular gear changes, or the lively dynamics that help you to attack each and every corner, it’s a package that thrills and entertains in double or even triple measures.