- Doors and Seats
4 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.0T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
206kW, 392Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 8.3L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto (DCT)
- Warranty
5 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan N review
Hyundai's upstart hot hatch (well, sedan) boasts bucketloads of attitude, but is it a one-trick pony, or is there a daily-driveable depth to the recently updated i30 Sedan N.
- Great value as one of the most affordable cars in its class
- Stacked with premium equipment
- Old-fashioned raucous fun when the right road presents itself
- Tyre noise is a drain on longer drives
- Misses some of the equipment available overseas
- Steering could be sharper, more communicative
2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan N
The Hyundai i30 was one of those 'new ground' cars for Hyundai when it first went on sale. It aimed to move the brand away from its budget origins and towards a more mainstream position.
After years of being mainstream, the addition of an i30 hot hatch moved the game on for Hyundai again. Not just mainstream, but sophisticated enough to engineer an aspirational performance car.
But the i30 N isn't groundbreaking or revolutionary any more. It's been around for a while, and in that time has been updated with a sedan version added to the range.
Because the hatch and sedan run slightly different introduction and update schedules, the facelifted i30 Sedan N is a more recent arrival in Australia. Subtly updated on the outside, minimally different on the inside, but with a raft of small engineering tweaks to evolve it slightly.
So is this the go-fast small car for you? Competition is limited but fierce, so I set out to discover if the sportiest Hyundai four-door is one you can live with day-to-day.
How much is a Hyundai i30 Sedan N?
Hyundai's i30 N range isn't really a range as much as a single model with a few options. The i30 Sedan N comes only in 'Premium' trim, and that starts from $52,000 plus on-road costs. From there you can opt for a six-speed manual or eight-speed dual-clutch automatic at no extra cost, or you can add premium paint for $595 or a sunroof for $2000.
The car I'm driving is equipped with the eight-speed auto, but no sunroof and the Performance Blue paint is a no-cost choice (as is Atlas White).
Everything you see on the car, like the contrasting body kit and rear spoiler, 19-inch forged alloy wheels, drainpipe-sized exhaust tips, and black badging is standard. Part of the N model's aggressive overhaul from the already fairly dramatic-looking regular i30 Sedan range.
Under the surface, the i30 Sedan N packs in adaptive suspension (which has been tweaked slightly with the update), a multi-mode sports exhaust, and upgraded hardware like suspension, bracing, brakes and more – all dialled up from the standard i30 to the N.
Inside, the i30 Sedan N comes with heated and ventilated front seats, leather upholstery, a powered driver's seat, 10.25-inch displays for the instruments and infotainment, eight-speaker Bose audio, keyless entry and push-button start, wireless phone charging, ambient interior lighting, dual-zone climate control, and more.
Key details | 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan N Premium |
Price | $52,000 plus on-road costs |
Colour of test car | Performance Blue |
Options | None |
Price as tested | $52,000 plus on-road costs |
Drive-away price | $56,885 (Melbourne) |
Rivals | Honda Civic Type R | Subaru WRX |
How big is a Hyundai i30 Sedan N?
While it falls under the 'small car' classification in Australia, the i30 Sedan is a generous small car. At 4710mm long, the sedan is 370mm longer nose to tail than the equivalent hatch. It rides on a longer wheelbase too, with an extra 70mm between the front and rear wheels for a little extra passenger accommodation.
While the i30 Sedan N's update brought noticeable exterior styling changes, inside the sporty sedan feels less different. Trainspotters might pick the black Hyundai badge on the steering wheel, the added USB-C ports or a slightly larger wireless charge pad. The differences are very much in the fine details.
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Interior space is generous. It's a low car, so naturally you'll need to drop into the seats, but it's not too difficult to extract yourself from. Front and rear room are decent, without feeling hemmed in, though taller rear-seat passengers may find head room tight.
Rear-seat passengers get access to rear air vents through the centre console, but there's no centre armrest and no cupholders.
On some more demanding roads, I did wish I could set the driver's seat a touch lower, but for the most part I like the ergonomic balance Hyundai has struck. I also found myself wishing that Hyundai Australia could find a way to make the sportier N Light seats from the hatch available in the sedan.
Overseas markets offer the upgrade, but Australia sticks with the less aggressively profiled sports seats. Still sporty though a little better suited to comfy Sunday drives and not quite the perfect match for weekend track jaunts.
The interior does come incredibly well stocked, however, with heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, powered driver's seat with two-position memory, leather seat trim, auto-dimming interior mirror, dual-zone climate control, auto lights and wipers and ambient cabin lighting – plus more.
Boot space measures 464 litres, which is decent for a small car, but the N-specific chassis brace across the rear of the vehicle stands in the way of being able to fold the rear seats down and slide bulky items through. You can still fold the rear seat down, but the aperture is obstructed.
The boot is manually opened and closed, but Hyundai has a hands-free opening option that pops the boot lid when you stand near the back of the car for a few seconds. It can be frustrating if you simply need to be near your car, but is easy to turn off via the vehicle settings.
2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan N Premium | |
Seats | Five |
Boot volume | 464L seats up |
Length | 4710mm |
Width | 1825mm |
Height | 1415mm |
Wheelbase | 2720mm |
Does the Hyundai i30 Sedan N have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
Hyundai has started rolling out a new infotainment system across various models, but the i30 Sedan N misses out on that latest system. Instead it comes with a carryover infotainment platform, which although fully equipped, isn't as sharp as Hyundai's latest.
A 10.25-inch touchscreen allows access to AM, FM, and digital radio, wired connectivity to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, and inbuilt satellite navigation.
Added with the most recent update, Bluelink connected services allow SOS call functions from the vehicle, or remote services like vehicle location and remote unlocking when paired via the Bluelink app. Access is complimentary for the first five years of ownership.
It's hard to fault Hyundai's system. It is fairly simple to understand, and a pair of user-configurable favourites buttons (one below the screen, one on the steering wheel) allow you to call up your favourite functions without hunting through menus. Compared to Hyundai's newest system, though, it looks a little less fresh, and the speed and responsiveness of the system could be better.
The cabin offers USB-A and USB-C charge points up front, and a pair of USB-C ports in the rear. The wireless charge pad has increased in size slightly – but with the need to plug in to use smartphone mirroring, it may not get much of a workout. It worked fine for me without the need to be millimetre accurate for where you drop your phone.
Is the Hyundai i30 Sedan N a safe car?
The Hyundai i30 hatch and sedan are two distinct models, despite sharing a name. Crash test body, ANCAP, views them as different, so the test data compiled for the i30 hatch doesn't apply to sedan models.
While the 'regular' i30 hatch range has a 2017 five-star ANCAP rating, neither any variant of the sedan, nor i30 N hatch, is covered by the same rating as non-N hatch models. The entire sedan range is untested by ANCAP (or Euro NCAP).
The airbag count runs to six, with dual front, front-seat side, and curtain airbags, but no centre or knee airbags.
2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan N Premium | |
ANCAP rating | Untested |
What safety technology does the Hyundai i30 Sedan N have?
The i30 Sedan N has some safety hits and a few minor misses. The overall list of standard features is strong, with blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alert and assist to keep you out of trouble, plus autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep and lane-centring assist.
There's also rear occupant alert, safe exit warning, and high beam assist. A decent list all up.
Despite overseas versions of the i30 Sedan N offering features like 360-degree cameras and Hyundai's blind-spot view monitor, Aussie-delivered cars aren't available with these. Adaptive cruise control is also not available.
Features like lane centring help share some of the load on long drives, but the road sign recognition can be vocal if it thinks you're over the speed limit. No issue when it helps if you accidentally slip over the posted limit, but in my week with the car it repeatedly read 80km/h zones as 30, and 110km/h zones as 100, with a persistent reminder chime each time a speed sign was passed and read wrong.
It is possible to turn off the speed sign system entirely, but there's no option to leave the in-dash visual indicator on, but turn the chime off – and even then it needs to be reset each time the car is started.
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) | Yes | Includes cyclist, junction, and pedestrian detection |
Adaptive Cruise Control | No | Regular cruise control on i30 Sedan Ns only |
Blind Spot Alert | Yes | Includes collision-avoidance assist |
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert | Yes | Alert and assist functions |
Lane Assistance | Yes | Lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centring assist |
Road Sign Recognition | Yes | Includes manual speed limit assist |
Driver Attention Warning | Yes | Includes fatigue monitor |
Cameras & Sensors | Yes | Front and rear sensors, reverse-view camera |
How much does the Hyundai i30 Sedan N cost to run?
The i30 Sedan N is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Hyundai also has an allowance for track use – though this doesn't cover competition or timed events.
Servicing is available either with a capped price pay-as-you-go program, or through a prepaid plan. Forking out at each service will cost you $1105 over three years, and a total of $1855 over five years. If you opt to prepay pricing is slightly cheaper, at $1065 for three years, or $1775 for five years. Service intervals occur every 12 months or 10,000km.
A quote for insurance came to $1742 per year based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
The same owner details came back with quotes of $1903 for a Honda Civic Type R, $1686 for the Toyota GR Corolla, and $1712 for a Subaru WRX, putting the i30 Sedan N roughly mid-pack.
At a glance | 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan N Premium |
Warranty | Five years, unlimited km |
Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km |
Servicing costs | $1105 (3 years) $1855 (5 years) |
Is the Hyundai i30 Sedan N fuel-efficient?
Hyundai has taken a performance-first approach with the i30 N, and doesn't equip it with fuel-saving measures like idle-stop or mild hybrid assist. The official fuel consumption rating is 8.3 litres per 100 kilometres.
In my week with the car, the i30 Sedan N settled at 8.6L/100km, which is surprisingly close to the claim; however, a skew towards highway driving helps here. Despite some peak-hour commuting, and a few spirited drives, the mixed-use figure looks good. If you're shuffling in heavy traffic, don't be surprised to see the consumption edge towards the 14–15L/100km mark.
As a dedicated performance engine, Hyundai specifies 95-octane premium unleaded, which isn't much of a surprise. It's pretty typical of its rivals too.
Fuel efficiency | 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan N Premium |
Fuel cons. (claimed) | 8.3L/100km |
Fuel cons. (on test) | 8.6L/100km |
Fuel type | 95-octane premium unleaded |
Fuel tank size | 47L |
What is the Hyundai i30 Sedan N like to drive?
It doesn't take much to derail a car in the hot hatch class. Get it right, and you'll win the hearts of enthusiasts for a lifetime, but get one detail wrong and it's almost unforgivable.
Hyundai seemed to have a pretty good grasp on this when the i30 N hatch first launched, and the i30 Sedan N that followed didn't falter. It may be a sedan in body classification, but it's a true hot hatch in on-road performance.
A regular i30 is a fairly inconspicuous car to drive. Mild-mannered and easily forgettable, not bad but not standard-setting, and for a mass-market small car that's fine.
The i30 N flips that. You get a rumbling exhaust noise, a responsive engine with plenty of mid-range torque and willingness to chase its redline, and secure but enticing handling that invites you to take the long drive home via the most winding roads every time.
I'd normally strongly advocate for the manual option instead of an automatic, but the Hyundai-designed eight-speed dual-clutch auto is good. Really good. If you split your time between fun roads and motivation-draining commutes, it might just be the ideal solution.
In my time with the car, I never found it uncertain of what gear it needed, or hesitant to move from a standstill. It delivers great low-speed manners, and swift, seamless, speedy shifts on the go. If I had to pick an issue, the steering wheel paddle shifters for manual mode don't feel sturdy, and have a loose, wobbly engagement point when they should click with a precise action.
In the world of small performance cars, the Civic Type R sets a lofty benchmark for steering feel and responsiveness. The i30 Sedan N is good, but it's a blunter instrument. You can adjust steering weight, but in Normal mode it already feels a touch heavy, while Sport mode doesn't invoke extra driver involvement, instead feeling a touch tranquilised.
Ride quality can be a divisive topic when it comes to cars with a performance skew. Should a performance car be tied down and relay the details of the road surface? Usually yes. Should it be harsh or unwaveringly firm? I tend to think it's not always necessary, and thankfully Hyundai agrees.
The i30 Sedan N is firm, but not too firm. It can endure long stints on rural roads without becoming unbearable – and that's a very good thing. It has adjustable dampers, so via the drive modes you can set things to be a touch more purposeful, but in configuring the ideal mode for me I dialled up engine, transmission, and limited-slip differential settings, but was happy with the suspension and steering in Normal mode.
Even in Eco mode, the car wakes up readily if you need a burst of acceleration. Normal mode feels like a bit of a misnomer, it's not really 'normal' in a car with so much accessible performance, but it is a good all-situations setting, while Sport kicks things up for public road drives that can handle a touch more involvement.
N mode begs for track use, and the adjustable settings cover engine, steering, suspension, exhaust, stability control, differential and transmission for a detailed and comprehensive array of customisation, without throwing in more than you need on a road car.
Then there's the noise. You can add in speaker-driven enhancement, but why would you? The exhaust bark is subtle when you ask it to be, and free from cruising speed drone, but adds in upshift theatrics when you're pushing hard.
The downside is the pronounced tyre roar at highway speeds – not something the i30 N is guilty of alone, though. Most small performance cars have a similar issue.
Key details | 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan N Premium |
Engine | 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol |
Power | 206kW @ 5500–6000rpm |
Torque | 392Nm @ 2100–4700rpm |
Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
Transmission | 8-speed dual-clutch automatic |
Power-to-weight ratio | 136kW/t |
Weight (kerb) | 1515kg |
Spare tyre type | Space-saver |
Payload | 445kg |
Tow rating | 1600kg braked 700kg unbraked |
Turning circle | 11.7m |
Can a Hyundai i30 Sedan N tow?
Although it may not be the first thing you think of when shopping for a small sedan with track-ready capabilities, the i30 N is rated to tow up to 1600kg with a braked trailer or 700kg unbraked.
That's modest, but it would potentially be enough for a garden trailer, a jet ski, or a box trailer loaded up with a set of track tyres and tools – enough to keep you running on a track weekend. Plus, with a total payload up to 445kg, you could probably bring your own pit crew along for the drive.
Should I buy a Hyundai i30 Sedan N?
If you're after a potent small car with a distinct wild side, the i30 Sedan N would be well worth looking at. The hot hatch and sedan class in Australia is free from disappointment overall, but with a starting price of $52K before on-road costs, the i30 Sedan N comes with a packed equipment list and huge performance potential.
It also undercuts front-wheel-drive rivals like the Honda Civic Type R and Volkswagen Golf GTI. While you can pick up a Subaru WRX for less, you'd still need to move up the range to match the i30's equipment list – though you do get the surety of all-wheel drive with the Subaru as a small bonus.
Hyundai's efforts with the i30 N range aren't half-hearted. This is a compelling small car with excellent performance credentials that also happens to be broad enough in its skill set to make it an agreeable daily driver as well.
How do I buy a Hyundai i30 Sedan N? The next steps.
Hyundai dealers have stock ready to roll, and because of the relatively limited number of options and variants, there's a good chance you'll be able to find the car you're after, though it's worth noting that automatics are easier to come by than manuals.
You can browse new, used, and ex-demonstrator Hyundai i30 Ns for sale at Drive Marketplace. You can also check out your nearest Hyundai dealer, and the Hyundai Aus website allows you to buy online, but doesn't have a stock search tool to find cars near you.
To stay up to date with the latest updates on this car, and the entire Hyundai range, you can find all the latest Hyundai news here.