By Tshegofatso Mmahlatji

Hyundai has launched the new i30N hot hatch and this will prove to be a great treat for South Africans that are seeking individuality and want to stand out from the crowd. This performance model from the 20-year-old car manufacturer seeks to appeal to and capture a portion the Volkswagen GTI market. The latter is due for a new model in the second quarter of this year in Mzansi.

Exterior and interior

Aesthetically I’m happy with the looks of the i30N. The exterior is not too masculine but has the right looks for the track and public roads. The interior needs a bit more attention in my opinion as I feel more use of colour could have made the car pop and made it look sportier.

The 8“screen should have been imbedded more into the dash to give it a more sleek and smooth design. The infotainment supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with the use of a cable.

The exterior is very sporty, has a great low profile, great looking rear with a triangular brake light situated in the glossy spoiler.

Plenty standard spec

The i30N also boasts great features that come standard. For example, the panoramic sun roof, 19’ alloy rims, park assist, rear camera smart key, heated front seats and wireless charging, side curtain and driver knee airbags and rear stiffness bar just to mention a few.

Engine and drive

After driving the i30N, it is hard to not think about the price tag of R679,900. Taking into account the standard kit that is on offer and the huge warranty to back up the product, you can see where Hyundai is coming from with the pricing. The car is sublime to drive and the manual transmission is responsive and flows well from one gear to the next. In the age of self-shifting performance cars, this has a nostalgic touch many enthusiasts will appreciate. Count me in that lot. I’m old school like that and I particularly enjoyed this. The i30N is fantastic around the curves and has an excellent responsive braking system. The sports mode can feel a little stiff but the comfort mode switches up well to make the drive a lot smoother and more comfortable.

Hyundai will only have one derivative for the South African market which will be the four-cylinder 2.0 direct injection petrol engine. The i30N is front wheel drive with a six-speed short shift manual transmission. This engine produces 202kW and produces 353Nm of torque helping this vehicle do a 0-100km/h sprint in 6.1 seconds. The turbo engine delivers high responsiveness and a rich torque curve supported by an over boost function that temporarily increases the torque by 8%. Hyundai also offers a 7 year 200,000km manufacturer warranty and a 3-year unlimited kilometer genuine parts warranty.