The Hyundai i30N Review - Part 1: It's Good, But... 

Owned one since March, it still manages to put a smile on my face 2700 miles later 😁😁

I own this car and I am blown away at Hyundai's first attempt at a genuine hot hatch. A couple gripes include a mediocre stereo system and a boring interior- particularly the doors and front dash. Also no rear AC vents or USB charge points or an extendable centre console. Other than those minor gripes, this car is phenomenal. Genuinely surprised at how well it handles corners and how composed and refined it is. The car feels solid and planted, barely noticeable wind or tyre noise from inside and the exhaust is great, turns heads constantly. I bought mine in Polar White fully optioned, including the panoramic sunroof (highly recommend). I 100% agree with the steering and comparing it to the Golf GTI which I've driven, it is definitely better. I wish to get it tuned in the coming months.

I have owned one for a couple of years now. It is the most fun I have had driving a car since I drove the original Mini back in 1982. The handling is out of this world. I took a bend(30%) at around 60-70 miles an hour and it did not even hint at losing grip. I am too chicken to push it any further as if i smash it up, then its me who loses out. I recommend it so much. One thing if you are not familiar with LSD, then you will soon enough when you go round a tight corner. There are two stories going around about the meaning of "N". One is Nurburgring where it was tested and the second is that it is the first letter of the Korean city that is the home of Hyundai.

30 shirts in 1 shirt, that's brilliant...

Fabulous cars. I've had mine for 6 months now, put 6,000 miles on it and it's been brilliant. So much fun to lob down a good bit of road, and inspires bags of confidence. Albert Biermann knows what he's doing.

I've recently test driven the i30N and the salesman is a Silverstone racing instructor with loads of racing and instructing experience he has even worked as an instructor at the Nürburgring and he made several points about the suspension setup. Road driving use normal and leave it alone, some UK tracks you could use the sport setting and Silverstone is smooth enough for N mode damping. If you were lapping the Ring though leave it in normal. Also the softer LSD setting is helpful in road use as it gives a bit more steering feel but either is fine.

Did I read correctly that the i30N pops and bangs are actually part of an anti-lag system as in rally cars? If true that's pretty cool that they're not just engineered for the sake of sound

Clearly you prefer hot patches!

Regular, solid content! This channel is getting seriously good 👍🏼

For.. N mode.. selecting N mode 😳 on the home interface.. to get the N settings.. makes sense to me 🤔

Do you review and do not know what N means? Namyang - Nurburgring! Namyang is Hyundai R&D Centre in Korea and Νurburgring where the i30 N was further developed and tested.

"I don't know what 'N' stands for"... really, WTF! You didn't do much research before making this video... did you?

Pressing the N button without varying any specific settings is primarily for track use. Which the factory warranty covers conditionally.

Good review but Sport+ suspension is absolutely brilliant for fun driving...do not listen to that nonsense 😂 IF you actually push the car hard enough, you can chuck it around most country road bends at 60mph no issue...KEEP IT IN NORMAL SUSPENSION AND YOU'LL BE IN A BUSH. Same with the steering. If you have it in Normal mode, every crack and dip in the road will throw you off. Keep it in Sport + and it doesn't react and keeps the car aligned. (Sorry but it really annoyed me that he said it ruins the car if you use N mode)

It is just incredible how amazing they did at their first attempt! The golf needed 30 years to get this good and they just nailed it

Your comments on the exhaust sounds are 100% correct in my opinion.

The colour is called N Storm and the N stands for Nurburgring as that is where it was developed and they built a HQ there

Another good review, of a car that has recently appeared on my radar. Really love the pops and bangs. I’m childish I know, but it’s the little things in life.😉

I own the i30N. Reviewer pretty much nails how the car feels. By the way, you can turn of the pops and bangs ang keep the Sport+ exhaust sound, by setting Engine Response to SPORT.

Nice review Jay you've made me feel good about owning one. My biggest gripe though is the MPG it is very poor but insurance premiums are silly low . Swings and roundabouts come to mind .

For custom settings the ‘N’ button would have been my first choice.

The N comes from the name of the Hyundai R&D in Korea. Which is called 'Namyang' each car is designed around a different track. The i30N is designed around track #3 at Namyang.

Had mine 4 days. Amazing car! That rev matching!

Marvellous, and a Hyundai supplied press car too, I imagine! Very pleased you have managed to review one of these.

Albert Biermann lead the designed of this car, he headed BMW M division for many years before leaving to work for Kia Hyundai. Hence N - see what Biermann did there? I think Hyundai have a great future with him in charge, looking forward to more N cars..

1. No you can not only choose the paint, there are 2 basic packages to choose from and you can choose to have a panoramic roof or the strut brace in the trunk. The 2 packages are a navigation pack (bigger screen and so on) and a comfort pack (leather seats, alcantara elements). 2. N stands for Namyang and Nürburgring. 3. There is a "premium sound option" just not in the configurator but in the accessories section. If you order this car you can tell the dealer to install the pack, which costs 400€. 4. The "N-setting" is a setup for a track, not for bumpy, broken roads, that's why there's Custom. Eventho I have to disagree you can very well drive in N-mode if your road is intact.

Worzle Gummidge wants his shirt back 😉

Thats so weird.. I literally searched whether you'd done an i30N review last night and the very next day you upload one

Top of my list in a few months when it's time to return the Polo GTi...which with no 3dr version anymore, has lost me... sitting in one of the i30N's, I was extremely impressed!

I actually have one of these and you just set the car in n custom and put the suspension in the softest setting and lighten the steering and it's amazing fun. Plus I have only seen 1 other one on the road near me and it feels more exclusive admittedly the stereo is not great but I've found I just like hearing the car anyway. And 26mpg is good I barely get 20mpg but if your worried about economy buy a boring hatch not one of these

Good, honest and informative vid. You come across as a trustworthy journo (i.e. one whose opinion isn't bought and paid for). Thanks for the info.

1. N stands for Nürburgring 2. N-mode is for Nürnurgring or track-driving. If you put it into N-mode on your British roads it's your own fault. I think it's quite nice to have it in a "performance" version hot hatch and there is no need to select it on normal roads.

you are just another normal british i guess, totally not a car guy. but you got what the general public feels when using that car, so good job, mate.

A more affordable Honda Civic Type R, and a more exciting/reliable GTi and Focus ST.

Pops and bangs on this car is for removing turbo lag.

I’m having a problem hearing you over that Shirt!!! 🥴🥴

What a refreshingly honest car review, loved it bud!!!!..... you got a new subscriber :) Cheers, Don (Dons Shed and Xplor Overland)

Honestly cannot wait to pick mine up hopefully next week!

It's great to hear someone else who agrees that ultra stiff suspension isn't the best for everyday roads. Something that flows with the road, rather than try and beat it in to submission with nothing more than sheer stubbornness. 😁

Would love to drive this car. I see one driving around where I live. Looks great. I do remember hearing that the head of Hyundai N division used to be the head of BMW M. Which is probably why it drives so well. I have yet to drive and review one myself but one day I will. I do like the Hyundai/Kia cars.

Great video But Joesph wants his shirt back

Subscribed. I like your reviews mate and the mix of cars reviewed. Cheers👍

In my opinion, your most professional presentation yet. Top line motoring journoes will have to up their game to keep you in check.

Jay. How old was the i30N you drove. I drove one at Millbrook at the N day in 2018 and shortly after Hyundai admitted they were working on revised suspension settings to soften things up a bit as it was agreed it was too stiff and fidgety. Longer bump stops were also mentioned at the time. This has already been incorporated in the i30N fastback. Just wondering if your car had the new settings too.

They stopped making the Hyundai Eon last year, 800cc, 50 mpg! What is the purpose of the i30N? Making a car ban come sooner? This will be insane in taxes and because of that, people will literally gaze in disbelief as you drive by.

would be interesting to see a review on the RCZ R, yes its not a new car, but i would like your take on it

Nice review. Why wouldn’t one look in the manual for how to use the settings and once learned not forgotten? 👍🏻

Great review, i really like your style of making video’s. But tell some more about your Saab😊

Jay, you weren't Mr Tumble in a previous life were you??😲 😂

Well the normal i30N has cloth seats, that would be reason enaugh for me to get the normal version over the performance version.

The owner enjoys “ Youngs Chinese” looking at the call list 😂

15:02 pops and bangs activate. Subtitles: [Applause] XD Love it

4:52 N is for Nurburgring where it was tested and also Namyang where the car was R&D. 12:04 The pops and bangs are actually there for a reason on this car; I believe it's part of the Anti lag system on the turbo. Engineering explained explains it a lot better than I would.

1 of the best hot hatches in its price range.

good vid again buddy! iv drove the new civic r and must say did shock me just how good it really was! but this is cool car that if only it had a little more power!

Great video, looking forward to the comparison with the Type R.

Top notch shirt! I like the look of the N cars compared to the rest of the ugly hatchback class, but of course I’d prefer RWD and a V6. Imagine a manual stinger drivetrain in a C segment hatch or the Veloster, now we’re talking!

The N is for Nürnburgring because it was developed there

You're wearing my grandma's quilt. I like it, not sure why, but I like it. Where do you get your shirts?

I agree about the pops and bangs being overdone. This is the best coverage of the car I've so far seen. It also has the benefit of not being an embarrassment to be seem in, unlike the Civic unfortunately.

I only paid £31,500 for a M140i Shadow edition which is in a different league...

I really enjoy your videos Jay, just get better and better.

For me the pops and bangs would need to be silenced , it can be silent and violent

The pops are pretty much a factory anti-lag system to keep the turbo spooling between gears from what I've heard.

you can not compare the direction with Megane RS which rotates the back wheels also; you can not compare with Honda Type R which is 25% more expensive

I know some people will moan about the interior quality but look at the big picture, price and performance which equals a cheaper drivers car which equals fun fun fun!

The only thing that concerns me with the i30N is the MPG other than that the rest of the car is perfect

Really enjoyed that one. As a massive Honda fan and S2000 driver for the last 15 years or so, I’d love a type r.... if it weren’t for the fussy, plastic cobblers going on. This appeals somehow as a left-field alternative especially as I’ve seen used ones at the £20k’ish mark. Alongside the S2000 of course! In reality I’m more likely to get an ep3 or fn2 civic cos I like my motoring depreciation free. Yes I’m tight! Look forward to the next episode....

Great review. You are what I would call a thinking man's car buff. Don't see enough of them.

Great review. I’m sure it’s a great car but it just doesn’t do it for me. I’d buy a m140i instead as I want a 6 Cylinder and 350bhp. If I was going for a fwd I’d get the civic type r as I love the over the top styling.

your clothing style is even weirder than Doug Demuro's, I like it

you are about 12 months too late to have any say... the car is awesome. The End.

Great review.

I am deeply grateful your taste in cars isn't as bad as your taste in shirts...

I test drove one recently and also was really surprised how good the Chassis was. But I felt it was lacking power. But I kept comparing it to my fun car in the garage which is an old Saab 9000 Aero 2.3T stage 3 tuned to 310bhp. So a bit more than the i30N. My old 9000 taps on 100 in 3rd, but the little Hyundai doesn't get close to that.

Came across your channel searching for the I30N. Really appreciate the work you put into your video, and presentation. But I found your comments quite frustrating at times. If your buying an I30N, your not going in blind. You would pretty much know what it does out of the tin. Anyone moaning about the suspension being to stiff, needs to not buy a hot hatch, although I agree that the most aggressive settings can be too much for some uk roads, and are for use on a track which the Hyundai warranty covers. What really got me and as I see in so many videos, is when the cars being tickled and people talk about being on it. Don’t get me wrong, borrowed car, public road, but if your talking about being on it get your foot in man. What would be more interesting is to find out how much the LSD negates wheelspin with out TC on as it’s the first thing I would turn off.

N is for Nurburgring where the car was developed and the location of Hyundai’s technical center!

Man, you should call this the Ignorance Car Review. The N stands for Namyang. It's Hyundai and Kai's R&D centre in Korea which also has its own test track. The car also comes in 2 performance options. Option 1 comes with the basic specifications and lower bhp. The option 2 comes with the sport pack with a higher bhp bigger wheels better tires and brakes etcetera. It's not a golf mate. It's for the manual purist for people who have gear shifting skills. May I remind you, its not a golf in terms for comparison. If you want finesse, refinement, softer suspension, and coffee shops, and your butler "Mr DSG Transmission" , due to cardiovascular arm shifting disabilities, then Golf is for you.

Why not buy the performance pack version? I can think of around 3500 reasons. That's a fair chunk of money to find over and above the cost of the standard version, no matter how much perceived 'value for money' you're getting.

Worzel gummidge called..... he wants his shirt back !

N is for Nurburgring where much of the testing took place.

A good review , nicely explained and concise but............. For the love of God do not wear that shirt again mate , my eyes were watering after this video and I dont think it was down to the cars looks! 😀

Very few criticisms out there about this car. Cant help but think it would sell even more were it not wearing a Hyundai badge because of badge snobbery which us Brits seem to be so good at...... £3500 for full leather a proper diff an extra 25bhp 19" wheels etc seems a bargain thats even before dealer discounts/negotiations. I also think they would sell more if the choice of hues was better. This blue to me looks bleached. Not as bad as Audi's current trend of painting cars that look like they are still in primer with their Nardo Grey paint. A nice strong blue like ford or vw would be a hit or gunmetal grey. Also they should have a delete option on that red front trim piece to black for a more subtle look..... Pricewise I think the cars a bargain at starting £26000 mrrp. Looking forward to the Civic video and hope it doesnt win on the grounds of just having another 40bhp. It certainly wont win on looks compared to most other hot hatches.

That shirt says my wardrobe is empty and everything else is in the washer 😂😂😂😂

"Maximum road feel." Yes it does! If the road is perfect than you can feel that and if the road is crap you can feel that too :P...But most of the roads are not prefect so we don´t want maximum road fell in "normal" cars. Just those for the track....I am gonna buy a new car very soon and it´s between Leon Cupra ST (300Hp, 7speed DSG, digital cocpit, 4WD, 5s 0-100km/h) and i30 Fastback N. Still can´t decide...Automatic vs manual, most fun to drive? The looks...and so on...Anyone else in same situation?

I can’t deny the I30N is a cracking motor and looks fab.To petrol heads it’s fantastic and ticks those boxes my Golf GTI PP turns a blind eye to. But..... and it’s a big but to the unknowing masses it’s a Hyundai in a track suit and it just hasn’t got the kerb appeal a Golf GTI and that’s a shame.

Favourite review as i have this car :)

I wish that shirt came as an extra when we ordered an i30N. Lol.

Pick up mine with luxury pack and sunroof in micron grey, blue led footwell lighting, performance blue is nice but not sure how long, great cars

It's called the N as it was made on the nurboring

i30 N , N come from place where it was designed in Namyang and honed at Nurburgring.

I would go with the performance model however I would much rather have 18" wheels with normal PS4 tyres. 19" wheels with rubber bands are crap unless you are on a track.

I love this and the Civic, pops and bangs like a mad thing and the Civic looks insane. Ford and the German hatches are just so…..ordinary

Can’t afford nice cars but I’d love one of these in Australia

'These displays are super responsive', proceeds to press a button and it takes 2 seconds for it to respond lol. It's a joke compared to smartphones.

The context on one of your points is essential. It'd silly to use N mode on a bumpy back road. If you're on a race track though, go for your life.

How would you say it compares to the mk7 fiesta st? I like the fiesta but hate how hard the ride is. I've considered trading it in for an i30n in the future as i like the idea of the adjustable suspension but I'm not sure as a package the hyundai would still be a downgrade over the fiesta st

I would stop placing so much emphasis on the y in Hyundai. Sounds like it’s making you sick to say it lol.

I gotta give it up for Hyundai on this one... they really surprised a lot of people with the N products..

Wouldn’t N be because it was developed at the Nurburgring?