The Hyundai car company has been showing us a big and clearly visible shift forward in recent years. For many of us, the imaginary highlight and icing on the cake of this rise is the model that has currently passed our editorial test. It is none other than the Hyundai i30 N in Performance .
The market for sharp hatchbacks seemed very settled until the arrival of this model. Several generations of time-proven models were coming to the market, and for a long time no newcomer dared to enter this small and specific environment. But the old days are over, and at the end of last year, the Hyundai car company launched its representative on the market, which decided to grab a certain percentage of potential buyers of vehicles in this specific car segment.
The basis of the N model is the classic i30, which is classically available in three body variants, namely hatchback, liftback (fastback) and station wagon. The sharp Nk version tested is then based on the hatchback variant. Of course, Hyundai is not lagging behind and is already testing thenew i30 N in Fastback design .
A lot has already been written about the development of the enka itself, but let's go through it "quickly" following the example of the i30N. Hyundai went after the development of its sharp model with a clear goal to succeed, without any compromises or half-baked solutions. The i30N version was developed and tested in Europe under the leadership of long-time head of the M division (BMW) Albert Biermann. In addition, the sharp Enko was tested on the Nurburgring circuit, which is where, according to the automaker's information, its designation N comes from. Like the other 30s, its sharp Enko version is also produced in Nošovice.
Appearance
As is usually the case with hot hatches, the car does not hide its clear and readable character in any way. At first glance, it is clearly readable and classifiable. It can show its strengths well, in the presentation of the i30N in a very decent and elegant way.
The version we tested had an additional Performance Blue paint and 19-inch wheels, which are special specifically for the N model. The front part has a bumper that, compared to the classic 30, has quite logically enlarged intake holes for better cooling of the car. The lower part of the front bumper must not be missing the red line, which emphasizes the sporty character of the fastest i30. The dynamism of the side profile is underlined by the already mentioned huge nineteen-inch alloy wheels, which are shod with low-profile, specially developed for Enko, 235/35 tires, a real joy to look at. The rear part is then dominated by a distinctive lollipop of the fifth door and a pair of powerful and sonically very potent tailpipes of the exhaust system.
For some, the exterior appearance of the 30s may be a little more pronounced than that of the competition's cars, but it is nevertheless very decent, stylish and definitely pleasing.
Interior
The interior differs from the regular i30 in several details. The first is the leather seats with pronounced side guides, which are of course electrically adjustable and heated. There is also a multi-functional steering wheel with a really massive ring, which, in addition to the standard controls for the cruise control, telephone, audio system and on-board computer, also has a pair of special buttons for selecting driving modes. Miles will be surprised by the shift lever, with its round sports head, or its mechanical feedback. The instrument panel is quite classic, it has a pair of analog tachometer and speedometer indicators. Between them is the on-board computer display. However, what makes the enko original is the indicator, which, based on the engine temperature, shows you how far it is appropriate to rev the vehicle, and the second indicator, which shows you when it is appropriate to shift to a higher gear. Yes, the i30N is also equipped with rear seats and a luggage compartment, but this is in the context of the driving characteristics that it offers completely uninteresting ?
Drive
The I30N is a car with many faces, its huge advantage is that it can use its driving modes to change its character very significantly. Its “normal”, “eco”, “sport”, “N” or “custom” driving modes mainly affect engine response, differential operation, exhaust sound, damper settings, power steering settings, electronic stability control settings, etc.
Already in the basic Normal mode, a pleasant deep sound from the exhaust will be heard after start-up. For quieter and more economical driving, you can choose the Eco mode, which, in addition to a quieter exhaust setting, has an even more tepid response to the gas pedal.
The Sport mode is already quite different, the settings of everything except the ESC will change. The response to the gas pedal accelerates, the chassis and power steering stiffen, the differential's alignment increases, and the sides of the exhaust also change, it is noticeably louder with the occasional spectacular sound.
And finally we get to the "N" mode, which will intensify everything even more. The exhaust roars with every shift, the chassis is even stiffer and the engine revs even more willingly. An interesting feature is the Rev-Matching function, which adequately matches the engine speed when downshifting – this is a much faster response than with classic intermediate gases.
If you don't like anything about the factory "N" settings, there is also the N custom mode, where almost everything can be set as desired, for example, it is possible to have a softer chassis or a quieter exhaust in the sharp mode, or to turn off the stabilization completely.
The Nko stands out due to its high body rigidity, compared to the regular version, more high-strength steel was used, and the Performance variant also has a spacer between the shock absorbers in the luggage compartment, which further increases its rigidity. The front axle is equipped with a self-lock, so both wheels engage at the same time and you will simply enjoy exiting corners. The Enko is equipped with a six-speed manual with short and precise ranges. The steering must also be praised, for its clear response from the wheels, its characteristics then of course change with the selected driving mode.
On a positive note, I have to rate the brakes, the 345 mm discs at the front and 315 mm at the rear have very good performance and are well dosed. I would also appreciate their friendly start, you won't always ride on the edge with Enko, so you will appreciate the gradual onset of the braking effect. In the recently tested Peugeot 308 GTI, braking is much more aggressive and you always have to think about it.
Other interesting functions include, for example, Launch Control, or indicators of engine overload and performance. A nice function is also the graph where you can see the history of the use of the power or filling pressure of the turbo.
Conclusion
Hyundai definitely didn't miss a beat with its first hot hatch, on the contrary, it won't get lost even among established competitors. Enko can be very sharp, fast and very funny. His sound performance is simply pure joy. On the other hand, thanks to its rich driving modes, it can be very friendly, the daily commute to work will certainly not be a pain. Enko simply appeals to customers who are interested in great driving characteristics, driving fun and an interesting purchase price. You then have no choice but to turn a blind eye to the fact that Hyundai has not yet fully established a good name in the field of sports cars. So Enko is number one, but it was incredibly successful and we are already looking forward to the next representative of this division.
The price of the i30 N starts at CZK 759,990. There is a reasonable 20,000 extra for the Performance variant with 25 hp more power, electronically controlled self-locking, more powerful brakes, reinforcement in the luggage compartment and variable exhaust valve, the tested version also had the Everyday equipment package for 30,000. and 18,900 for varnish, so the overall price rose to 826,800 CZK.
