Hyundai i30 N Performance 2018 review: snapshot

Hyundai's first proper hot hatch wasn't an afterthought - from day one of the new i30's development, the N was part of the deal.

Powered by a 2.0-litre turbo engine developing 202kW/353Nm, the i30 N is an absolute rocket and it's here to eat the VW Golf's lunch, loudly and with great precision.

As we only get the N Performance version, standard are 19-inch alloy wheels, and it also has bigger performance brakes, its own specification of Pirelli P-Zero tyres, an extra selectable drive mode known as N, dual-mode exhaust, sports front seats, mechanical limited slip diff, torque vectoring, auto rev matching and active dampers.

Explore the 2018 Hyundai i30 range

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• Hyundai i30 Elite 2018 review: snapshot
• Hyundai i30 Premium 2018 review: snapshot
• Hyundai i30 SR 2018 review: snapshot
• Hyundai i30 N Performance 2018 review: snapshot
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You'll also find a handy set of front seats trimmed in leather (the steering wheel and gear shifter are fake leather), dual-zone climate control, reversing camera, active cruise control,  rear parking sensors, auto LED headlights, keyless entry via smart key technology, power windows front and rear, heated powered door mirrors, LED daytime running lights, sat nav, and a space-saver spare.

The six-speaker sound system has AM/FM/DAB radio, Bluetooth and USB and is controlled via a dash-mounted 8.0-inch touch screen. iPhone and Android users will be pleased to know all i30s have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The five-star ANCAP safety package is composed of seven airbags, ABS, stability and traction controls, hill-start assist, brake-force distribution, forward AEB, forward collision warning, blind spot detection, lane-change assist, lane-keeping assist, rear cross traffic alert and active cruise.