Hyundai i30

Base i30 (hatch only):

• 2.0-litre petrol
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Full-sized alloy spare
• LED daytime running lights
• Dusk-sensing projector headlights
• Leather-wrapped wheel and shifter
• Cloth seats
• Reversing camera and sensors
• 8.0-inch touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Six-speaker audio
• Manual A/C
• Active cruise control
• Rear vents

Active adds (hatch and sedan):

• Leather-appointed seats
• One touch auto up/down windows
• 17-inch wheels

Elite adds (hatch and sedan):

• Proximity key access
• Button start
• Rain-sensing wipers
• 10.25-inch touchscreen
• Digital radio
• Satellite-navigation
• Infinity-branded audio upgrade (hatch)
• Bose-branded audio upgrade (sedan)
• Wireless charging pad
• Dual-zone climate control

N Line main features (hatch and sedan):

• 1.6-turbo engine
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Multi-link rear suspension
• Space-saver spare
• Dusk-sensing LED headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Dual-zone climate control
• Michelin Pilot Sport tyres (hatch)
• Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres (sedan)
• Proximity key access
• Alloy pedal caps
• N Line sports gear knob, steering wheel and seats
• LED headlights and tail lights
• N Line body kit
• Paddle shifters for DCT auto
• Reversing camera and sensors
• 8.0-inch touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Six-speaker audio
• Leather-appointed seats

N Line Premium add (hatch and sedan):

• 10.25-inch touchscreen
• Digital radio
• Satellite-navigation
• Infinity-branded audio upgrade (hatch)
• Bose-branded audio upgrade (sedan)
• Glass sunroof
• Powered driver's seat
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror

N hot models add (hatch):

• 2.0-litre turbo-petrol
• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Pirelli P-Zero tyres (hatch)
• Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres (sedan)
• e-LSD
• Active-valve exhaust
• Unique colours
• Uprated brakes
• Active dampers
• Unique body kit
• Stiffness bar

N Premium models add (hatch and sedan):

• Alcantara and leather-appointed seats (hatch)
• Leather-appointed seats (sedan)
• Auto-dimming mirror
• Heated seats and wheel
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Panoramic glass sunroof (option on manual hatch)
• Glass sunroof (standard on sedan)

Regular i30s:

• Polar White
• Fluidic Metal ($595 extra)
• Amazon Grey ($595 extra)
• Phantom Black ($595 extra)
• Fiery Red ($595 extra)
• Intense Blue ($595 extra)

i30 N models:

• Polar White (both)
• Performance Blue (both)
• Shadow Grey (hatch)
• Engine Red (hatch)
• Phantom Black ($595 extra, both)
• Dark Knight ($595, hatch only)
• Intense Blue $595, sedan only)
• Fiery Red ($595, sedan only)
• Fluid Metal ($595, sedan only)
• Cyber Grey ($595, sedan only)

Service costs vary depending on engine, with your best bet being to pre-pay for five years of servicing.

Base, Active and Elite hatchbacks and sedans with the base 2.0-litre engine have service intervals of 12 months or 15,000km, and come with a five-year service plan costing $1495.

N Line and N Line Premium hatchbacks and sedans with the turbocharged 1.6-litre engine and intervals of 12 months or 10,000km come with a five-year service plan costing $1495, but note the shorter distance intervals.

N and N Premium hatchbacks and sedans with the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine and intervals of 12 months or 10,000km come with a five-year service plan costing $1675.

Base models with the 120kW/203Nm (hatch) or 117kW/191Nm (sedan) 2.0-litre engine and six-speed transmissions are inoffensive motoring, with decent locally-sorted ride and handling balance – with one caveat being mediocre noise suppression.

The N-Line models have a multi-link rear suspension, 150kW and 265Nm turbo engines, and the option of a seven-speed dual-clutch auto with paddles, making them quite consummate warmed-up hatchbacks.

But the superstar models are the proper N cars, with their Nurburgring-honed tuning, adaptive dampers, multi-mode exhausts, massive brakes, LSDs, stiffening braces, variable steering and throttle modes, circuit maps, and track-ready driving modes that relax electronic driver aids.

These are the real-deal. And that's before mentioning the 206kW and 392Nm (more on over boost) turbo engine, and availability of either six-speed manual or new eight-speed DCT.

Metallic or Mica paint, and the sunroof on i30 N models.

Hyundais come with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

By most accounts, supplies of the i30 are relatively good.

Both body styles are classified as Small Cars under $40,000, even though the N models exceed this.

Hyundai sold 20,626 i30s in 2023, beating its closes rival the Toyota Corolla.

From a cheap rental base to a track-honed dynamo, the range has you pretty covered. The only real missing areas are the lack of a hybrid to match the Corolla, and lack of a wagon.

Ex BMW M chief Albert Biermann led development of the i30 Ns at Germany's Nurburgring.