Hyundai i30 Fastback N Line launched
Sportier aesthetics and tweaked suspension offer a halfway step to the red blooded range-topper
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Something-line models are everywhere these days. Once it was mostly consigned to the big Germans, who were among the first to cash in on demand for sporty-looking run-of-the-mill models, offering 320d M Sports and C220d AMG Lines to the masses. But now everyone’s in on it. Ford created its ST-Line (which replaced the old Zetec S trim) in 2016, Vauxhall relaunched GSi in response and Hyundai promptly followed with an N Line range, to which the i30 Fastback variant has just been added following enormous demand for the i30 hatchback version.
Joining the existing i30 N Line, which has represented almost half of all i30 sales in Britain, this halfway house between the regular Fastback and the proper N division hooligan comes with more sporting aesthetics both inside and out, as well as a tweaked suspension setup to give it keener handling. The latter’s been fine-tuned at the Nurburgring under the leadership of Albert Biermann, who’s now Hyundai’s head of research and development for all of its cars, not just the N-badged stuff. So it ought to be rather good.
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But first the altered look. Fastbacks are slightly roomier than the hatch, but it’s expected that most buyers will be drawn to them for the sleek look, rather than few extra litres of boot space. And the N Line version does appear to enhance the appeal. You get darker headlights and more aggressive bumpers, as well as a rear diffuser – or at least a lookalike one – that gains the N central fog light. Inside there are sports seats, a leather-wrapped wheel and an N gear knob, as well as lots more standard kit.
Making sure the N branding is more than just that, the N Line gets lowered suspension offering better body control, higher performance brakes and larger wheels, which come wrapped in Michelin PS4 rubber. The brand also retunes the responsiveness of the engine, but we take that to mean a quicker throttle mapping rather than anything more substantial. The powertrains offered with N Line trim are the 120hp 1.0-litre and 140hp 1.4, by the way.
Prices for the i30 Fastback N Line start at £20,495 for the three-pot, rising to £23,750 for the four-cylinder. This leaves a clear space to the £29,995 N model, which comes exclusively in 275hp form for the Fastback version, a car we like very much.
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Suspension changes, brake improvements, UHP Tyres, and throttle map changes are all excellent improvements for someone looking for a bit of extra handling without the additional engine power:- See younger drivers constrained by insurance costs.
As with the rest of the N's, this does look very promising - Though as much as I like them, I do still struggle to look over the badge, but that's just internalised snobbery.
Suspension changes, brake improvements, UHP Tyres, and throttle map changes are all excellent improvements for someone looking for a bit of extra handling without the additional engine power:- See younger drivers constrained by insurance costs.
As with the rest of the N's, this does look very promising - Though as much as I like them, I do still struggle to look over the badge, but that's just internalised snobbery.
I was lucky enough to go to Millbrook & driver the Hyundai - it was as good as the Focus RS I'd driven about 4 weeks earlier was disappointing (the Focus seemed to have been rather abused though).
I was lucky enough to go to Millbrook & driver the Hyundai - it was as good as the Focus RS I'd driven about 4 weeks earlier was disappointing (the Focus seemed to have been rather abused though).
If you were designing the front of a car to be aggressive, you'd opt for sharper looks, "Angry" headlights and design. Think Mk1 MX5 (Awww, cute face) vs the current generation.
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