Hot hatch war heats up: 2019 Hyundai i30 N v Volkswagen Golf GTI

The Hyundai i30 N sent the hot hatch world reeling this year with a well-sorted chassis, rip-snorting turbo-petrol four, loads of useful tech and razor-sharp pricing.

It took aim at the segment benchmark, the Volkswagen Golf GTI, and scored a direct hit.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI is an undisputed icon in the car world, credited with starting the hot hatch genre in 1976, but Hyundai's first ever hot hatch is undeniably polished straight out of the blocks.

The Korean scorcher dethroned the Golf GTI as the ultimate hot hatch all-rounder during our last comparison… but that was before Volkswagen announced a boost in power and torque for the 2019 Golf GTI, which should even the odds – at least on paper.

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Power and Acceleration

The Hyundai i30 N has a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine that pumps out 202kW and 353Nm. Torque will spike to 378Nm when overboosting for up to 18 seconds.

The previous Golf GTI struggled to match that with its 169kW and 350Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine. However, from October 2018 all Volkswagen Golf GTI models will get a fired-up 180kW/370Nm version of the engine. It also gains an electro-mechanical front diff to match the i30 N's.

Now, while the Golf GTI doesn't quite have the stormy temper of its upstart Korean rival, it has the benefit of a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which shifts gear quicker than the six-speed manual-only i30 N.

The result? Identical claimed 0-100km/h acceleration times of 6.2sec.

Behind the wheel

The enhanced Volkswagen Golf GTI is not an entirely unknown quantity, given we've driven the same powertrain in the Golf GTI Performance Edition 1. The good news is that this upgraded Golf GTI will fire out of corners with a higher level of intensity now.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI's stopping power has improved too, with bigger 340mm front disc brakes matched with 310mm anchors at the rear. The Hyundai i30 N has slightly bigger brakes at 345mm and 314mm front and rear respectively.

Both cars have slippery front diffs, but the Hyundai's electro-mechanical torque-splitting mechanism has two modes – normal and sport. The Hyundai has regular and raucous exhaust notes depending on which mode you choose while the 2019 Golf GTI is expected to offer just the one acoustic – but both deliver the expected pops, crackles and burbles.

The Hyundai i30 N has proved its worth on road and track as an impressive all-rounder and we wait with baited breath for the next comparison between the two (or three?) hot hatches to see which is the perfectly balanced hot hatch.

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Price, packaging, practicality

Both cars are five-door, five-seat, front-drive hatchbacks that can be used as daily drivers. The Hyundai i30 N is priced from $39,990 and although the updated 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI has not been priced yet, the current five-door automatic model costs $44,490.

Expect Volkswagen to try and trim that price to more closely match the Hyundai’s.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI has 380s litres of boot space, expanding to 1270 litres with the back seats folded down. The Hyundai i30's targeting of the Volkswagen Golf is clear, with slightly better cargo dimensions of 381 litres, expanding to 1287 litres.

Hyundai’s GTI fighter comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels while the current-gen Golf GTI comes with 18-inch rims, but the Hyundai is heavier and has a bigger turning circle. Nevertheless, the Hyundai has a longer five-year warranty compared to the Golf GTI's three years.

Fuel economy is another important criterion for buyers, especially when it comes to everyday use. This is an area where the Golf GTI dominates with its 6.5L/100km fuel consumption average, absolutely monstering the i30 N's 8.0L/100km.

Which hot hatch would you choose – the original or the newcomer? Have your say in the comments section below.