Not all Hyundai i30 N cars are created equal

Hyundai has revealed detail differences between its high-performance Hyundai i30 N hatch, sedan and Kona N models that will have hard-core fans debating where to spend their money.

The refreshed 2021 Hyundai i30 N hatch has just arrived and you’ll be able to read our first drive review this Friday (August 20).

The next of the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol front-wheel drive terrors to roll out will be the 2021 Hyundai Kona N compact SUV, followed by the i30 N sedan before the end of the year.

Mixed in there as well will be the 1.6-litre Hyundai i20 N pocket rocket.

In particular there’s going to be a fierce debate for some people whether they spend their money on the updated hatch or wait for the all-new sedan that’s sold as the Elantra N overseas.

The sedan misses out on the hatch’s lightweight forged alloy wheels that save 14.4kg in unsprung weight, one-piece bucket seats that save 1.1kg each and a panoramic glass sunroof.

But the i30 N sedan’s iteration of the Theta-II four-cylinder engine makes a peak 213kW – versus 206kW for the hatch – if optioned with the new dual-clutch auto and its ‘Grin Shift’ mode.

At 5.3 seconds from 0-100km/h, the DCT sedan is also 0.1sec quicker than the DCT hatch.

Based on a newer platform than the hatch, the sedan also picks up a series of technical modifications including an integrated drive axle (IDA) which combines the drive shaft, wheel hub and bearing into one unit and reduces weight by 1.7kg.

It will also be the first N model to debut a sound equaliser that brings a range of synthesised engine sounds including a TCR race car-inspired option, as well as an equaliser function for the driver to adjust “whine, throat and bass” levels to their liking.

Hyundai Australia product general manager Andrew Tuitahi admitted some of the features exclusive to the i30 N sedan won’t be making it into the hatch any time soon.

“Likely not in this generation of car,” he said. “Some of them do make their way into the i20 and the Kona has those items to a slightly lesser degree.

“But there are also still some items that are on the hatch that aren’t on the sedan at launch.”

The other key piece of information needed to navigate all this is just how much the i30 N sedan will cost. That detail should become apparent in the next few weeks.

“Whether [the i30 N sedan] will sit above, alongside or maybe even below [the i30 N hatch] is too early to say, but it’s in the ballpark of the hatch,” Tuitahi said.

Kona N pricing is instructive in all this – it will only come with the new eight-speed dual-clutch auto the updated i30 N adds to its line-up alongside six-speed manual.

DCT base model pricing for both is the same at $47,500 plus on-road costs, but the Premium Kona N is $1500 cheaper than the hatch at $50,500 plus ORCs.

That’s because the Kona N Premium makes do with a porthole sunroof and misses out on the forged alloys and lightweight buckets.

But its sports seats get power adjustment and it adds a head-up display and adaptive cruise control, all items the i30 N hatch misses out on.

The Kona N also get the upgraded 213kW peak ‘overboost’ power output of the i30 N sedan.

So why did the i30 N hatch miss out on the extra power?

“It’s just timing,” said Hyundai Australia product specialist Tim Rodgers.

“It was a bit too early. We are just progressively making improvements on that engine and platform all the time and we just have to decide to stop at some point. It was just timing.”

There’s also the matter of product origin that adds complexity. The i30 N hatch comes out of the Czech Republic, while the sedan and Kona N are made in Korea.

The i20 N, incidentally, will be sourced out of Turkey.

Related: New Hyundai i30 N arrives in Oz