Hyundai’s continued growth in sales volume in Australia comes off the back of many factors, including brand trust, a diverse range and, arguably, the halo effect of the sporting N brand. Starting with the i30 N in 2017, before spreading to the i20 N and electrified IONIQ 5 N, Hyundai’s N division has established genuine performance credentials with genuinely fun-to-drive cars that are just as at home on a racetrack as they are on urban bitumen.
Last year, 4521 N-branded Hyundai models left showrooms, with 1573 of those being the i30 Sedan N. With a 35 per cent share of all N cars sold in 2023, it closely trails the i30 N hatch, but eclipsed the pocket rocket i20 N (637 units) and the Kona N (683) – the latter of which is sadly being discontinued.
This shows how important the i30 Sedan N is as a core pillar of the N brand. For 2024, the model has received styling, interior and surprisingly comprehensive chassis updates aimed at enhancing the fun factor and liveability of the sporty sedan.
Driving Enthusiast was invited down to regional Victoria to sample the updated 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan N, also known in other markets as the Hyundai Elantra N and Avante N in its home market of South Korea.
2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan N Premium: Specifications
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder
Output: 206kW@5500-6000rpm / 392Nm@2100-4700rpm
Gearbox: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
Drive type: Front-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 19×8.0, 245/35
ANCAP: Five stars
Tare weight: 1475kg
Power-to-weight: 7.16:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 8.3L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 47L/95 RON
Power efficiency: 24.81kW:L/100km0-60km/h: 3.14 seconds*
0-100km/h: 5.73 seconds*
0-200km/h: 20.41 seconds*
60-110km/h: 3.43 seconds*
1/4 mile: 13.96 seconds at 171.6km/h*
Max acceleration: 1.074g*
100-0km/h braking: 36.64m in 2.98 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.487g*
Decibel at idle (/N mode): 50/54*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 89*
Starting price: $52,000
*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different
2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan N Premium: Packaging
Building on the enhancements to the regular 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan range, the N variant now has a sharper attitude at the front, thanks to thinner and more sinister LED and headlamp units, a sleeker grille with a lower, more horizontal theme. Functionally, front air curtains and a larger grille insert provider greater cooling and aerodynamic performance.
Black badging with a new rear bumper design and rear skirt extensions distinguish the 2024 model from its predecessor. New 19-inch forged alloy wheels with a satin black finish smartly finish off the package, which overall looks more cohesive and sharper than before.
Joining the colour palate for 2024 is Ecotronic Grey, but Performance Blue remains the hero hue and the signature colour for the N division.
Internally, changes are limited to Hyundai’s Bluelink system, the addition of USB-C charging ports and a larger wireless phone charging pad. As before, a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, the ‘N Grin Control’ race timer and performance graph mode, a rear suspension brace and N Grin Shift (DCT only) remain highlights. It remains a sporting and aesthetically pleasing interior, with form-hugging seats and anodised blue ‘N’ buttons contrasting nicely against the circular ‘N Grin Shift’ or ‘Rev Match’ (manual) button.
Pleasingly, you can set custom profiles for steering, transmission, ESP calibration, suspension and throttle response, with the snap-crackle-pop of the exhaust overrun selectable just as before. This has always been a highlight of the i30 N, with the ability to turn it off if you’re not in the mood to get frisky.
2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan N Premium: Driving
As before, Hyundai’s talented local team had significant input into the tuning and calibration of the car. This is the most significant aspect of the update because it is a direct result of Australian feedback of the outgoing i30 N. Key among these improvements are; updates to the electronic power steering (EPS) system, revisions to damping, and electronic controlled suspension (ECS) geometry and software, a new stability control calibration and thermal protection for the front brakes.
Two of the most crucial changes were outlined by engineers at the launch; polyurethane rear strut bushes – a direct result of the IONIQ 5 N program – and redesigned upper engine mount, which means the engine leans into corners more, rather than against them.
Once again, the star of the show is the 2.0-litre ‘Theta II’ turbocharged four-cylinder motor, developing 206kW at 5500-6000rpm and 392Nm between 2100 and 4700rpm, providing lots of flexibility and instantly accessible torque. Transmissions carry over in the form of a six-speed manual or an eight-speed DCT automatic, with ‘N Grin Shift’ providing 30 seconds of transient overboost and optimised performance.
A very modest price increase to $52,000 before on-roads, with metallic paint adding $595 and $2000 for a sunroof, the value proposition remains intact, in our opinion.
With production of Australian-market i30 hatch slated to shift from South Korea to Hyundai’s Slovakia factory in the latter half of the year, it is unclear at this stage if an updated i30 N hatch will be part of that equation, meaning this could potentially be the last petrol N vehicle.
Hyundai’s capped-price service program means services cost between $335 and $395, carried out every 12 months or 10,000km (whichever occurs first). Warranty is five years/unlimited kilometres with a five-year subscription to Hyundai Bluelink and roadside assistance. The warranty is even covered for track use, provided the car is never entered in competitions. We would advise you to see Hyundai’s warranty PDS for more details, however.
With this in mind, we were very eager to experience the new car over Hyundai’s curated rural Victoria road test loop, followed by a balls-to-the-wall blast at Winton Raceway the following day.
Over the test loop, we were suitably impressed with the sedan’s excellent body control, as well as its Jekyll-and-Hyde road manners when switching between modes via the ‘N’ buttons on the steering wheel. If you want the loud exhaust note with firecracker theatrics, then you can have those. If you want a specific mode for the ESP, steering, damping and transmission without the noisiness, then you can customise a mode and store it in the car’s memory.
In its most sedate setting, the car feels like a relaxed day-to-day cruiser, with a taut but compliant suspension setting, never becoming uncouth, even on sharp undulations. The only complaint would be tyre roar from the grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres emanating through the wheelarches. If this is the only compromise, it’s a forgivable one.
Around Winton, the car immediately feels stiffer with more communicative steering feeding information through your fingertips as the car tips into a sharp apex. The revised engine mounts result in a noticeably more eager turn-in, giving you the opportunity to bite down onto inside of a corner and maintain a neater line than before. Another hallmark of the i30 N remains intact; lift-off oversteer, which is intoxicatingly accessible.
Hyundai’s own 2023 TCR Championship winner Josh Buchan and WRC Academy driver Brendan Reeves were on hand to give us tips to get the most out of our track time. We came away impressed with the way the 2024 i30 Sedan N can be fun and foolproof for even a novice track driver. Inexperienced drivers will quickly learn to trust the N and explore its limits without any nasty surprises from the chassis.
With two additional ratios and N Grin Shift, there is a compelling case for the DCT auto, giving added dimensions to the automatic driving experience. But the precise shift action and added involvement of the manual version makes it equally desirable.
So, the $1800 question is: Are these new updates tangible on the open road and racetrack? Undeniably, yes. You can feel through your finger tips and attack corners with a higher degree of confidence than before. This is sustained through the apex as there is less inertia and resistance than its immediate predecessor.
2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan N Premium: Video
