Hyundai’s i30 Fastback N

DIAL back a few years and the thought of Hyundai embedding itself as an established competitor in a performance car segment would be laughable -–but the success of the i30 N has proven that wrong. The hatch has quickly earned a name as one of the best cars in its segment, immediately bringing real weight to the ‘N’ badge.

Following the i30 came the Veloster N for global markets (not UK bound, sadly) and now there’s a third model in the range: the i30 Fastback N. Mechanically similar to the i30 N hatch, the Fastback N brings a real sporting edge to the four-door variant.

The i30 Fastback N uses the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder powertrain as its hatchback equivalent, delivering 271bhp and 353Nm of torque to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. The result is a 0-60mph sprint of 5.9 seconds with a 155mph top speed possible. As for efficiency, Hyundai claims 34mpg on the combined cycle while emitting 178g/km of CO2.

Power delivery from the unit is impressive, with a wide torque band ensuring performance is always on hand. Its sixspeed gearbox is crisp, and paired with the standard fit rev matching technology, will make you feel like a driving god on any given B road. There’s definitely a need for a throatier sound from the engine, though.

The i30 N hatch’s impressive driving dynamics have not been lost in translation over to the Fastback. Monumental amounts of grip remain on offer, and the turn-in response is among the sharpest across the whole new car market.

Despite its clinical approach on the road, there’s a playful hint to it too. Get it going on a track and the Fastback becomes prone to a bit of oversteer but not to levels that can’t be controlled. It remains arguably one of, if not the, best-driving front-wheel-drive cars on sale today. That said, its performance on twistier roads and race tracks does come at a cost in terms of comfort and refinement. Longer cruises can be a hassle as a result of its harsh ride and brash engine.

Up front, it benefits from an aggressivelystyled bumper with a distinctive red strip, while the rear of the car sees the addition of a diffuser and ducktail spoiler. There’s also a model-specific Shadow Grey paint finish. Looks are always subjective, but for us, the i30 N looks better in hatchback form. While the front of the car offers a tidy look, the rear third of the vehicle looks awkward when viewed from a side and gives it a knock-off Porsche Panamera look.

The interior is well laid out and not fussy, although there are hard plastics and not-sopremium-feeling materials throughout.

Essentially, the Fastback N delivers an experience pretty much identical to that of the widely praised hatch. Its driving experience impresses, punching with the established performance nameplates such as Honda’s Civic Type R and VW Golf R.

The Hyundai i30 Fastback N proves to be a worthy rival to its hot hatch competitors