The hugely fun Hyundai i30N has been refreshed with new design elements and key technology and safety updates. Australia truly is the lucky country as we are the only market globally that gets the full Hyundai N model range, including the i20 N, i30 N, i30 Sedan N and the all-electric IONIQ 5 N.
The updates begin outside, where the 2025 i30 N welcomes fresh design elements that include a new matte-grey colour scheme for its 19-inch forged wheels, a new radiator grille design and red trimming on the side skirting, the latter pairing seamlessly with the new red front bumper inserts. The Hyundai badging has changed, too, and is now matte black at the rear, while a flat-style ‘H’ takes pride of place on the meshed grille.
I recently drove the DCT version of the Hyundai i30 N Premium and its core performance ingredients remain unchanged, including its potent 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 206kW of power @ 6,000rpm and 392Nm of toque across a wide rev range between 2,100 to 4,700rpm. All of these torques can overwhelm the front tyres with some loss of traction under hard acceleration, but there’s no torque steer. The official combined fuel consumption is 8.5L/100km and for my week with the i30N DCT I used 9.2L/100km, which is a bit less than my previous run in the i30N DCT Premium where I used 9.5L/100km.
This engine is combined with the rapid-shifting 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and you can snap through the gears using the paddle shifters on the steering wheel or the gear stick. There’s an option to set a shift light and/or sound to hit your perfect upshift point in the rev range and separate N Track Sense and Road Sense shift options plus launch control. The sports exhaust pops and barks on upshift with added bangs on aggressive downshifting, while you’re hard on the performance brakes. All of which add up old-fashioned hot hatch fun is a car that can easily accommodate a family of four.
Performance and fun remains at the heart of the i30 N experience, with quicker access to N Grin Shift (NGS) function. The red design of the NGS button has been adopted from the i30 Sedan N and IONIQ 5 N. Press it and you’re guaranteed to put a grin on your face as it unleashes the maximum power and torque, an even louder exhaust note, and the most aggressive gear upshifts, for 20-seconds spells and it’s great for accelerating out of your favourite corner.
The upgraded i30 N also receives a new 10.25’’ driver’s instrument cluster that flashes with flames when you press the N Mode button on the right-hand side of the steering wheel making the i30 N a literal hot hatch. There are two Custom modes available on this button as well and you have the option to customise the Engine, Steering, Suspension, ESC, Transmission and Exhaust Sound to your personal preference. The left-hand side N button on the steering wheel provides access to your daily Eco, Normal, or Sport mode options.
The new 10.25” supervision instrument cluster complements the existing 10.25” multimedia touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (using the USB-A port). The technology updates continue with the introduction of Hyundai Bluelink connected car services and Over The Air software update capability to the 2025 i30 N. But as the i30 N is a driver’s car you are most likely more interested to know that there is clearer access to key performance metrics, like turbo boost gauges, a g-force meter, lap timer, and digital speedometer.
The updated seat design for the suede-leather-and-Alcantara N bucket seats offer plenty of support and have a glow in the dark N emblem in them. The front seats only come with manual adjustment for recline, forward/back and seat height adjustment, but they are heated as is the steering wheel and you get dual zone climate control as well. Unfortunately Hyundai have followed the trend in car interior design and included a gloss-black finish around the gear shift, which quickly attracts dust and finger marks and looks unpleasant and there’s also plenty of hard plastic throughout the cabin on the centre console, dash, and door trims. This i30 N is also fitted with the optional panoramic sunroof ($2,000), which opens for the front half only.
You still get a manual handbrake as well and there are two cup holders in the centre console with a removable base in them for easy cleaning and there are good-sized drink bottle storage cubbies in the front doors. At the front of the centre console there’s a cubby for your phone with a wireless charge pad for compatible devices and one USB-C port, one USB-A port, and a 12V socket, but when my phone was connected using the USB cord it didn’t fit nicely into this cubby.
I found that the rear seat leg room was adequate for me, but the headroom was tight, so taller individuals may not find them comfortable. For younger passengers there are two ISOfix/three rear tether child seat restraint points, but only room for two car seats in reality. The centre seat folds down as an arm rest with two rigid cup holders in it and there is good-sized drink bottle storage in the rear door cubbies. There are no rear air vents, but rear passengers do get two USB-C ports at the rear of the centre console.
The boot has a power-assisted lid and is opened by pressing the button on the boot lid only. The boot space is occupied by the rear torsion bar that could get in the way when you lower the 40:60 split fold rear seats. There are four plastic tie down points, two hooks, and one 12V socket in the boot space and you do still get a temporary use spare tyre though, which is becoming less common in new vehicles.
Dual frontal, side chest, side head-protecting airbags (curtains) and a driver knee airbag are standard and although the Hyundai i30 range comes with a 5-star ANCAP (2017) safety rating, this does not apply to i30 N models. The 2025 i30 N also introduces enhancements to its active safety systems, with updated Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, which uses front radar sensors and a windshield-mounted camera to scan for cars, pedestrians and now cyclists. Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Rear Occupant Alert, Driver Attention Warning and Multi-Collision Braking also appear as standard features, further enhancing the i30 N’s safety offering.
These new safety features are added to those that were already included on the i30 N being Lane Following Assist, Blind Spot Collision Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, and standard cruise control. The i30N DCT has auto lights with auto high beam assist, while rain-sensing wipers and an Electrochromic Mirror are both now standard features across the i30 N range. One feature I still like is when I changed the lights or wiper settings a display came up on the driver’s dash to tell me what option I had selected. The standard reversing camera on the Premium i30 N comes with front and rear parking sensors.
All new Hyundai vehicles come with a 5 Year Unlimited km vehicle warranty and Hyundai’s ‘N warranty’ covers the i30 N for a limited range of track activities, but not for timed competition or racing, with the exclusions being “Defects arising where the vehicle has been used for racing, rallying, competition or speed / endurance trials or any kind.”
The i30 N requires a service every 10,000km or once a year, whichever comes first and upfront service plans can be purchased for three, four or five years costing $1,065, $1,530 and $1,885 respectively. When servicing with Hyundai, customers also receive ongoing Roadside Support and a Sat Nav Update Plan for up to 10 years.
The starting price for the Hyundai i30 N DCT Premium is now $53,500 plus dealer delivery and on-road costs and as tested with premium paint in Performance Blue ($595) and the panoramic sunroof ($2,000) this i30 N was $56,095 plus on-roads . You can Build and Price your i30 N online or visit your preferred Hyundai dealer for more information.
| Pros | Cons |
| Super fun to drive | Added gloss black plastic on the interior |
| The upgraded driver’s dash | Still no rear air vents |
| Comes with a temporary use spare tyre | Torsion bar encroaches on boot space |
Photographs by driven Women Magazine.