The Hyundai i30 N Line Has Hot Hatch Looks But Only 138bhp

If you like the idea of the i30 N hot hatch but find the insurance premiums just too disastrous, Hyundai has a solution. It’s called the i30 N Line, and on first glance, it looks rather similar.

In fact, if you spotted one of these coming the other way, you might mistake it for the full-fat version if you don’t look closely. The front and rear bumpers strongly echo the N’s, and there are new 18-inch wheels that fill the arches much better than anything you’d find on a normal i30. At the back, you’ll find a twin-exit exhaust pipe.

On the inside, there’s the option of upgrading to super-sporty N-branded suede seats with bigger side bolsters. The steering wheel is clad in perforated leather, and there’s a nice N logo on the gear knob to further liven up proceedings.

Pleasingly, it’s not just an aesthetic makeover. Hyundai has “refined” the suspension and the responsiveness of the engine, although we’re not told exactly what’s been done. Stiffer springs would be our guess.

Hyundai has said that the brakes are bigger, with the 15-inch front discs swapped out for 16-inch rotors. The finishing touch is a set of grippier Michelin PS4 tyres.

Sounds like an interesting package, but there’s a bit of a snafu in the engine department: it’s just a 1.4-litre inline-four with a mere 138bhp to its name. Ah.

No performance figures have been given, but it’ll be similar to the regular 1.4 i30, which means the 0-62mph time will be around 9.2 seconds.

It’ll go on sale late summer, although we’re currently not sure how much it’ll be in the UK.