VW Golf GTI Vs Hyundai i30 N: Can The Newbie Beat The Establishment?

The i30 N is positioned fairly closely to the Civic Type R on the hot hatch scale of anger, but how does it fare against less highly strung opposition?
VW Golf GTI Vs Hyundai i30 N: Can The Newbie Beat The Establishment?

Balls. Let’s be honest, that’s what Hyundai has for making the i30 N. It has zero experience when it comes to performance cars of pretty much any kind, let alone a hot hatchback. And some gladiatorial kinda stuff is going down in the hot hatch arena right now.

As we discussed after first driving the i30 N in Italy earlier this year, the newbie has to fend off a bunch of very well-established rivals, from the no-holds-barred Honda Civic Type R right down to the more sedate VW Golf GTI. The Type R showdown is a battle for another time, but with a Phantom Black i30 N and ‘our’ Golf GTI longtermer sharing a driveway…well, it’d be rude not to, right?

VW Golf GTI Vs Hyundai i30 N: Can The Newbie Beat The Establishment?

It is worth pointing out that the GTI in one corner of our ‘ring’ does not have the ‘Performance Pack’, which adds an electronically controlled ‘VAQ’ locking differential, bigger brakes and a smidge more power. The i30 N on the other hand does have something Hyundai also calls the Performance Pack, also bringing with it an electronically-controlled mechanical differential (of Hyundai’s own design, no less), plus bigger brakes and more power.

So, it’s an unfair contest, then? Not quite. For starters, this is expected to be how most buyers will opt for each - the majority of i30 N customers will go for the Performance Pack cars, while over in GTI land most (just) did without the PP for the pre-facelift version. Plus, the Hyundai with the Pack weighs in at £27,995 (the less powerful, ‘standard’ version is £24,995), near enough the same as a manual, non-Performance GTI with smaller wheels. Spec a Golf with a differential, adaptive dampers and all the other gubbins Hyundai will give you on an i30 N performance, and you’re looking at nearly £33,000. Ouch.

VW Golf GTI Vs Hyundai i30 N: Can The Newbie Beat The Establishment?

You know what else Hyundai gives you that VW doesn’t? Anger. Pure, raging, ”if you keep staring at me I’ll punch you in the face” anger. It’s not just the surprisingly loud exhaust that lets out machine gun volleys of pops and bangs from its twin tail pipes: it’s the boosty, muscular mid-range that makes you want to call BS on Hyunda’s official 6.1sec 0-62mph time for this thing. It’s about on the money, given the wheel spin the 271bhp, 2.0-litre engine puts the i30 N’s bespoke 235/40/19 Pirelli P Zeros through off the line, but there’s no question that this car feels faster than you’d expect.

It has the legs on the Golf in the corners, too. Even with the dampers set to ‘Normal’ it doesn’t seem to roll as much as the Golf, and while the GTI tries its best to imitate the actions of a front locking diff with little brake applications via its ‘XDS Plus’ system, it’s an easy car to push into understeer. In the Hyundai meanwhile, it takes tremendous commitment and force to unstick that front end. It’s not as grippy as the Honda Civic Type R, but it’s really not that far off.

VW Golf GTI Vs Hyundai i30 N: Can The Newbie Beat The Establishment?

There’s an elephant in the room, however. Well, not so much an elephant as a white Golf GTI that I simply can’t shake from my rear-view mirror. It may lose speed in the corners thanks to that understeer-prone front end, but there’s still not a huge amount in it. And once it powers out the other side, it’s certainly not left for dead. It’s partly down to the torque - the 2.0-litre TSI may be down by 43bhp on the Hyundai’s unit, but when it comes to twist, the Golf is just 2lb ft away from what the N brings to the party. The six-speed DSG automatic gearbox fitted to ours helps, too.

So the Golf doesn’t give away as much to the i30 N in terms of pace as you’d expect, and its when sliding back into those iconic tartan bucket seats that the VW starts to claw it back. As with any Golf, there’s a sense of rightness to the way everything’s laid out and the way everything works, even if I’m not a huge fan of the new digital instrument binnacle. Hyundai has come a long way from its bargain basement roots, but it still hasn’t quite managed that whole premium feel thing VW has going on in most of its models. The infotainment’s a bit clunky and a bit naff in the i30 N, too.

VW Golf GTI Vs Hyundai i30 N: Can The Newbie Beat The Establishment?

The simplicity of the Golf is also a breath of fresh air. You can choose between between Eco, Normal and Sport modes, with some limited customisation available via an ‘Individual’ setting, but you don’t need to fiddle. It feels great in Normal, and ever so slightly nicer in Sport. In the i30 N on the other hand, Hyundai seems to be keen to boast about there being over 4000 different combinations. We can only assume the preposterous amount of choice - along with the overly heavy Sport+ steering and the temperature-dependent rev counter LEDs - are a result of Hyundai’s performance boss Albert Bierman’s many years at BMW M Division.

VW Golf GTI Vs Hyundai i30 N: Can The Newbie Beat The Establishment?
VW Golf GTI Vs Hyundai i30 N: Can The Newbie Beat The Establishment?

Happily, it hasn’t taken me long to suss out my ideal settings. Everything turned up to the max, with the steering left in Sport and the suspension turned down to ’Normal’ - go for Sport or Sport+, and the ride’s punishingly firm even on smoother roads.

Do that, and you have what’s quite possibly the best driving hot hatchback on sale right now. There’s an extra level of excitement to it that the GTI just can’t quite match, not to mention a steering setup and chassis that gives you much more feedback.

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My love for the GTI is strong after living with two different versions for the best part of a year, and it is far better at being a ‘normal car’ than the i30 N. The buyer crossover isn’t going to be massive here - the majority of prospective GTI owners are already after something a little more subdued, after all. But if you’re one of the few picking between the two, even if it’s a GTI Performance, we feel compelled to nudge you toward the Hyundai. And that’s not something I ever thought I’d say at the end of a performance car twin test.

Comments

KPS Lucky - Inactive

Meanwhile, I’m praying for a Dodge Viper review. Tell me, would that be a possibility in the near future?

11/26/2017 - 08:27 |
4 | 2

Tricky given where we are in the world, but potentially doable…

11/26/2017 - 08:46 |
16 | 0
Anonymous

Honestly, I actually prefer the i30 N over the Golf GTi…

Unless the GTi is a Clubsport/Clubsport S.

11/26/2017 - 08:29 |
80 | 8
KPS Lucky - Inactive

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

i30 N > All GTi’s

11/26/2017 - 08:32 |
20 | 8
CS55

Of course the i30N beats the GTi… Not only is it faster than the Golf, but it sounds better and it makes you feel better when you drive it than the Golf… And if the badge decides it for you, you are not a real car enthusiast…

11/26/2017 - 09:01 |
40 | 4
woulditfitonmyhonda

In reply to by CS55

If the badge decides it. well you are complete tw*t

11/26/2017 - 11:50 |
18 | 2
Anonymous

In reply to by CS55

I agree with you completely when it comes to principles but when I see the Hyundai commercials they make me despise their brand.

11/26/2017 - 15:24 |
2 | 0
Hydros

In reply to by CS55

The badge is not as unimportant as you may think the GTI is an proven car and it is reliable because its a golf with the i30N reliability is unknown and you dont know if it feels better unless you driven both

11/26/2017 - 15:54 |
6 | 0
Will 6

In reply to by CS55

Hate to break it to you but a “real car enthusiast” doesn’t exist.

11/26/2017 - 18:00 |
12 | 2
DL🏁

I’m hoping that the success of i30N will give Hyundai a reason to introduce more performance cars. i20N to rival the likes of Polo GTI and Fiesta ST?

11/26/2017 - 09:07 |
18 | 0

I would like to see an i40N. Could not cost Hyundai that much as they should be able to use the technical components from the i30N.
But haven’t they already said that more N models are coming?

11/26/2017 - 09:13 |
2 | 0

i20N would be awesome!

02/04/2018 - 11:20 |
2 | 0
seblu27

Koreans do learn fast, I’d take the i30N over a Golf GTI anytime

11/26/2017 - 15:43 |
4 | 2

For real, Korea is on the offensive lately, and I ain’t talking Kim jong un

11/27/2017 - 00:28 |
12 | 0
Anonymous

Have you guys been sponsored by Hyundai?

Lol, just kidding!:D

11/26/2017 - 16:53 |
2 | 2
Williard

£28k for the Hyundai and it looks like a common fiesta inside, Whap a touchscreen in a mk4 golf and it’s better than that same goes with fords Fiesta ST and Focus RS. The Type R is the only one that can rival the Golf properly, and the golf hasn’t essentially changed from the mk5 other than build quality.

Also for power, the VW group are hardly going to put their 300 and 400 bhp S3 and RS3 engine into a golf. Polo GTi 180 bhp, Golf Gti 230, Golf GTI PP 245, Golf R 300 bhp and then the Audi’s. It’s a scale of premium hot/performance cars.

11/26/2017 - 19:53 |
2 | 0
Constantine C.K.

I’m not really a performance enthousiast, i do appreciate a hot hatch 0-60 below 9seconds, BUT the looks.. you cant deny that the Hyundai is so much better looking. Both on the inside and outside. I would rather drive the Hyundai anyday, even if it was 100bhp.
VW creates seriously ugly cars.

11/26/2017 - 20:18 |
8 | 10

They’re not ugly. They’re classical. The way Germans like them. At the other end of the spectrum you have the Japanese with their totally overstated Civics

11/27/2017 - 00:29 |
4 | 2
Anonymous

People talking about the fact that people just want the golf for the “badge” are not car guys and so on..are clearly mistaken.Yes, people pay for a “badge” but here is why:
Significantly better reliability.
Better after-sales services
Much better resale value(Which brings down the net-cost)
Point is,when it comes to cars (Unlike other things(Watches,clothes etc) )Paying for a “badge” is sensible.
So anyone who buys a golf for the “badge” is a car guy. he just has more foresight than you.

11/27/2017 - 15:45 |
2 | 0
Olivier (CT's grammar commie)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

The whole idea of “car guy” is stupid. I’d rather say “car enthousiast”. You can like cars without having to fill “criterias”. Someone who doesn’t hate the Prius or doesn’t fanboy on the Miata can still like cars.

11/27/2017 - 16:56 |
4 | 0
Samael

I really like it but it stays a dream unless Hyundai decides to make a version with DSG. Carguys and disabilities often don’t get along well…

11/28/2017 - 22:53 |
2 | 0
Timmy ST150

In reply to by Samael

DSG was announced for later this year

02/04/2018 - 11:19 |
0 | 0

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