Hyundai i30N 2018 - The Volkswagen Golf GTI arch-rival.

[@Iron883Man]

Great detailed review and finally someone mentions the type of diff correctly. :) Owner for 1 year and 16000km's now and I still get excited about every Sunday drive with my N. I can honestly say, I wouldn't trade it in for any other current car in this segment. Everything in the car works so well together in offering engaging driving and pure driving fun + it is more user friendly than any other hot hatch competing with it (f.e. no menu surfing needed to turn on/off the rev matching, independant suspension set up from the rest of the setting, etc. ). It's small things like that, that make this car feel more developed than the competition. It actually feels like the Hyundai engineers tested their own car in every possible circumstance with their brains on. Something you often start to question when you drive other random hot hatches. I get that it is hard to believe that Hyundai has gone from 'laughing stock in performance' to producing the most exciting allrounder in the FWD hot hatch segment, but that's what they did. The only 'problem' with the car is that it leaves you wondering about how they will improve future generations. Other than the interior there really isn't a lot that leaves you yearning for improvement. And for the haters that will bring up 'pedigree'. The Golf MkI GTI is still considered as the best GTI generation by a large majority. It didn't have any pedigree in 1975 and was made by a company that only made Beatles and hippie vans prior to it. Sound familiar?

[@rivervalegroup]

Great to have feedback from an owner. Great to hear you are enjoying your i30N... we did!

[@georgemavrides3434]

To answer your question on what can be improved ... the next iterations will get boosted beyond 300hp while shaving off some weight (Option car is already providing a sneak peak). If that happens, it will match the Type R and Leon Cupra in terms performance but only the Type R will be in i30N's league in terms of handling (but controversial looks). The upcoming Fastback is a unique offering in the sedan segment, anxiously waiting for it at the local dealer to book a test drive.

[@mazfosters186]

I have one and totally agree. Before the n I had a golf gti performance 7.5 generation. I can honestly say that the golf is not a direct rival for this car. I will have the N any day. Sure u can improve things but for the price, we have no right to complain really :)

[@Iron883Man]

@@georgemavrides3434 If you are referring to the i30N Option from the Paris Motorshow, that's a showcar with options that will be offered by Hyundai for the current i30N. They will become available somewhere in 2019. The Fastback is indeed a unique segment in this class. I am considering getting one. It will arive at my dealer sometime this week (hopefully, because they are celebrating their 50th anniversary and really want one in the showroom for the reception next weekend ). If it drives as good as my regular N, I just might get one...in red ofcourse :D

[@georgemavrides3434]

@@Iron883Man That's precisely my point about the Option car. Carbon bonnet and wheels are among the weight savings I was referring to. Fastback would be my choice as well due to practicality for everyday use. Love the engine red as well, although the polar white is also looking great.

[@djgoldthing7166]

Another fantastic, informative review

[@rivervalegroup]

Many thanks for watching

[@noblemav]

The review you did on this car was excellent well done, I myself have a I 30 N fastback performance model and love every bit of it.

[@rivervalegroup]

That's great to hear, thanks for watching! Be sure to subscribe for more in-depth vehicle reviews: bit.ly/319ZKoT​

[@jimwilliams2591]

Such a thorough review! You put other reviewers to shame. I will surely watch more of those!

[@rivervalegroup]

Thank you Jim Williams, we aim to give the most thorough reviews to help potential buyers ✔

[@Scout-nj7xj]

Absolutely the best car review journalist in Britain.

[@rivervalegroup]

We're glad you find our car reviews useful 👍

[@Richiewah]

Best I30N review I’ve seen!

[@rivervalegroup]

Thanks Rich, great to hear good feedback

[@kona328WH]

A seriously in depth review. Thank you.

[@WesNG]

You, Sir, are the best car reviewer on the internet.

[@rivervalegroup]

Thanks for the positive feedback 👌

[@WesNG]

@@rivervalegroup oh, my pleasure! Keep up the great work, gals and guys!

[@relentlessjovetic1794]

@@WesNG You sir! I want to take you to a gay bar!

[@inkwyvern5171]

Imagine putting a heart on a comment claiming your the best on the internet at something. Certainly isn't competing on modesty, is he?

[@IAmxZki]

I'm so happy I chose to buy the i30N and keep trying to find reasons to take it out. Your reviews are second to none and really did it justice

[@rivervalegroup]

Thanks for the feedback, its great to hear feedback from an owner. We loved it

[@e1337prodigy]

One of the best reviews. I have seen so many reviews of this car and the fastback N version. Thanks.

[@rivervalegroup]

Thanks 👍

[@timjenkins8538]

OSV more thorough than my wife at an under-21s mens Rugby Christmas party

[@kona328WH]

Such a good in depth review.

[@rivervalegroup]

thanks for the feedback again Kona 👍

[@kona328WH]

I've short listed a few cars and this seems to be the favourite, great spec, warranty list and equipment levels. Will be a massive step up over Mt ST202 Celica. Thanks again for the information.

[@rivervalegroup]

@@kona328WH If you want anymore informatio to get you the perfect car feel free to contact us www.osv.ltd.uk/contact-us/

[@GREATNESS275]

I am an American & we will not get this great car over here in the US,...We get the Veloster-N in its place. And the Veloster-N is no slouch when it comes to performance, 250hp as standard with 275hp if you opt for the Performance Package. I must say i thoroughly enjoy watching your fantastic reviews. Your attention to detail & knowledge of the vehicle's you review is unsurpassed. Keep up your outstanding work because I'll be watching my friend!

[@rivervalegroup]

Thanks 👍 great to see feedback like this

[@ikarugaxx3749]

Lol. The Veloster is the same car, with a better looking 3-door body. And we in Europe aren't given the chance to buy it.

[@ikarugaxx3749]

In intent and spirit (and looks), this i30N is precisely the way the Golf GTIs used to be, once upon a time, before their maker turning bourgeois. Thereby it's a great deal, the way the Golf GTIs used to be, once upon a time that is.

[@Oyvind88]

Great review, subscribed😀🇳🇴

[@rivervalegroup]

Thanks for subscribing! 👍

[@roberthart1336]

Amazing detail review!

[@oliverranderson9292]

After thoughly testing the competition I went for the I30N performance, and can honestly say it's one of the best all round hot hatches you can buy today! My mother has the Mk7 Golf GTI and I have done hundreds of miles in it over the years, the GTI is a great car! but in nearly every aspect the I30N is better and more thrilling. The hyundai has more standard equipment, cheaper, 5 years warranty (which covers track use) reliability, faster and sounds epic in N mode! Awesome work by Hyundai! I Look forward to seeing more N cars

[@suspensiondude]

I drove the direct competition and finished up with the 2019 i30N Performance! Dollar for dollar I believe it to be the best hot hatch currently in the market. I love how the Gti and R drivers break the neck everytime i pull up beside them on the freeway.....😊

[@dheeradjlachman9658]

Me 2 can't wait for the facelift new model i30N and Fastback N

[@dheeradjlachman9658]

@@suspensiondude hahah good job 👌😁 in thjs color i wanne see those faces hahahah😲 looks so

[@projectill]

great detailed review, thank you !

[@rivervalegroup]

Thank you projectill. Great to have good feedback 👍

[@suspensiondude]

I drove the competition and ended up buying the i30N Performance, and your review certainly helped me make the right decision. Keep up the good work,best youtube reviewer bar non!

[@rivervalegroup]

Thanks EVOTRANCE, great to hear our review has helped 👍 its a great car... we're sure you will enjoy it ✔

[@hassana22]

Good review

[@rivervalegroup]

Thanks for the feedback rzgar

[@koolyman]

I like the way he pronounces Hyundai, says it just right 1:15

[@drsnowmon]

You can have so much fun just going grocery shopping in these

[@Elf1492]

Clean and crisp review!! Would be heading down to test drive the i30N over the weekends. Unfortunately in my country, only the base model is offered. No performance package as the regulating authorities would slap another few grands on top due to a boost in bhp. And the dealer isn't willing to deal with such hassle since the hot hatch market has always been a niche one.

[@rivervalegroup]

Thanks for the good feedback. That is a shame, its a great car. Which country is not stocking this?

[@Elf1492]

OSV Singapore. Right now the base model is priced at around £82,800; after taxes.

[@underpantswedgy]

Thanks a lot for this In depth review - perfect! Subd!

[@rivervalegroup]

Thanks 👌 hope you enjoy our future reviews

[@dheeradjlachman9658]

The best new HotHatch at this moment !!👌🔥Hyundai 🍾

[@slipperyseal762]

Gold review

[@asdrubael1985]

Hyundai will dominate in the near future..we are witnessing history imo

[@teggsy2165]

Will there be an i20N to go up against the Fiesta ST i wonder?

[@gixxerboy555]

Is onderweg

[@willmaddox1986]

Just seen the comment in December 2020 and if you watch out on hyundai horizon you'll now find they are nearly finished developing the i20n

[@dheeradjlachman9658]

I love this i30 N in this color i want this best fun njoying hot hatch fot me!!👍

[@georgegkiokas4946]

What a car... 👌

[@jeremylister89]

Maybe you can help me with understanding something. I've test driven the 1.0 GDI (didn't like the engine vibes) and yesterday, the 1.4 (lovely smooth engine). Both however suffered from what I call transmission 'lurching' at low speed. Unless I concentrated 100% on accelerator and clutch, I could not get a smooth set off or 1st to 2nd. Somewhere in the drive train a non 100% precise change resulted in a forward and backward movement that was disconcerting. I decided I can't live with this, but out of interest, any ideas what it could be? Lack of engine mass?, Clutch damping? Dual mass clutch? Rubber driveshafts? I found an owners website where many were also commenting on this and were not happy. Great car otherwise.

[@rivervalegroup]

Hi Jeremy, Thanks for the comment. Wish we could inform you more on this but we couldn't diagnose this. We loved the drive on the i30N

[@jeremylister89]

OSV Thanks, i30N looks brilliant. It's 11 years since I've driven a petrol car. A friend suggested what I'm detecting is normal and due to the much lower torque of a petrol engine especially before the turbo has spun-up.

[@thierrydogniaux1252]

Good job Hyundai I like to drive my N

[@louisleft1048]

Does anyone in the comments daily drive an i30N?

[@CovidConQuitTheCensorship]

Not from what I'm reading, just the shopping lol

[@canadabear72]

That was a really great and very detailed review! Even though it's from Korea, we can't buy this car here. We have to settle for the Veloster N. Pity.

[@rivervalegroup]

That's a shame John! Where are you based?

[@canadabear72]

@@rivervalegroup I live in Korea. We do get the i30N Line, but not the full blown N model. I prefer the more gown up style of the i30 as well as the slightly higher quality materials used in the i30. Oh well.

[@brianrocks7277]

Is there greater bang for your buck in the market than this car? Badge snobs get back in your box if you scoff at this offering!

[@rivervalegroup]

Thanks for the comment Brain. Its becoming a 'well known' that the likes of cars like this are competing (or even overtaking) their 'premium' alternatives.

[@brianrocks7277]

Or even exposing the myths that surround such premium cars!

[@TheParronators]

Yo, does anyone know if it comes with ACC?

[@oliselby6245]

This video looks like it was made in the 90s

[@rivervalegroup]

Hi Oli, thank you for your feedback. We're always looking for ways to improve our content 👍

[@niconyatwa2701]

I got one

[@rivervalegroup]

We hope you enjoy it!

[@esko23q]

Should have been AWD from the get-go

[@MrRonan3]

I think you might be getting a bit excited if you think this will worry a Golf R. the golf R is a league up. believe me i raced an i30N in my Golf R. i think the owner of the Hyundai thought he was racing a GTI..

[@rivervalegroup]

Hi Dwain, thanks for the comment. The i30N is an awesome car, but its not going to compete with a Golf R just yet.

[@MD-uu5nt]

It will out handle a Golf R on a race track though and even with the power deficit it is only 5 seconds off a Golf Rs time at the Nurburgrung which is a power circuit. The N has better braking performance which would make up for some of the losses in terms of power.

[@MrRonan3]

@@MD-uu5nt The thing is that whatever your choice of hot hatch is. the golf has always been the benchmark car to beat. no matter what model ( GTI or the R). car manufacturers will sit and look at VWs success with this car but will NEVER outsell it as the definitive Hot Hatch,

[@MD-uu5nt]

@@MrRonan3 dwain pipe personally I'd disagree with that. It's never had the best engines or chassis (Honda would be miles ahead on both of those fronts). Their interiors are pretty impressive places but again very dull when compared to something like an Alfa 147 GTA. And the mk2, mk3, mk4 were pretty poor cars by anyone's standard. The mk4 GTI was particularly embarrassing. The mk5 was a return to form but it was still completely outshone by a Ford Focus RS of the same era. I barely remember the mk6 as it looked like they made no effort at all with the styling. I think the Golf has done a lot of things well since the mk5 came out but it's never in the top 3 in any one category which I feel means they are not special at all. The Golf R is definitely an impressive car though, the only Golf I would ever have an interest in although I think it looks too much like a normal one.

[@aaronr6159]

@@MD-uu5nt golf gti's aren't supposed to fast, they're just the best all rounder hot hatch as does everything competently. Imo all these i30n comparison to gti's are pointless, especially in a track as gti is never tried to be a track car. It competitors are megane sport and civic type r which I would suggest are better cars at there competitive selling point.

[@brightenupcc]

Npressive!

[@scoopbuchanan1021]

I have a gti and its the best, but the n performance is so much faster

[@gertsnyman5287]

it can't be an arch-rival yet, as it has not been around that long.

[@TetDance]

min 10.56 he crossed the road without respect the priority the car that coming from right who then watch itself obligated to brake, lmao

[@zazzleman]

rival with manual box ... lol

[@desmondobrien68]

2021 dct comes around

[@Steveh1066]

I wouldn't swap my gti for one of these, I don't care if the exhaust makes a pop pop noise or there's millions of different settings. I use my car as a daily and I'm an adult.

[@Richiewah]

That’s what everyone says till they drive one

[@MD-uu5nt]

That's cool. You like and appreciate the dullness of your car. I find Golfs overpriced for what they offer so I'd prefer something like this. The Golf R makes very stupid and contrived sounding exhaust farts. People seem to like that. Different strokes.

[@inbloom08]

Yep. Plus just a stage 1 tune on the gti will destroy.

[@Steveh1066]

Also my gti pp dsg is quicker to 60, has more torque(which is what really matters) gives better mpg, and the cabin quality is way better. But I do like the hyundai in that grey colour...

[@armaanali39]

Steve Hastings the i30n is much quicker the the gti - it’s out of its league

[@Inturl618]

No reason for the U.S audience to watch this i30n

[@letsseeif]

Sadly. It's all about the badge.