Which Hot Hatch Is More Fun? Surprising Results! (Hyundai i30 N vs Toyota GR Corolla 2023 Review)

[@llGREENERSll]

I have a facelift manual I30N with Nlight seats and can confirm steering is NOT heavy, unless you only drive in N mode. If you configure N custom to how you like then suspension and steering are perfectly comfortable for everyday driving.

[@anthonywarry339]

You forgot to mention how tenacious it is.

[@raispang6258]

I would go for the I30N. For its looks, fun factor, and the extra cash saved over the Corolla...a very difficult combo to ignore.

[@dannnsss8034]

And sound (i30 N)

[@TheSPazCORE]

Yeah definitely. It's cheaper and larger/more practical and has the auto option. I would love to see a faster AWD version of the i30n but the rumour is that it's going all electric which is sad.

[@xXYannuschXx]

@@TheSPazCORE From what I found, they didnt go for AWD because they couldnt fit the LSD and AWD transfer case in the same spot; so they had to chose betwen the two and went with the LSD. I dont think that the i30N will go electric in the next generation. They will retire the aging 2.0L Tetra engine though and replace it with a 2.5L Smartstream. The question is, on which markets they will release that car. The 2.5L is Euro 7 capable, so it will only depend on if Hyundai is willing to spend pay the CO2 taxes. (this is also the reason the N models constantly are out of sale in Europe, because they wait for enough people to buy their EV cars, to offset the CO2 of the N models).

[@seventystix6964]

After 10 years the Toyota engine will still be running 😁

[@JohnLee-db9zt]

@@seventystix6964Would bet 10k on that? I would bet Hyundai engine in the N will still be running.

[@Aladdin5cave]

As a owner of both the GR Yaris and i30 sedan N i would say the i30 is more fun.

[@JasonISF]

Why?

[@mharro88]

@@JasonISF ones German engineered

[@kiwiklogg]

Yeah..why own both?

[@liudxdx]

@@kiwiklogg two doors four doors FWD AWD why not lol

[@mpsftmfw]

You are joking right?

[@anthonywarry339]

Hot hatches have always been about affordable fun with character. That being the case, The i30N is the only hot hatch on the market.

[@yenchang760]

Agree with your winner. Driving enjoyment after all is what these cars are all about, so the more fun one has to be the winner. The cash saving a bonus. I wonder how the highly strung 3 cylinder Corolla engine would go long term for reliability. That's a massive amount of power!

[@Carlos-nr3rt]

The Corolla needs to make stupid levels of boost at like 26psi compared to the i30N at about 17-18psi to make up for the smaller engine. My opinion is that a 3 cylinder was a stupid idea, it should have been a 4 cylinder engine.

[@reganhams3431]

Toyota must have some faith as they have a 7 year engine/drivetrain warranty

[@stephencharles6615]

I have a Kona N. Lots of fun and better value for money than the Toyota. ,Downside I live in a town where the only dealership is Toyota. I drive 300 kms to get my Kona serviced.

[@fpaThEoNe]

dang! that's dedication.

[@ajow2828]

In the real world the GR Corolla is much pricier and much harder to get. Added to that and a major factor which isn't covered in this comparison is the track warranty given by Hyundai. That alone puts the i30N far infront of the Corolla imo. But owning a corolla GR would not be a bad thing.

[@richiesworld1]

"Not be a bad thing"?? In 5 years, the Corolla will still be worth at least twice as much as the Hyundai.

[@ajow2828]

@@richiesworld1 I guess some people buy cars to drive them instead of investments? I wouldn't say the I30N isn't holding value at the minute. Sure Toyota's typically have strong resale value, I believe the Yaris GR will be considered more valuable than the Corolla over time. Also, if you pay twice the price of a i30N, for a Corolla or Yaris GR in a mere 5 years time, you're an idiot.

[@ArmySigs]

@@richiesworld1 If you can get one, 700 examples for the entire world market means it's just a pipe dream for most people anyway.

[@box-X-G]

And they discontinued i30N hatch now

[@limelight777]

​@@richiesworld1there you go just go for it bro😂

[@zaamuro8408]

Never thought I'd say the i30N would be a bargain but in 2023 it is...

[@aaronhyun6243]

Corolla for 67k, Type-R for 77k, Golf R for 88k, these manufacturers are crazy shit enough 😂😂😂😂, So I bought Hyundai sedan N.

[@dannywelsh9321]

type r kills it

[@oraclemiata845]

Hardly a kill… 😂

[@Carlos-nr3rt]

The Type R is the better car on paper but it is significantly more expensive. Personally I don't like that red interior and the look and feel of it is a bit "Gay". Considerably better than their last one however that was just horrible.

[@politicoinutil]

@@dannywelsh9321 Type R kills your pocket jajajaja

[@alpiv64]

Don't forget if you get the GR you need to get a better sounding exhaust.

[@rc70ys]

Is that a centre muffler tip ? What is it in the middle ??

[@rideswithhoover9789]

I wanted the i20n but Hyundai aren’t taking any orders.until further notice 😢

[@xXYannuschXx]

"Sadly" these N models are so incredibly popular, that Hyundai has problems with CO2 taxes. They literally have to wait for people to buy their EV offerings, to offset the N sales. Says alot how popular these cars are, which is no surprise at how much fun they offer at their price point. Even not considering price/performance, I would say that the i30N is one of the best hot hatches on the market, it feels raw and not as tame as a Golf GTI.

[@MeltingRubberZ28]

​@xXYannuschXx I wonder if that's why the Elantra N is still so hard to come by here in the states

[@Bruhnaccia]

I personally like the looks of the i30N more, I have it in Shadow Grey and it’s just stunning

[@titanx04]

Does Hyundai still warrant the N for track use, if so that trust in their product.

[@chasingcars]

Yes, non-competitive only

[@pancakes1983]

This review was quite tenacious if I don't say so myself.

[@michaelanthony7327]

Nice review, Curt. I’ve always loved your reviews, as they’re not biased toward any particular make of car. 👍

[@carlstrohm3785]

Well I'm jealous as hell after hearing you say the warranty is 5 years and unlimited Km. Here in the USA it's 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. So for me a new car warranty lasts about 16 months 😢 In 5 years I would have around 150,000 miles on it. That's a great warranty.

[@Vladg111]

Good review but he forgot to mention reliability. I wish i30n would be offered in North America

[@ZaibJ]

It's no fun when the cheapest gr corolla you can get is 90k thanks to mark ups.

[@appu1jz]

Woulda been cool to include the new Type R as well.

[@purplehazeffc]

At close to $75k drive away. Which makes it $17k more than the I30N. From reviews it is a better car, but $17K better??

[@550r]

and throw in a Golf R as well, then you have all four hot hatches that no-one can actually buy at the moment without a significant markup, or hoping for a cancelled order

[@purplehazeffc]

@@550r Exactly. They are all just so hard to get atm. I was lucky to be able to get my I20N

[@appu1jz]

@@purplehazeffc it's not 75k it's $72400 driveway Honda have a fixed price. May as well include it if the corolla which is $67k is included. People definitely cross shop all three.

[@appu1jz]

​@@purplehazeffc tried to buy gr corolla dealer said no guaranteed spot may get a car in end of 2026 rang dealers everywhere no chance. I30 n hatch not available to order new, i20n not available to order new the dealer wanted $46k for an i20n demo. Almost bought a GR Yaris until I realised I need space I ended up ordering the Type R.

[@N-SOJU]

Brilliant review!

[@e.anthonyi8054]

Yes 🙌 ❤

[@VintageRKO]

GR Corolla is on a different class

[@chasingcars]

Eh, yes and no. It’s got AWD, it’s got higher limits in some areas, but they run the same pace (as tested) and are very comparable in many ways… and attract similar buyers. Hence: a comparison…

[@mharro88]

How? AWD? Everything else the N is better

[@VintageRKO]

GR Corolla is the more special car as it feels like an homogolation car, a future classic. 10 years from now it will be more valuable. The Hyundai is a great car but for my money I'd go for the Toyota

[@mharro88]

@@VintageRKO a corolla a classic in 10 years ? Lol good one.

[@paulklp8262]

​@@VintageRKO GRC is NOT a homologation car. Yaris is.

[@afrikengunner]

Let's see that Sedan N review

[@samzhang5682]

90k for gr corolla is insane, that thing doesn’t even have electric seats as standard

[@thijs5931]

Why would you need electric seats?

[@samzhang5682]

@@thijs5931 because it’s hard to get a proper seat position with manual seats, they have fixed clips and nodes at the bottom instead of electric motors

[@limelight777]

Toyota...makes me laugh 😆

[@johngurney1069]

where did you see the 90k price tag.

[@johngurney1069]

where did you see 90k price tag

[@JohnLee-db9zt]

Fizzy? What does that mean?

[@henrikhook.]

I expect that the Hyundai i20 N would be coming in 2024 with a DCT transmission as well!.

[@claudiadavies5110]

I love the feisty i30n ❤

[@SteveTurnbull-ns3vu]

Getting another facelift in 2023 we'll see what that brings.

[@steves4164]

Strange it wasn't a comparison with both in manual guise.

[@steeley_]

I've never heard a man say tenacious so many times in one video. Also, 9 grand? Haven't seen a single corolla sell for "MSRP" haha

[@stormthing22]

Would love to see the i30n vs the fl5

[@popsandbangs8858]

So the N30 stills the better car , just like I expected

[@Carlos-nr3rt]

You have to factor in that the GR Corolla is basically unobtainable from Toyota New Zealand and you are getting robbed NZD$85,000 from a re-seller for a car of unknown origin. The i30N is way cheaper and a slightly bigger car gives it a much bigger more "Normal" size interior. Also forget about just the Hp, the i30N has way more torque due to the extra cylinder and its much lighter as it has no 4WD. When I took and i30N for a test drive I have to confess I didn't notice any torque steer and other reviews pretty much say the same. I think you need to research the i30N E-Diff, it basically eliminates torque steer and I think you are automatically assuming it has torque steer because its a FWD. I have ordered an i30N manual but the wait time is at least 12 months but its $20,000 cheaper than the GR Corolla which is pretty much priced here for what a Honda Civic Type R. I'm pretty sure that when spending $80,000 buyers will go Honda.

[@JC94]

Laughs in Kona N top of the range for $54k new 😂 You can keep your GR Rental Range for 67-87k

[@richiesworld1]

...and in 5 years, it'll be worth half that. The GR will still be highly sought after, and have FAR higher resale. 🤷🏿‍♂️

[@JC94]

@@richiesworld1 if you’re buying a performance car for resale, you can fuck right off, let’s be honest

[@JohnLee-db9zt]

@@richiesworld1 ⁠ Oh do you know Mr Genius? both are rental cars at its core. Only brainwashed fan girls like you will overspend for a 5 year old econo box Toyota with factory mods. At least Hyundai won’t try to rip you off from the outset.

[@RRR_Motorsports]

And have shaken itself to bits with a 3 cyl

[@box-X-G]

The fun and excited hatch would be Honda Type-R and GR Corolla. And they discontinued i30N hatch now

[@jamesmoros1274]

Corolla all the way❤ quality, resale performance, handling and quite inside unlike the i30 which can get trashy over rough roads and the tire noise is borderline unbearable. Great review.

[@remyche8768]

So if you want to track your car and go hard, modify it, get the Gr, engine can handle over 700hp with stock internals. I have the g yaris Rallye. If you want quick zippy fancy car not looking to modify i30n and want to drive it till the next new thing is out.

[@oseidennis3230]

Hyundai hands down. GR Corolla is no where near Hyundai i30N, Toyota chasing clout 🤣🤣🤣🤣.

[@lamesamelame]

You guys are lucky to get the i30N because Hyundai doesn't offer the any hot hatchback. We only get lane Sedans!

[@Fitforacting]

14:24 THIS is what I came for 😮

[@ianjung1164]

N❤❤

[@lucienpetrus3851]

I'll take the Corolla thank you. Cape Town South Africa 🌍♥️

[@waggaclint]

Does Toyota offer warranty if you use the GR on the track?

[@misamisatv]

GR Corolla definitely better. 🚙

[@spacepatriots6163]

Bulshit 😂

[@misamisatv]

@@spacepatriots6163 Check the leaderboards on some pro and amateur competitions 🏁

[@youcangetsum6871]

@@misamisatvthey put down the same times they’re not even 1 second apart on trackthat’s how close they are that’s if the gr doesn’t over heat it’s diff.

[@box-X-G]

GR is is definitely better

[@misamisatv]

@@youcangetsum6871 source?

[@markdean3217]

If you want to appeal to the UK please also provide mpg etc ❗️🧐

[@purplehazeffc]

Just like us who use L/100km. No car reviewers that use mpg (UK, USA) provide us with L/100km That's why we have to use Google to calculate.

[@mharro88]

The i30n sedan is better than both of them

[@eponymous7910]

It's sooooooo ugly though

[@BenGoodbrand]

Just have to close your eyes until you're seated in the drivers seat

[@steeley_]

@@eponymous7910 As an owner... I have to agree. It makes up for what it lacks in looks by being an absolute hoot!

[@mharro88]

@@eponymous7910 subjective. I think it looks better than both of these cars. Especially in white.

[@paulklp8262]

​@@eponymous7910 Cockpit in Sedan N is better than both hatch N and GRC.though

[@rinbine2713]

Do you know that EU and NA reviewers disappointed to Corolla.

[@saravanakarthik3043]

GR Corolla is $87K drive away here in Melb.....😭😭😭

[@chasingcars]

Big cash for a Corolla.

[@richieduck67]

What planet are you on its 62k plus onroads

[@purplehazeffc]

@@richieduck67 It's call Dealer mark up. The $62K is Toyota's RRP.

[@ArmySigs]

@@richieduck67 What planet are YOU on? When they are only making 700 this year for the whole world do you think anyone is going to be paying RRP?

[@drsnowmon]

@@richieduck67 Which dealer gave it to you for that price?

[@JohnLee-db9zt]

The GR Corolla will heat soak on track. The engine is peaky, and its tail won’t rotate as well around the corner like the N.

[@Carlos-nr3rt]

What heat soaks on the GR Corolla is the centre diff coupling clutch pack. This overheats and drops out leaving you in 2WD. Known problem just Google it.

[@Duffman2010ify]

Tenacious

[@kted252]

Hey, kids who are going to buy a GR are not interested in flummery, they want fast furry, that’s it…… I have a GR Yaris….and I LOVE IT !! Full stop …..😁😁👍

[@johnrambo8710]

Ridiculously overpriced. I bought a Corolla brand new 10 years ago for under half that price. Is this really worth that much more 😂

[@limelight777]

it's bullshit price for Toyota! They think they are the same level as BMW or Merc😆

[@richieduck67]

You need to drive the GR hard to appreciate it it's like an angry Pitbull waiting to be let off the leash

[@user-qg2zl2cm6j]

Hyundai I30N >>> GR corolla

[@JagoTFC]

Pick yhe Hyundai. It has a handbrake. No car should come without a handbrake. Also the fastback i30 is the better looking

[@fcukugimmeausername]

The GR Corolla really needs a better gearbox. I'm all for manual only, but give this thing an 8-Speed dual clutch systemm.

[@australianmade2659]

The GR YARIS is my pick over both

[@JohnLee-db9zt]

Even with the 10k difference in msrp? 20-30k more irl?

[@johncollins392]

Its data not daata!

[@ashypravs4866]

The GR is for a driving enthusiast. Its not built for value for money folks. The Hyundia looks Beautiful. At this moment, a 3 cylinder pssses a GTI or R line. Unheard of and given if you have the funds.

[@akent46]

Is saying tenacious every sentence a chasing cars contract clause? 😖😔

[@politicoinutil]

Three cilinders, 300 cv is a bad combination

[@LoveLikeaHurricane]

america with no I30N

[@Carlos-nr3rt]

Yeah but you guys get the Golf R in a MANUAL over there the rest of us get the DCT that I refuse to buy. If we had the Golf R then I definitely would have taken one for a test drive.

[@anakinskywalker4113]

I prefer the look & feel of the Hyundai I30. With a proper 6 speed manual, non of this automatic nonsense not happy about the I30 being an auto in this test. Arrr bugger the auto a proper drivers car can never be an auto.

[@djizzah]

First of all its kind of pointless bec ause you cant buy either, the Hyundai is great value compared to corllas price though both are expensive, although not a hatch, the wrx seems very good value in comparison, but the corolla will hold its value better and be reliable and durable, id go with the corolla

[@mharro88]

WRX lol?

[@deanowarrior]

Poor review ,all weather fun v only good in the dry= more fun on any given day.

[@youmakeitnice1547]

Interior of the GR is total Dog

[@stilfr]

What a stupid comparison. FWD vs AWD

[@Thisonegoestoeleven666]

That corolla seems ridiculously overpriced.

[@akotoada]

Because it is

[@seannedelko3497]

Similar priced to type R

[@Carlos-nr3rt]

Its WAY overpriced because they hyped the hell out of it and then told everyone they are only making a few hundred. The problem with AWD is that it automatically adds like $10K to the cost of the car. Technology has moved on now with the E-Diff and torque vectoring so any advantage AWD had in the dry is now gone and so is much of the wet advantage. The price should be about the same as the Subaru WRX, its simply not a way better car.

[@seannedelko3497]

@@Carlos-nr3rt with similar price as type R then the AWD becomes the value.