With 202kW and a manual as standard.
Korean carmaker Hyundai has pulled the wraps off its new i30 Fastback N, the hotted-up version of its swoopy-roofed family… car that’ll complement the i30N hatch when it arrives early next year. The i30N 5-door is already selling quite healthily in various markets globally, and the i30 Fastback N is going to just make those numbers grow even further.
Hyundai’s N performance marque have given the i30 Fastback broadly the same treatment as they gave the hatchback, and so you’ll find identical bumpers on either end, the N grille and red highlights, as well as the same gloss-black wing mirrors and side skirts. What isn’t present, at least as the hero hue, is the signature N blue; the i30 Fastback N dons a more understated grey, which looks pretty smart to this writer.
Step inside and you’ll find a very, very familiar cabin if you’ve spent a decent amount of time in the hatchback. It’s the same steering wheel, the same seats, the same contrast stitching… it’s all the same. Also shared is the ’N Mode’ screen that allows you to play with settings like exhaust noise, suspension settings, and rev-matching functionality to tailor your N experience.
Aside from the more dramatic roofline, the i30 Fastback N comes with the added benefit of improved practicality: Behind the rear seats lies 450L of cargo room, about 15% more than the hatchback. Fold flat the rear bench and you get a grand total of 1351L, or enough room to put a Swedish-designed flat-packed wardrobe in the back before driving home very quickly.
The i30 Fastback N will be available globally with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, sending power to the front wheels. Most markets will have a choice between a 184kW Standard tune and a 202kW Performance tune, though Australia will only get the latter. Later in 2019 there’ll also be the option of an 8-speed double-clutch automatic, but for the time being, the i30 Fastback N will only be available with a 6-speed manual (just like the hatch).
The i30 Fastback N will be here by March 2019, where it’ll sport Australian tuning, and likely very similar specifications as the i30N hatch, though nailed-down details will only be made known closer to launch. We reckon the Fastback N won’t deviate too far from the $39,990 price tag they set on the i30N hatch, so expect a sub-$50k price tag and generous levels of kit.
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