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Hyundai’s long-awaited i30 N recently arrived in SA as the first car from the Korean carmaker’s high-performance N division.
Competing against established icons like the Golf GTI and Honda Civic Type R is no easy task for a newcomer to the hot-hatch league, and rather than making the i30 N the most powerful contender, Hyundai focused on trying to make it the most fun to drive and spent 10,000km honing the car’s handling at the Nurburgring Nordschleife racetrack in Germany.
An “N” button on the steering wheel sharpens the steering, stiffens the electronically controlled suspension and also heightens the response of the engine, the limited-slip differential and stability control.
The i30N uses a turbocharged 2.0l petrol engine — the same as most cars in this league — though its outputs of 202kW and 353Nm trail most of the opposition including the new Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy, which impressively extracts 221kW and 400Nm from a 1.8l engine.
Launched in SA last month, the Megane Trophy is the most hardcore and track-focused version of the RS (Renault Sport) range which until now has been available in milder RS 280 models.
Like the Hyundai it has driving settings to progressively dial up the madness, including a full-attack RS mode.
It’s available in a choice of automatic or manual transmissions, while the Hyundai for now offers a three-pedal version only; an auto will follow later.
We took the i30N and Megane Trophy for a side by side test on the straight and twisty tracks of the Gerotek testing centre near Pretoria.
Straight-line performance
The Hyundai has an overboost function that temporarily increases torque to 378Nm for up to 18 seconds under maximum acceleration. Its top speed is rated at 250km/h and with the aid of launch control it scoots from 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.1 seconds.
The Megane claims a 0-100km/h in 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 260km/h for the manual (the subject of this test) and 255km/h for the auto.
When we connected a Vbox and tested them on Gerotek’s long straight there were no surprises given that the Megane is lighter and more powerful than the Hyundai. At Gauteng altitude the RS 300 Trophy is the car that comes closest to its factory-claimed acceleration figure, completing the 0-100km/h burst in 5.9 seconds versus the Hyundai’s 7.1 seconds — a full 1.2 second difference. With its superior power-to-weight ratio the Megane also wins the in-gear acceleration stakes, although its 60-120km/h advantage is less pronounced in fourth than in third gear.
The Hyundai is the easier car in which to execute a swift pulloff however, due to a launch control system that controls the revs and minimises wheelspin. No such system assists the Megane which, when the stability control is disengaged, smokes its front wheels at the slightest provocation and led us to needing many practice runs before we nailed that 5.9 sec figure.
Ride and handling
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In both cars the turbocharged engines feed the front wheels with the assistance of limited-slip differentials (LSDs) that improve cornering traction and reduce torque steer. The Megane in addition has four-wheel steering, but unlike the Hyundai the suspension’s not adjustable.
The Megane is the wild child of the duo. Despite its LSD the French car torque steers all over the place and behaves like a waywardly-struck pool ball if you don’t treat it right. It is quick and edgy and a little unhinged, and no matter what mode it’s in it always feels ready to race.
It’s alive with sensation and the all-wheel steering makes it poke into corners quicker than the Hyundai.
It’s a wild mistress that will punish the unwary driver who tries to take liberties by nailing the throttle too early out of tight corners, and the steering becomes quite a handful.
The nonadjustable ride is firm and choppy, and a few kilometres on a rough road will make you feel like you’ve endured a session on a pogo stick.
The Hyundai is more of a swift-and-smooth car, and even in its hardest suspension setting it feels softer than the Megane. It doesn’t torque steer as much, although there is some steering wheel twitch when you really attack the throttle.
That said, the i30N has a very sweet chassis and the testing carried out on the Nurburgring shines through. It’s a more forgiving car that dances through corners with finesse and precision, if not the wild abandon of the Renault. You can take more liberties with it, where the mad Megane calls for a more experienced driver.
Also underlining the differing zeitgests of these two cars is that Hyundai has a rev-matching feature which blips the throttle on downshifts; in the Renault you have to do the heel-and-toe shuffle yourself.
Both cars are playfully vocal with their “ultimate beastmaster” modes engaged, making rortier exhaust sounds along with snapping and crackling when you lift off the throttle.
Styling
The Megane is the more boisterous and extroverted car, a party animal that swings from the chandeliers. The Renault’s visual va-va voom contrasts sharply with the Hyundai’s understated sportiness. It’s Priscilla Queen of the Desert versus Harvey Specter.
The Megane’s interior plumage matches its flamboyant exterior, including race-ready Recaro bucket seats that have holes for a four-point racing harness. The Hyundai’s bucket seats are plusher and more comfortable, and its interior “sportification” is more understated.
Both cars get the regulation aluminium pedals and metallic accents, but it’s the Megane that has the lewder red-stitched accents and racy Alcantara-clad steering wheel with a red stripe indicating the 12 o’ clock position.
Verdict
The phrase “what you see is what you get” has never been more apt. The Megane’s exuberant styling screams “born to be wild” and that’s exactly what the driving experience delivers. Those tri-colour wheels and the wide, planted stance promise high-performance titillation and it delivers what it says on the tin — in a big grin-spreading, hooliganistic way. Out of the two cars, the RS Trophy is the car I’d choose for a track day.
The Hyundai i30N is a more demure looking car, which translates into life at the helm. It’s fun to drive without being as wild and edgy as its French rival. Its performance is more groomed and approachable without being clinical, and it’s also the more comfortable, easier-to-live-with daily driver. And yes, it’s also slower.
Only seven people will get to own the Megane RS 300 Trophy in SA because Renault isn’t bringing in any more, but there’s no numbers limit on the i30N.
Tech specs
Hyundai i30N
Engine
Type: four-cylinder turbo
Capacity: 1,998cc
Power: 202kW
Torque: 353Nm
Transmission
Type: six-speed manual
Drivetrain
Type: Front wheel drive
Fuel Consumption: 8.5l/100km (as claimed), 11.6l/100km (as tested)
Emissions: 163g/km
Standard features
Front fog lights, Bluetooth, touchscreen infotainment system, electric folding mirrors, auto on/off lights, xenon headlights with assist function, cruise control, Recaro sports seats, rain sensor wipers, climate control, keyless access, USB port, climate control, park distance control rear, ABS, stability control, sevent airbags, panoramic roof, heated front seats, heated steering wheel
Cost of ownership
Warranty: Seven years/200,000km
Service Plan: Five years/75,000km
Price: R679,900
Lease*: R14,540 per month
* at 10% interest over 60 months no deposit
WE LIKE: Handling, ride comfort, all-round finesse
WE DISLIKE: A little underpowered
VERDICT: The all-season hot hatch
Motor News star rating
Design * * *
Performance * * *
Economy * * *
Ride/handling * * * *
Safety * * * * *
Value For Money * * *
Overall * * * *
Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy
Engine
Type: four-cylinder turbo
Capacity: 1,798cc
Power: 221kW
Torque: 400Nm
Transmission
Type: six-speed manual
Drivetrain
Type: Front wheel drive
Fuel Consumption: 8.2l/100km (as claimed); 11.1l /100km (as tested)
Emissions: 183g/km
Standard features
Front fog lights, Bluetooth, navigation, touchscreen infotainment system, electric folding mirrors, auto on/off lights, xenon headlights, cruise control, sports seats, rain sensor wipers, climate control, keyless access, 2x USB port, climate control, park distance control rear, EBD, Brake assist, ABS, stability control, six airbags, 4Control all-wheel steering
Cost of ownership
Warranty: Five years/150,000 km
Service plan: Five years/ 90,000km
Price: R774,900
Lease*: R16,558 per month
* at 10% interest over 60 months no deposit
WE LIKE: Pace, handling, wild nature
WE DISLIKE: Hard ride, price
VERDICT: A hardcore hot hatch for track days
Motor News star rating
Design * * * *
Performance * * * *
Economy * * *
Ride/handling * * *
Safety * * * *
Value For Money * *
Overall * * * *
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