Review - Hyundai i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition

It goes by the curious name of the Hyundai i30 N ‘Drive-N’ Limited Edition, and is effectively a special edition run of the range-topping i30 N Premium that gains a heap of visual enhancements, inside and out. 

Let’s take a closer look at the i30 N Drive-N Limtited Edition to see what’s on offer for keen buyers, and whether it offers enough to justify the price premium over the standard i30 N. 

Starting Price: $53,200

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Hyundai i30 (N Drive-N Limited Edition) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Hyundai i30 car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

Prices for the Hyundai i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition kick off from $53,200 for the manual, and rise to $56,200 for the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. 

Keep in mind that prices are subject to change, and do not include on-road costs. 

How Much Can OnlineAuto Save You? 

Using OnlineAuto’s car buying service, you could save between by sourcing one of our car specialists to help you find the best value model for you. 

What Features Does the Hyundai i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition Have?

Over the standard i30 N, the Limited Edition variant gains special touches like a 19-inch bronze alloys, exterior highlights with Drive-N badges, a set of N Light bucket seats, alcantara upholstery upgrades with red highlights, red seatbelts and a series production plaque unique to that build number. 

Features carried over from the existing i30 N include keyless entry, LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel and a 10.25-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, as well as a generous list of safety kit that we’ll cover later in this review. 

Range Features: 

• 19-inch bronze alloys 

• Exterior highlights with Drive-N badges 

• N Light bucket seats 

• Alcantara upholstery with red highlights 

• Series production plaque 

• LED headlights 

• Panoramic sunroof 

• 10.25-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

Hyundai i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition Colours 

The Hyundai i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition is available in a choice of two colours, including Serenity White & Phantom Black. 

Is it Fun to Drive? 

The i30 N has been quick to carve itself a fierce reputation thanks to Hyundai’s purist approach to thrills that has been an instant hit with driving enthusiasts. 

The Hyundai i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition comes powered by the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder you’ll find in the standard i30 N, which means you’ve got 206kW of power and 392Nm of torque at your disposal, which is thrown to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. 

The powertrain on offer in the i30 N is outstanding, and once the turbocharger has spooled up, offers an immense level of performance that sounds particularly great thanks to the sports exhaust system that pops and crackles as you might through gears. 

It’s important to note that In terms of mechanical upgrades, there’s nothing on offer in the Drive-N Limited Edition over the standard model. 

That’s not to detract from the Limited Edition, rather, it speaks to the outstanding package on offer in the standard i30 N, which features a limited-slip differential at the front wheels that helps to carve through corners with exceptional traction, while remaining approachable for drivers of all levels. 

The front end offers superb grip levels and can handle some serious punishment, making for a super sharp and agile driving experience in the twisties, with braking power supplied by a powerful set of 360mm front disc brakes.

Around town, the i30 N feels undeniably firm thanks to its sporty suspension setup, while the steering is heavier than the standard i30 and the turning circle has also suffered, however, these are entirely forgivable considering the performance levels on offer. 

Is it Practical and Spacious? 

While it might be built primarily as a sports car, the i30 N is based on the regular i30, after all, which means it remains impressively practical and spacious and is happy to double as a family car, when needed. 

The front of the cabin gains a refreshed interior with upgraded Alcantara upholstery and a heap of red highlights over the standard i30, while Hyundai has kept all the important practical touches that make the i30 N an impressive and versatile package. 

That means there’s still a pair of cupholders, a storage tray behind the gear lever, and a decent amount of space inside the folding armrest that make it surprisingly practical for a performance-focussed package, with a heap of visibility and headroom in the front of the cabin, too. 

Move to the second row and the i30 package remains accommodating for rear passengers, even with the N Light bucket seats fitted, with enough space for even adult passengers in the rear - with the added bonus of ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts for forward and rear-facing child seats. 

Finally, the Hyundai i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition has a boot measuring in at a very respectable 381L, which expands to 1287L when you need to squeeze in some bulky cargo. 

Is it Safe? 

The Hyundai i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition retains the i30 N’s five-star ANCAP safety rating, and comes fitted with the extensive range of active safety tech you’ll find in the base model. 

That means that autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alerts, lane-keep assistance, driver attention monitoring and seven airbags are all fitted as standard. 

Is it Fuel Efficient?

The i30 N’s engine has been designed with performance, rather than fuel efficiency in mind, which means that it returns relatively thirsty fuel economy figures of 8.5L per 100km on a combined cycle. 

Our Verdict: Is the Hyundai i30 N Drive-N Limited Edition Worth it?

The verdict here depends on what you’re looking for from your hot hatch. 

If you’re solely interested in performance, the entry-level i30 N offers all the thrills of the range-topping limited edition at a hefty discount. 

If, however, you’re looking for the maximum i30 N experience, the visual and material upgrades over the standard model, combined with its limited production run make the Drive-N Limited Edition a very appealing proposition that is likely to become a collector's item in the future. 

As a result, we’d encourage any die-hard N fans to put their name down for the Limited Edition quickly, because there are only 180 units coming to Australia. On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925 

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Numbers are limited to 180 units (126 automatics & 54 manuals) 

2. Visual, rather than mechanical upgrades over standard i30 N 

3. 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder produces 206kW/392Nm 

4. Front-wheel drive platform with a limited-slip differential 

5. 8.5L/100km combined cycle fuel economy figures 

Pros 

• Outstanding performance 

• Feature-packed with all the bells & whistles 

• Exceptional mix of performance and practicality 

• Outlandish personality and charm 

Cons

• Limited-production run 

• No performance upgrades on offer 

OnlineAuto Rating: 9/10

Hyundai i30 N Competition