Hyundai expands i30 N Line range with new 1-litre engine

The tiny, turbocharged unit is the cheapest powerplant in the N Line range.

18 February 2019 at 10:00

Hyundai has expanded its sporty-looking i30 N Line model range with the addition of a 1-litre three-cylinder petrol engine.

Not to be confused with the high-performance i30 N models, the N Line aims to combine the styling of that Golf GTI-rivalling hot hatch with the economy and insurance rating of the less potent i30 variants. The new engine will become the entry-level version of the N Line model, bringing the asking price below £20,000 and offering the most environmentally friendly iteration of the jazzed-up family hatchback.

The engine itself is a tried and tested unit found elsewhere in the Hyundai range. It has found a home under the bonnet of the i20 hatchback and lowlier versions of the i30 - both in hatchback, estate and fastback body styles.

With 118 bhp on tap and a six-speed manual gearbox stuck on the back, the turbocharged engine will take the i30 from 0-62 mph in just over 11 seconds, while the top speed is 118 mph. That might not be especially inspirational, but the engine does fight back with the lowest CO2 emissions in the N Line stable, with 125 g per kilometre, and one the best fuel economy figures. Returning around 45 mpg according to the new, stricter WLTP economy test, the newcomer will ostensibly manage almost 500 miles on a single 50-litre fill-up.

And despite its £19,995 asking price making it the cheapest member of the N Line range, the 1-litre car gets all the same sport-inspired accoutrements as its siblings. On the outside, the car is set apart by subtle N badging and 18-inch alloy wheels, while the dashboard is dominated by an eight-inch colour touchscreen. Keyless start, a reversing camera and parking sensors at both ends also feature, along with cruise control and the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity systems.

Hyundai UK’s managing director, Ashley Andrew, said the introduction of the 1-litre i30 N Line was a natural move, as the engine is already the most popular power unit in the wider i30 range.

“With the identity of the N Line range already established in the i30 range, the introduction of the 1.0 118 bhp engine is the natural next step,” he said. “This engine accounts for over 65 percent of petrol engine sales in the i30 range and with a clear market demand for smaller capacity engines combined with a sports focused trim, we have high expectations for this new N Line model.”