Until you’ve been hiding beneath a rock for the previous six months, you’ll know that the Hyundai i20 N has acquired reward from journalists and homeowners world wide and been lauded as one of many uncommon sizzling hatches that may really rival the acclaimed Ford Fiesta ST.

Earlier this 12 months, CarScoops’ personal Chris Chilton put the i20 N to the check on the Anglesey Circuit and wanting to get our arms on the hatch right here in Australia, we additionally examined it out however did issues a little bit in a different way. Slightly than placing it by its paces on the observe the place we suspect solely a minority of householders will enterprise, we as a substitute launched into a 1300-mile (~2,100 km), week-long highway journey to see what essentially the most compact of Hyundai N fashions can do.

Our journey took us from the world’s most remoted metropolis, Perth, all the way in which to Esperance, a small city on the South Coast of Australia that’s extensively considered having a few of the best seashores within the nation. It was a journey that examined the i20 N alongside all types of highway surfaces and climate circumstances and proved that along with being a succesful observe toy and canyon carver, this pocket rocket is properly suited to lengthy, arduous highway journeys.

The most recent in an extended line of spectacular N vehicles

Hyundai launched the 2022 i20 N in Australia in mid-November final 12 months. It sits on the base of the N vary that additionally consists of the i30 N, Kona N, i30 Fastback N, and i30 Sedan N (also referred to as the Elantra N in the US). Whereas the i20 N is pint-sized, it’s nonetheless critically spectacular.

Slotted beneath the hood is a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a double overhead cam and Constantly Variable Valve Length (CVVD) expertise. It pumps out 201 hp (150 kW) between 5,500 and 6,000 rpm and 202 lb-ft (275 Nm) of peak torque from 1,750 rpm to 4,500 rpm. Torque jumps to 224 lb-ft (304 Nm) from 2,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm beneath full throttle as a part of an overboost perform.

Mated solely to this engine is a six-speed handbook transmission driving the entrance wheels by a mechanical limited-slip differential. Hyundai Australia quotes a curb weight various between 1,210 kg (2,667 lbs) and 1,235 kg (2,722 lbs) and states that the i20 N averages 6.9 l/100 km (34 U.S. mpg) over the mixed cycle. A set of 18×7.5-inch wheels come normal and they’re wrapped in 215/40 Pirelli P Zero HN tires.

Hyundai’s engineers have additionally outfitted the i20 N with a plethora of options designed to make it particularly partaking for drivers. For instance, it includes a launch management system that helps it hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in as little as 6.2 seconds. The automotive received’t cease accelerating till it hits 230 km/h (143 mph). It additionally options an computerized rev-matching perform with Regular, Sport, and Sport+ settings, an energetic variable exhaust, an digital sound generator, and the N Highway Sense perform that detects highway indicators indicating curved roads and prompts you to modify into N mode.

Australian costs begin at AU$32,490 ($23,700) earlier than on-road prices.

Security options additionally are available abundance and embrace Hill-Begin Help Management, Multi-Collision Braking, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Driver Consideration Warning, Ahead-Collision-Avoidance Help with automotive/pedestrian detection, Excessive Beam Help, Lane Following Help, Lane Preserving Help, Rear Cross-Visitors Collision Warning, Rear Occupant Alert, Rear View Monitor, parking sensors, and a Tire Strain Monitoring System.

Time for an journey

Our journey within the i20 N began at roughly 6:30 a.m. on a Wednesday morning in February. The purpose was to drive to our lodging in Esperance some 728 km (452 miles) away, a journey that takes a contact over eight hours.

After getting conversant in the automotive the day previous to our journey, we began the lengthy drive that’s roughly the equal of driving from Bruges, Belgium to Leipzig, Germany or San Francisco, California to San Diego. The important thing distinction between these journeys is that slightly than passing by a number of European international locations or a lot of staggering nationwide parks in California, the journey from Perth to Esperance takes you throughout flat farmland, mining websites, and little or no else.

After leaving town, we jumped onto the Nice Southern Freeway by the state forests to the east of Perth sure for our first cease within the distant city of Hyden, the placement of Western Australia’s famed Wave Rock. With the miles ticking by, we have been shortly capable of discover some execs and cons of taking a automotive just like the i20 N on a highway journey.

What’s good and what’s not so good?

First, a constructive. The recent hatch comes normal with a seven-speaker Bose sound system that sounds wonderful and offered good readability for each music and podcasts. What’s not so good are the seats. For the overwhelming majority of driving eventualities, the sports activities seats are nice, offering good bolstering and loads of adjustment to search out your excellent driving place. Nevertheless, after 90 minutes or so, my butt would begin to get soar. Now you might say “That’s sure to occur, these are sports activities seats in spite of everything.” You’re not improper, however the decade-old Recaro CS Sportster seats of my Renault Clio RS 200 AGP are extra snug on lengthy journeys, regardless of being thinner, lighter, and showing to be extra hardcore.

The suspension can also be price discussing. A key distinction between the i20 N and all different N merchandise is the truth that it doesn’t have electronically adjustable suspension and as a substitute has a set setup. Which means there’s no approach to change it right into a ‘Consolation’ mode for lengthy journeys and right into a rock-solid ‘N’ mode if you need to have some enjoyable. Happily, Hyundai’s engineers have accomplished a superb job of tuning the suspension to make sure it’s agency sufficient for performance-focused driving with out being too harsh, even over poorly maintained freeway roads that stretch on for tons of of kilometers. It’s no Rolls-Royce nevertheless it’s definitely extra compliant than an i30 N in its harshest Sport and Sport+ modes.

Following a short cease to take a look at Wave Rock (a large disappointment, by the way in which), we continued our journey, making a few gas stops alongside the way in which. Whereas cruising at round 110 km/h (68 mph), the i20 N will sip about 6.1 liters/100 km (38.5 U.S. mpg) and if you happen to drop the velocity to about 90 km/h (55.9 mph), this determine drops to roughly 5.7 l/100 km (41.2 mpg). These spectacular numbers imply you will get round 650 km (403 miles) out of the 40-liter (10.5-gallon) tank whereas cruising at freeway speeds.

Earlier than lengthy, we arrived in Esperance. My butt was sore and my decrease again was a little bit stiff however apart from that, I felt recent, little question helped by the truth that the energetic steering and lane-keep help methods made driving that little bit simpler.

A automotive that thrives in all types of circumstances

Over the next few days, we visited a few of the spectacular seashores and nationwide parks across the city, and likewise had the chance to check the i20 N out on some tighter and extra thrilling roads, together with the picturesque Nice Ocean Drive (pictured beneath).

When pushed at its restrict, the i20 N is great. Just like the i30 N, the shifting motion is superbly crisp and the clutch pedal is well-weighted. Grip is totally tenacious.

Along with missing digital suspension, the i20 N additionally lacks the digital limited-slip differential of its siblings and as a substitute makes use of a extra conventional mechanical LSD. Whereas this method doesn’t supply the identical ranges of adjustability because the eLSD, it does assist the hatch sink its claws into the pavement, pulling you across the tightest of corners and permitting the motive force to pin the throttle midway by a flip with out having to fret concerning the slightest trace of understeer.

Watch Additionally: 2022 Hyundai i20 N Named Prime Gear’s Automotive Of The 12 months

The steering can also be well-weighted and whereas within the i30 N you’ll want arms of metal to routinely drive with the steering set to its heaviest setting of Sport+, the Sport+ mode of the i20 N is way more manageable. The truth is, I had it in that mode for many of my week with the automotive.

The punchy 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is a firecracker of a factor and that is no extra evident when utilizing the launch management. Press the brake, pin the throttle, launch the brake and even on the driest of roads, you’ll spin up each entrance tires and go away thick black marks on the pavement behind you. Figures of 201 hp (150 kW) and 224 lb-ft (275 Nm) match up properly in opposition to the Fiesta ST and the i20 N pulls sturdy in all gears. Nevertheless, this isn’t essentially the most characterful four-cylinder on the market and at full throttle, it produces a metallic rattle that’s fairly disagreeable. The adjustable exhaust considerably makes up for the engine noise.

All through my week with the i20 N, I used to be additionally pleasantly stunned by simply how good the inside was. Whereas it doesn’t really feel fairly as premium because the i30 Sedan N / Elantra N (nor did I anticipate it to), it undoubtedly feels extra premium than the costlier however older i30 N hatchback. For starters, the ten.25-inch infotainment display is healthier integrated into the sprint than the i30 hatchback and it’s also angled in the direction of the motive force. The plastics adorning the dashboard and door panels additionally really feel much less scratchy than its greater brother. The superb 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster can also be one thing that the i30 hatch is missing.

Is that this the sizzling hatch to purchase?

The Hyundai i20 N is a wonderful automotive, there’s little question about it. It performs properly in all circumstances and dealt with our roadtrip with extra poise than we had anticipated. It’s vastly partaking and feels simply as glad cruising down a freeway because it does if you seize it by the scruff of the neck and hustle it by some corners. It’s not fairly as playful as a Fiesta ST however few front-wheel drive hatchbacks are. As a substitute, it feels a little bit extra mature and well-rounded. It may very properly be the very best bang-for-your-buck mannequin within the Hyundai N household.

Picture Credit: Brad Anderson/CarScoops