2025 Hyundai i30 N hot hatch detailed: Second facelift due in Australia next month

The long-awaited second 'facelift' for the 2025 Hyundai i30 N hatch has been revealed – with new technology and design tweaks but no more power – weeks before the first examples arrive in Australian showrooms next month.

The updated i30 N hatch is making its global debut in Australia, as one of the few markets where Hyundai’s maiden hot hatch will still be sold, after it was axed from Europe earlier this year.

Australia will be the only country where Hyundai will offer the i20 N, i30 Sedan N, i30 N hatch and Ioniq 5 N in the same showroom.

As forecast, the changes are not as significant as the first 'facelift' unveiled in 2020 for the maiden i30 N hatch – launched in 2017 – which brought more power, improved tech and an automatic gearbox option.

However, the latest update does bring a widescreen digital instrument cluster for the first time, alongside updates to the safety suite, revised styling, new features on the base model, and a 'push-to-pass' overboost button on the steering wheel.

There is no more power, retaining the 206kW/392Nm 2.0-litre turbo engine with six-speed manual or eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions.

Prices are expected to rise to account for the new features, though the hike will not be as significant as that recently applied to the regular i30 hatch, which is now built for Australia alongside the i30 N in the Czech Republic.

The outgoing i30 N hatch starts from $46,200 plus on-road costs.

MORE: 2025 Hyundai i30 Hatch price confirmed – $12,000 rise for facelifted Euro-built mild-hybrid

The chances of a next-generation i30 N hatch are slim as Hyundai moves towards electric cars – and instead tries to breathe new life into the current model, which is based on eight-year-old bones.

Exterior changes include a new honeycomb front grille pattern, red inserts in the front air intakes, restyled side skirts with red highlights, black front and rear Hyundai badges.

Hyundai Australia says there is a new matte grey finish for the 19-inch forged alloy wheels, though it's hard to spot the difference.

Inside, the key change is a new 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, replacing analogue dials and a 4.2-inch display.

It joins a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen which now offers over-the-air updates. It remains to be seen if the digital instrument display has a different layout in N mode, as per other Hyundai N cars with widescreen clusters.

There's a new red, circular shortcut for activating N Grin Shift, an 'overboost' mode which sharpens transmission responses, unlocks maximum power and opens the bi-modal exhaust for 20 seconds.

The outgoing i30 N offered N Grin Shift, but it was activated with a small black button on the wheel, rather than the more prominent red shortcut on the latest model – as well as the i30 Sedan N and Ioniq 5 N.

Other new interior features include new inserts and blue contrast stitching for the Alcantara and leather front sports seats, gloss black trim around the gear shifter, and three USB-C ports (one front, two rear) replacing USB-A.

Hyundai's Bluelink smartphone app connectivity is now available – with vehicle tracking, remote cabin heating/cooling, and an emergency call function – alongside carry-over Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (expected to remain wired, not wireless), satellite navigation and digital radio.

The base i30 N variant is now equipped with rain-sensing wipers, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and front parking sensors.

These features were previously exclusive to the $3000-dearer Premium variant. It is expected there will remain a choice of base or Premium model grades, the latter with the option of a sunroof.

Safety has been updated with cyclist detection for the autonomous emergency braking tech, plus new features including traffic sign recognition, rear occupant alert, driver attention warning and multi-collision braking.

Unchanged is the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine developing 206kW and 392Nm, matched with a six-speed manual or eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive.

Standard is adaptive suspension, performance brakes, 19-inch forged alloy wheels, a multi-mode sports exhaust, and a stiffness bar behind the rear seats.

New items in bold.