Talking about Hyundai’s i30 today, our biggest selling small car this year having taken that title from Toyota’s Corolla. The i30 also Hyundai’s biggest seller which today comprises hatch and sedan – the sedan representing 15 percent of sales comprises six models starting with the 2.0-litre Active manual at $25,690.

I’ve been driving the sporty 1.6-litre turbo N-Line Premium 7-speed automatic at $38,190 – N-Line representing Hyundai’s performance enhanced i30 range which they suggest applies a new “Sensuous Sportiness design identity to create a striking coupe like four-door.”

The styling is edgy with sharply defined elements and with pricing touching $40,000 one would expect the i30 N-Line Premium to have a high specification level and it doesn’t disappoint – 10 way powered heated driver’s seat, full leather trim, heated steering wheel, a sunroof, Bose premium sound system, wireless smartphone charging and 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a separate multi-media and navigation screen of the same size.

And it gains Hyundai’s extensive SmartSense suite of active safety technology like driver attention warning. Suspension wise the N-Line models gain larger front ventilated disc brakes and a more sophisticated multi-link rear suspension with enhanced dampers.

The Hyundai i30 N-Line Premium is not inexpensive but it’s a very polished and sporty performer which I’ll explain in my next segment.

I’m David Berthon.

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