Replied to a number of the i30N reviews because I have driven both the DCT and Manual and ordered the 6sp manual in performance blue with the 'premium' spec minus the sunroof. This is the New Zealand offering. Darn expensive. You comparison was spot on and what my take is. Thanks. I did like your objective review. Totally agree with your summary at the end. My use is mainly weekend driver on public roads around the South Island NZ - eat your hearts out. Not needed for daily traffic at all. Just occasionally. My order was based on getting the lightest options, with the most driver engagement. Should have that covered :-). > Spec wise, the DCT is approx. twice the weight of the 6sp man. Makes sense as the DCT is literally 2x 4sp manual gearboxes. > Performance seats are slightly lighter and sit lower (I am tall and this is a big issue) in the car. Standard are great seats, but needed to go a little lower for me. > New wheels are lighter than Series 1 > No sunroof as I did not want one and they are heavier. Look great though. Love that black roof look. For me (and this is not scientific) I found the DCT for normal boring round town driving would not shift up to the higher gear on its own when you just want to dawdle. Had to keep hitting the paddle. I assume that the gearbox memory would slowly tune to shifting earlier? Not sure on this. Was annoying to be sitting in 3rd and just needed to shift to 4th at low RPM and it would not. Yes, this was normal mode. Just had to push the throttle slightly too far to get the upshift. You are either breaking the speed limit or about to hit the car in front. Easier to flick the paddle and go up a gear and have the revs drop. The DCT is stunning and would not suggest for a moment to avoid it. If I was daily driving in traffic, would probably have picked it. Was pretty close choice but was happy to save the money and the weight for the extra driver immersion. I actually like the bland interior as it is durable and little 'sleeper' like, and low key. Love the analogue dials. But yes, is the dullest interior of all the competition for its price. Just as well Hyundai upgraded the infotainment system to give the series 2 buyer something! Totally agree with you on the fact this platform is on the way out. My 'bet' is that this car and the other last few 'analogue' hot hatches are the last of the era that started in the 70's. I don't mind dropping a little bit more money on this platform on the way out as I believe it will be of high interest going forward. It won't be as powerful or as slick or as modern as the new platforms that are Hybrid/Electric etc - BUT - the last of the old school mechanical everything. Yes please for me. Looking forward to getting mine (was a 5-6 month wait for my spec to be built). Probably Feb/March 22.
Absolutely agree with you! Great that some people are sticking with manual (no pun intended). Also, sunroof makes the car a lot heavier- so the point of the lighter alloys is meaningless. Not to mention, manual makes the car lighter too.
Great review mate. Considering one of these. You look pretty tall. Can I ask how tall you are and how you found the premium seats after a longish drive? Also, do you sit any lower in the premium than in the standard seats at all? Keep up the great content! 👍
Hey Degan thanks for watching! I’m 183cm and I fit ok. From memory the lightweight seats do sit slightly lower than the standard seat. The longest I drive the car was about 1.5hr and they are typical recaro style seats. Supportive and great for purpose but not ideal for long distance, though that 1.5hr was fine.
@@RightLaneReviews thanks for the quick reply mate. I'm around the 198 mark and sat in standard seats a couple of weeks ago, which were fine but a little high. Better ask my dealer for an extended test period.
To be honest I find neither seat “comfortable” for long journeys, but the premium seats are more supporting when throwing the N around in a proper hot hatch manner. So those are my pick - LT
Replied to a number of the i30N reviews because I have driven both the DCT and Manual and ordered the 6sp manual in performance blue with the 'premium' spec minus the sunroof. This is the New Zealand offering. Darn expensive.
You comparison was spot on and what my take is. Thanks. I did like your objective review. Totally agree with your summary at the end.
My use is mainly weekend driver on public roads around the South Island NZ - eat your hearts out. Not needed for daily traffic at all. Just occasionally.
My order was based on getting the lightest options, with the most driver engagement. Should have that covered :-).
> Spec wise, the DCT is approx. twice the weight of the 6sp man. Makes sense as the DCT is literally 2x 4sp manual gearboxes.
> Performance seats are slightly lighter and sit lower (I am tall and this is a big issue) in the car. Standard are great seats, but needed to go a little lower for me.
> New wheels are lighter than Series 1
> No sunroof as I did not want one and they are heavier. Look great though. Love that black roof look.
For me (and this is not scientific) I found the DCT for normal boring round town driving would not shift up to the higher gear on its own when you just want to dawdle. Had to keep hitting the paddle. I assume that the gearbox memory would slowly tune to shifting earlier? Not sure on this. Was annoying to be sitting in 3rd and just needed to shift to 4th at low RPM and it would not. Yes, this was normal mode. Just had to push the throttle slightly too far to get the upshift. You are either breaking the speed limit or about to hit the car in front. Easier to flick the paddle and go up a gear and have the revs drop.
The DCT is stunning and would not suggest for a moment to avoid it. If I was daily driving in traffic, would probably have picked it. Was pretty close choice but was happy to save the money and the weight for the extra driver immersion.
I actually like the bland interior as it is durable and little 'sleeper' like, and low key. Love the analogue dials. But yes, is the dullest interior of all the competition for its price. Just as well Hyundai upgraded the infotainment system to give the series 2 buyer something!
Totally agree with you on the fact this platform is on the way out. My 'bet' is that this car and the other last few 'analogue' hot hatches are the last of the era that started in the 70's. I don't mind dropping a little bit more money on this platform on the way out as I believe it will be of high interest going forward. It won't be as powerful or as slick or as modern as the new platforms that are Hybrid/Electric etc - BUT - the last of the old school mechanical everything. Yes please for me.
Looking forward to getting mine (was a 5-6 month wait for my spec to be built). Probably Feb/March 22.
Absolutely agree with you! Great that some people are sticking with manual (no pun intended). Also, sunroof makes the car a lot heavier- so the point of the lighter alloys is meaningless. Not to mention, manual makes the car lighter too.
Why did you got the hatch over the sedan considering the better interior in the sedan and ride?
Amazing review... thanks a lot for all the information.
Great review, seen a few of these in Perth Australia. It does remind me a lot of the Focus ST I had years ago.
Great review mate. Considering one of these. You look pretty tall. Can I ask how tall you are and how you found the premium seats after a longish drive? Also, do you sit any lower in the premium than in the standard seats at all? Keep up the great content! 👍
Hey Degan thanks for watching!
I’m 183cm and I fit ok. From memory the lightweight seats do sit slightly lower than the standard seat. The longest I drive the car was about 1.5hr and they are typical recaro style seats. Supportive and great for purpose but not ideal for long distance, though that 1.5hr was fine.
@@RightLaneReviews thanks for the quick reply mate. I'm around the 198 mark and sat in standard seats a couple of weeks ago, which were fine but a little high. Better ask my dealer for an extended test period.
Which seats do you find the most comfortable to sit in the premium seats with the N light? or the seats on the base model N?
To be honest I find neither seat “comfortable” for long journeys, but the premium seats are more supporting when throwing the N around in a proper hot hatch manner. So those are my pick - LT
I could be noob but what does it mean "the sharpest chassis" ? Whad does it very well when it's named "sharp" ?
Whats the fuel range like when not driving her hard ?
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it. I averaged about 8.7L/100km in my week with it. - LT
Sorry but this review really doesn’t work for me.
Lol