Hyundai is teasing us with the new i10 N Line

By topgear, 11 September 2019

We like the Hyundai i30N very much. For its first attempt at a hot hatch, Hyundai’s new performance division certainly got plenty of things right.

Unfortunately, the new i10 has only been given the ‘N Line’ treatment. Think of it like Volkswagen’s R-Line – there’s sporty styling and even a new engine, but it’s not even close to being the baby hot hatch we were craving.

It looks good though, doesn’t it? The new grille seems to suit its sporting addendums and there’s redesigned bumpers at both ends, with a dinky diffuser at the rear. The 16-inch alloys are also exclusive to the N Line, as are the red touches here and there.

The new engine is a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo. It manages 99bhp and 172nm of torque, but if that’s too much for you there’s also the 1.2-litre four-cylinder with 83bhp. Easy tiger.

Both will come with a little five-speed manual gearbox, which we hope will make the i10 N Line reasonably fun to drive.

Inside, there’s more red and some sporty seats, as well as an N-branded steering wheel and gear lever. We can’t help but wish it was a proper N car though. Pleeease, Hyundai?

Hyundai i10 N Line
Hyundai i10 N Line