After the introduction of the i30, i30 Tourer and the i30 N hot hatchback Hyundai finally revealed their slick new final variant of i30 – the 2018 i30 Fastback. What we know so far is that the 3-door version will not come back from previous gen meaning that the Fastback i30 model comes as the successor.
Hyundai decided to implement their latest design language on the i30 Fastback which is, as they say, “sophisticated twist with an elegant character.” On the front of it, you will find a grille that has now been shortened in order to achieve a wider appearance and emphasize the hood slightly more. The sleek new line goes all the way to the vehicle’s back where the next thing you will notice is the widened wheel arches that additionally pronounce i30 Fastback’s profile. In order to be a true fastback Hyundai had to lower the roofline by almost one inch, and the overall look ends at the arched deck lid spoiler. We also heard Hyundai referring to it as a “5 door coupe.”
When Hyundai designed the i30 Fastback, they decided it will not be the i30 N and that it won’t have any racing blood in it. Although this model was developed at the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife and it has a 1.18 inch lower ride and a slightly stiffer chassis, it is still not your average race car. Especially with the fact that it is longer than the regular i30 five door by a hair over 4.5 inches.
A number of safety features in it also confirms that this is not the i30 N edition. The list includes automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, and active lane control. Equipment like the 5-inch touchscreen display is standard, while the upgraded 5-inch LDC unit is optional and it includes a rear view camera. Of course, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are present as well.
The non-racing pedigree extends to the powertrains as well since the i30 Fastback is all about efficiency and not racing. It is powered by two modest units – a 1.4- L turbocharged inline four that can offer 138 horsepower, and the other one is a 1.0 L turbo inline three engine with 118 HP, which is actually not that bad. The larger four cylinder engine can be had with a 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual clutch transmission, while the I3 one is only offered with a 6-speed manual.
As far as we found out the North American market will not have a chance to see the 2018 Hyundai i30 Fastback, but they have something that is pretty similar to this one, and that is the Hyundai Elantra GT. The South Korean carmaker decided instead to offer the NA market their latest feat, and it is the Kona crossover. If you want to know more about it, check our site for the article about the Kona.
