2022 Hyundai i20 N review

Big performance comes in a small package with the 2022 Hyundai i20 N hot hatch.

For a company that had little involvement in motorsport prior to the establishment of the N Performance arm in 2012, Hyundai has come a long way in a short time. Back-to-back World Rally Championships and multiple tarmac wins in World Touring Car Cup events have catapulted Hyundai into the limelight and challenged brands involved in motorsport for decades.

Our fondness for all things SUV has meant the business case for small hatches doesn’t stack up as it once did. Fortunately, the local team at Hyundai are motorsport enthusiasts and were able to slip the 2022 i20 N in under the noses of the accountants that stalk the corridors of their Macquarie Park HQ.

2022 Hyundai i20 N power and torque

Based on the i20 hatch sold in Europe and India, it received a thorough workover from Hyundai’s N division, with much of the development done at the famed Nürburgring circuit in Germany. Just one model is available and it replaces the regular 72kW 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine (used to good effect in Kia’s Picanto GT) with Hyundai’s 150kW/275Nm turbo unit and a six-speed manual transmission.

It features rev matching which, when activated via a button on the steering wheel, automatically blips the engine revs when you downshift, turning you into an instant professional driver.

How does the 2022 Hyundai i20 N drive?

A mechanical limited slip differential handles torque loads through corners and the standard i20 body is reinforced at strategic points to increase rigidity and strength. Keeping the N connected to terra firma are 215/40R18 Pirelli P Zero tyres, while larger front brake rotors and a more powerful brake master cylinder rein in the hatch’s 1210kg.

Settling in behind the wheel, we headed for a series of winding roads that culminated with some laps at Wakefield Park Raceway just outside Goulburn. On hand at the tight circuit was Hyundai’s motorsport ace Brendan Reeves, who tried his best to instruct us on how to achieve a reasonable lap time without spearing off into the wide blue yonder.

We failed the first part of the brief, but were able to return the i20 N to the pits in one piece and with a huge grin on our faces. In fact, the i20 N has a multi-drive mode system, aptly named N Grin Control, that allows the driver to customise settings.

2022 Hyundai i20 N styling, safety and tech

Not just a performer, the i20 N is also a looker, well-equipped inside with sports seats, alloy finishes and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. The digital instrument cluster and 10.25-inch infotainment screen have a few new tricks up their sleeve, including a track map feature that provides an alert when you’re near a compatible race circuit and automatically runs a lap timer as you cross the start/finish line – perfect for track days.

Enhancing the nicely proportioned exterior is a full body kit featuring an aerodynamic front bumper and black-out grille, N-embossed side skirts, a twin-level rear spoiler, and a large-bore exhaust outlet.

Is the 2022 Hyundai i20 N a good car?

Overall, the i20 N is all about balance. There’s nothing startling about the engine’s power outputs, no Brembo brakes or a super-wide tyre and rim package; it simply delivers a harmonious drive that remains predictable even when you get serious on the track.

This balance allows you to focus and explore ways to improve your lap times. Away from the track, it’s just as easy to live with and the ride quality is surprisingly compliant over rougher sections of road.

Hyundai refers to the i20 N as a ‘corner rascal’. To hijack an often-quoted Aussie phrase, it’s just bloody good fun.

2022 Hyundai i20 N price and specs

• Engine: 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder
• Transmission: six-speed manual
• Power: 150kW
• Torque: 275Nm
• Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km (claimed)
• ANCAP: Not tested
• Price: From $32,490 (plus ORC)