RABID RESPONSE

EVEN IF YOU'RE PULLING IN THE FINANCIAL HORNS, YOU WON'T NEED TO COMPROMISE ON FUN

- DYLAN CAMPBELL

Hyundai i30 N

PLENTY OF CHOICE, SO SNAG A GOOD 'UN

HOT HATCHES have long provided us with cut-price performance. But as the number of new-model offerings diminish, one hot hatch steadfastly remains: the Hyundai i30 N. Fortunately, it's also one of the finer hot hatches made, with its rock-solid 202kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four driving the front wheels via a six-speed manual and super-tricky electronically locking front diff. There's even a rorty active exhaust, customisable driving modes, and rev-matching - tech normally reserved for sports cars many times its price.

Hyundai has regularly boasted about the i30 N's durability, even on a racetrack. Second-hand examples built in 2019 can be yours for as little as $30,000, and come with plenty of safety features as standard.