Hyper Hyundais

They’re turbocharged, they’re four-bangers, they’re front-wheel drive, and they’re available here in New Zealand brand new from the dealer. With a six-speed manual option in the smaller hatch and the dual-clutch transmission available in the larger two-litre fourbanger option, we wouldn’t blame you for thinking we were talking Volkswagens. It’s a sibling duo we’ve seen from the large German automaker for years, with the Polo GTI the smaller of the two, offered with the more-basic, six-speed manual gearbox and the larger Golf GTI offered in the quicker-shifting dual clutch.

But no, the pairing we’re driving this issue are the hot hatches Hyundai has offered to the New Zealand market: the i20N and the larger i30N — both bona fide turbocharged pocket rockets. With New