Turbos are all the rage these days, so what effect does adding one to the Hyundai i30 have"

Before the rush to downsize and increase efficiency, adding the word ‘turbo’ to the back of a car symbolised that it was the fastest model in the brochure. Although even the regular Porsche 911 Carrera features forced aspiration now, until very recently the 911 Turbo was always the top of the pile. Luckily for us, Hyundai is sticking to the old rules, with the i30 Turbo representing the quickest, most powerful, and most expensive model in the range. That puts it right on the EngageSportMode radar, so we spent seven days with the i30 Turbo to see if it lives up to all the expectations created by that special badge.

Looks wise the i30 Turbo manages to strike the right balance between sporting and subtle. The bodykit is bespoke to the Turbo, featuring red trim in the front and rear bumpers, because red bits means hot hatch. Just ask any Volkswagen GTI owner. At the back there’s a deep rear spoiler, and a diffuser that features an exhaust tailpipe mounted at each side. Throw 18″ alloy wheels into the mix and it creates the overall effect of an attractive car with neat detailing. Based on looks we?d personally go for the three-door version – an option that is exclusive to the Turbo model – rather than the regular five-door tested here.
Powering the i30 Turbo is a 1.6-litre T-GDI petrol engine, featuring a variable-geometry turbocha...