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Megane RS Cup Taking on Base Hyundai i30 N Is Unfair But Good

When Hyundai developed the i30 N, its goal was not to set the fastest lap times but to offer more driving fun and do it at an affordable price. This comparison video shows they've succeeded.
Megane RS Cup Taking on Base Hyundai i30 N Is Unfair But Good 3 photos
Photo: YouTube screenshot
However, the i30 N lost the track battle. The comparison wasn't fair either, and you can tell that the two Autocar editors aren't too happy about this. The base Hyundai hot hatch is way cheaper, but it only gets 250 horsepower from its 2-liter turbo compared to the 280 HP of the Megane RS.

Honestly, that's no big deal. In a recent drag race, the i30 N Performance outclassed the Megane and several other competitors. But around the track, a less hardcore setup is a real disadvantage. The Cup chassis of the Megane RS is better at taking corners while the mechanical limited slip differential helps with putting the power down. Unless we're mistaken, Hyundai is also at a stopping power and sticking power disadvantage.

The video reminds us that while Hyundai never built a hot hatch before, it did make several coupes. Honestly, we kind of forgot that about the Tiburon and the Genesis - the i30 N is so good it washes the bad taste away.

After doing several laps in which the Hyundai tries to catch the French car but never manages to, the review reveals lap times set independently. The RS 280 Cup is a second and a half faster, which is a lot around such a short track. Of course, were the i30 N equipped with its performance goodies, things would have ended differently.

So what about the fun factor? Well, when you hear the words "old school," you know the Hyundai has won. And apparently, the new Megane RS is slightly less enjoyable to drive than the old one. Perhaps we see things through rose-tinted glasses, but Renault has lost its mojo during the search for more market share.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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