For years, the Hyundai i20N has been one of the last proper hot hatchbacks you could buy without needing a lottery win or a wallbox. A fizzy little 1.6‑litre turbo, a manual gearbox, a mechanical LSD and a chassis that begged to be driven hard. It was everything enthusiasts loved about small performance cars, and then just as quickly as it arrived, it disappeared.
But now Hyundai is gearing up for a comeback. And this time, the i20N might be bringing something completely new to the N division: hybrid power.
A Hybrid-Hot Hatch, Really?
Yes. Hyundai’s global R&D boss has already confirmed that a new i20N is on the way, and that it’s considered essential for Europe. With the old car gone and the Fiesta ST dead, the hot supermini segment has been left with a single petrol survivor the Mini Cooper S. Everything else is either electric or extinct.
What We Know So Far:
- It’s confirmed: Hyundai is bringing back the i20N for Europe.
- Hybrid is heavily hinted: Likely based on the existing 1.6‑litre hybrid system, but reworked for performance.
- Character won’t be lost: Hyundai insists it will still feel like an N car.
- Testing is already underway: Prototypes are out there, and the launch isn’t far off.
- Competition is changing: Instead of Fiesta STs and Polo GTIs, the i20N will be up against small electric hot hatches like the Alpine A290 and VW’s upcoming ID Polo GTI.
If Hyundai pulls this off, the new i20N could become the car that proves hybrid hot hatches don’t have to be dull, heavy or sanitised. It could show the industry that there’s still room for affordable, engaging performance cars, even in a world that’s rapidly electrifying.
If Hyundai really does manage to make a hybrid i20N that’s quicker around the ’Ring than the old petrol one, then the future might be a lot more exciting than we feared.