Hyundai i30 N or VW Golf GTI Mk8? They're rivals, so owners often weigh one against the other. Here's how far each one goes, using the makers' and tuners' own figures from our two guides.
At a glance
| Hyundai i30 N | VW Golf GTI Mk8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Years | 2017– (facelift 2021) | 2020– |
| Engine | 2.0 T-GDi turbo four G4KH | 2.0 TSI EA888 Gen 4 |
| Stock power | 250 / 275 / 280 PS (EU) | 241 hp / 273 lb-ft (US) |
Power by stage
| Hyundai i30 N | VW Golf GTI Mk8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | 250–280 hp | 241 hp |
| Stage 1 | 300–340 hp | 328–375 hp |
| Stage 2 | 330–370 whp | 345–392 hp |
| Stage 3 | 400–500 hp | 410–478 hp |
| Stage 4 | 400–500+ whp | 500+ hp |
Careful: one car's figures are at the wheels (whp) and the other's at the engine (hp), so they aren't directly comparable. Convert with the crank to wheel calculator.
Typical parts cost
| Hyundai i30 N | VW Golf GTI Mk8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | remaps £360–£599 (Laird, Forge, VUDU); plug-in modules €549–€689 (RaceChip, DTE). | APR software $660; APR gearbox (TCU) tune $650 more. Unitronic sells through dealers only. |
| Stage 2 | Forge intake $571; intercooler $790 (Wagner), £613 (Airtec) or $1,080 (Forge); GPF-back exhaust £1,250–£1,675 (Scorpion, Milltek). | the same APR file ($660); APR intake $400. |
| Stage 3 | turbos €1,092–€2,520 before VAT (Turbo-Total, TTE490) or £1,995–£2,100 (K-Tec); Sachs clutch €1,126 before VAT; SSP DCT clutches $1,599. | the same APR file ($660); the turbo is extra. |
List prices from the guides, before shipping, import tax and fitting. "—" means that guide has no cost line for the stage.
Where each one ends up
At Stage 4 the Hyundai i30 N reaches 400–500+ whp and the VW Golf GTI Mk8 500+ hp.