Hyundai executives can be defensive about criticism of the abundant drive modes and options on performance cars like their i30 N.
That’s one of my favorite hot hatchbacks, but it’s undeniable that it offers a multitude of customizable features.
The onboard systems provide options to adjust suspension stiffness, change steering weight, fine-tune engine response, and much more. Reportedly, there are nearly 2000 combinations.
Some argue that this is excessive – and I might agree. However, Hyundai’s driving attributes chief, Tyrone Johnson, suggests that if the multitude of options is overwhelming, users can simply stick to the preset configurations, including what Hyundai believes is the ideal N mode.
This seems like a reasonable approach. Until now, I wasn’t sure where I stood on this issue. I have sat in BMW M cars and Mercedes-AMGs, and even spent six months in an M5 without feeling like I had fully mastered all its capabilities.
Having so many choices can feel like being at a cook-it-yourself restaurant – there’s a great chef in the background who knows the best way to cook the ingredients, but lets you make a mess of it.
I prefer when an expert handles things, whether it’s cooking or tuning the suspension of a Toyota GR86.
As driver’s cars become increasingly electrified, this situation is only going to become more complex – or more interesting, depending on your perspective.
In the i30 N, there are mechanical limitations to the adjustments that can be made. The drive is strictly front-wheel and the engine’s responsiveness has its limits. However, as shown in the recent first drive of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, electric cars offer a different experience.
The Ioniq 5 N comes with four preset and two customizable modes for regular driving. In the adjustable modes, you can modify damping, steering weight, motor and differential response, and more, but that’s just the beginning.
Additional buttons enable maximum boost for 10 seconds, reduce power to increase circuit endurance, engage full braking effort on throttle lift-off, activate a low-speed drifty mode, and adjust power distribution between the front and rear over 11 stages.
