IF THE difference between a decent name and a dud one can make or break your reputation, then maybe Hyundai is onto something by calling the seventh-generation Elantra the ‘i30 Sedan’ in Australia.

It’s an ironic twist on what the Americans do (they call the i30 hatch the ‘Elantra GT’) and it’s also ironic that the two i30s don’t share all that much in overall make-up. The hatch (launched here in May 2017) rides on an older platform whereas the i30 Sedan debuts next-generation architecture underneath its folded-paper styling.

As for this N-Line version, its sharp pricing and extensive equipment was revealed at the launch of the i30 Sedan last October but it didn’t reach showrooms until late December and has only now been handed to the press.

Given that one of the criticisms of the standard i30 Sedan has been the lack of grunt from its 117kW/191Nm 2.0-litre direct-injected four – certainly compared to the capability of its chassis – then the N-Line’s reinvigorated mechanical package could well be the solution.