Until recently, Korean manufacturers' contributions to the hot hatch segmenthave been few and far in between, but that all changed with the arrival of the Hyundai i30 N. This is the first truly credible Korean hot hatchback and it promises to be quite the disruptor when the first units are shipped to South Africa, later this year.

Developed under the scrutiny of former BMW M-division boss, Albert Biermann, the i30 N is certainly not lacking for specification. According to our sources, the South African-speccars will be the lower output variants (a similar scenario to what Volkswagendid with Golf R here, for years), yet they will still power up to 184 kW and 353 Nm.

Those outputs are delivered to a trick limited-slip front differential which features traditional mechanical locking, with acceleration moderated via a 6-speed manual transmission. Sounds like a pretty convincing hot hatch, doesn’t it? Evidently it is. But the market is acutely competitive and i30 N will have to account to following rivals, listed below:

1. Volkswagen Golf GTi (R565 800)

The Wolfsburg-based brand's hot hatch has been the class standard for the majority of its existence.Although it is at a very advanced stage in its product lifecycle, the Golf 7.5 GTI still provides stellar performance and is renowned forits ability to adapt from an easy-to-drivefamily hatchbackto focused driver’s car.Its2.0-litre turbopetrol motor produces peak outputs of 169 kW/350 Nmand convertsthose numbers to effortlessly purposeful acceleration – thanks to VW’s excellent 6-speed dual-clutch transmission. There is no longer an equivalent manual option for local buyers, but the GTi remains superbly-built and engaging to drive, thanks to exemplary chassis balance and VW’s electronically locking front differential.

Read our Golf GTi road test here

2. Mégane RS Cup (R569 900)

The Mégane RS Cup is amuch more liveable family car now, since its change to the 5-door configuration, but there remains the soul of a true French hot hatch, including a cabin thatcombines fantastically comfortable bucket seats with mildly annoying infotainment ergonomics. The Mégane RS Cup might not be the most refined option in this group, but for those who live to seek quiet country roads with open apexes, this is the weapon of choice. Powered by a slightly smaller engine than any of its rivals, at 1.8-litres of capacity, it still manages to generate 205 kW in Cup configuration. Four-wheel steering adds another dimension to the RS Cup’s mid-corner agility and makes parking that bit easier at crawl speeds. What's more, the RS Cup comes equipped with a mechanical front limited-differential, which ensures superb cornering grip, even under full-throttle acceleration.

Read our Megane RS Cup review

3. Honda Civic Type R (R661 300)

The Honda Civic Type R is avehicle in a similar ilk to the Mégane RS Cup: raw and configured as a dedicated driver’s hot hatch, instead of an adaptable family car with performance credentials. The Type R blends unapologetic looks with phenomenal front-wheel-drive handling dynamics. Turbocharged Hondas remain a strange engineering encounter for most petrolheads, but the Type R’s boosted 2.0-litre engine spins without hesitation and runs to a very impressive 228 kW at 6 500 rpm. Shifting is manual and retains that renowned Honda feel through the 6-speed gate. Minor suspension upgrades have made it a lot more liveable too, especially on South Africa’s variable road surfaces.

Read our TypeR launch review

4. Ford Focus ST

South Africans are waiting in anticipation for new Focus ST, which remains unconfirmed for local distribution, although we remain hopeful that it will arrive in Mzansi eventually. A car most directly aimed at Golf GTi, it features slightly less brash styling than either RS Cup or Civic Type R and more moderated overall dynamics. That doesn’t mean it is soft, however. Powered by a turbocharged 2.3-litre engine good for 206 kW and shifting through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, Ford’s engineers have added features such as an e-diff to modulate any wayward torque steer.

Read our Focus ST news story