Usain Bolt is not sporty. Nope, he is beyond sporty. If he were a car, he’ be a Ferrari SF90 or a Lamborghini Aventador, or something else mind bogglingly fast. Now, Grant Denyer - there’s somebody who’s sporty.
If Grant Denyer were a car, he’d be a Kia Cerato GT or a Hyundai i30 N Line, or a Focus ST-Line, maybe even a Mazda 3 G25 Evolve. Those cars also happen to be the contenders in our sporty hatch comparison. All of them are priced around the $30K mark and all promise to be sporty.
So, which is the best sporty hatch here? I was joined by CarsGuide editor Mal Flynn, deputy editor James Cleary and senior editor Matt Campbell for two days of testing to find out not only which hatch offered the sportiest driving dynamics, but also offered the best value, practicality and safety.
Design
Three out of four people reckon the Mazda3 G25 Evolve is the best-looking hatch here. How do I know? I counted them. There’s CarsGuide editor Mal, deputy JC and myself who all think the Mazda3’s elegant and smooth styling is stunning. Then there’s Matt Campbell, who’s never been a big fan of the design.
What we did all agree on is that the Cerato GT is not the sexiest hatch here… not even close, but it is sporty looking, with those red bits hiding inside its black-mesh grille, the 19-inch alloys and the dual exhaust integrated into that glossy black diffuser.
Even more sportier looking is the i30 N Line, which has stolen the i30N hot hatch’s clothes. There are those 18-inch N Line wheels, the front bumper with its silver-painted lip, the black bezel headlights and that rear diffuser with those chunky, chrome exhaust tips.
The Focus ST-Line is pretty tough looking, too, with its black honeycomb grille, side skirts, roof-top spoiler, privacy glass and twin tail pipes.
Inside, the Focus has good fit and finish but isn’t the most premium-feeling place. That award goes to the Mazda3, with its beautifully stylish and modern cabin. The way the screen is integrated so well into the folds of the dash is exquisite. The only thing letting the tone down are the cloth seats.
You won’t find cloth seats in the Cerato GT, no siree, they’re black leather, soft to the touch and as snug as being hugged by David Hasselhoff, only less leathery, and more embossed with GT badges. The metal pedals, red stitching galore and a flat-bottomed steering wheel steering wheel are enough to convince anybody who may have felt the Cerato GT wasn’t wild looking enough, that it can definitely ‘do sporty’.
There’s a bit of déjà vu going on in the i30 N Line’s cabin, with more than a couple of similarities between it and the Cerato GT, such as that high-placed touch screen. It makes sense, Kia and Hyundai are Korean cousins with the same parent company, which also sees them sharing many parts. That said, the i30 ups the sporty stakes with snazzy red seat belts and that red-metal trim around the air vents.
Will these hatches fit in your garage, or be small enough to make parking easy? Here are the dimensions to help you decide.
Ford Focus ST-Line | Mazda3 G25 Evolve | Kia Cerato GT | Hyundai i30 N Line | |
Length (mm) | 4378 | 4460 | 4510 | 4345 |
Width (mm) | 1979 | 1795 | 1800 | 1795 |
Height (mm) | 1454 | 1435 | 1440 | 1453 |
Wheelbase (mm) | 2700 | 2725 | 2700 | 2650 |
Wheels | 17-inch alloy | 18-inch alloy | 18-inch alloy | 18-inch alloy |
I’ve awarded the scores below based on not just how sporty these hatches look inside and out, but also on how aesthetically pleasing their designs are.
Model | Score |
Ford Focus ST-Line | 7 |
Mazda3 G25 Evolve | 8 |
Kia Cerato GT | 7 |
Hyundai i30 N Line | 8 |
Value
Sporty comes at a price and in the case of these four hatches they cost a tad more than the everyday varieties in the range below them.
The list price of the Focus ST-Line is $28,990, which is $3000 more than the Trend grade under it. The Hyundai i30 N Line lists for $29,490 ($1300 more than the Elite grade). The Mazda3 G25 Evolve is $30,490 ($1500 more than the G20 Touring) while the Cerato GT lists for $32,990 (about $4000 more than the Sport+).
So, on the face of it, the Cerato GT looks the priciest, but it’s a different story when you look at the driveaway prices. The Cerato GT is $31,990 driveaway, the Focus ST-Line is $32,790, the i30 N Line’s driveaway price is $33,250.30 and the Mazda3 G25 Evolve is $34,286.
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Have a look at the table below for the standard-features checklist, but I can tell you right now that the Cerato GT is the best-equipped car here and the Focus ST-Line is the least so. A big shout out has to go to the Mazda for being the only hatch here that comes with a head-up display, too.
The Mazda3 was also the only car with standard paint, which surprised all of us on this test because the Snowflake White Pearl Mica looks like a premium hue. The Horizon Blue of the Cerato GT is a $520 option, while the Ruby Red of the Focus ST-Line will cost you $650 and the i30 N Line’s Fiery Red is $495.
The Focus also had the $2000 Panoramic roof package fitted, while the Mazda’s floor mats were optional, at $194.58. Let's take a look at their list prices, and their driveaway prices.
Ford Focus ST-Line | Mazda3 G25 Evolve | Kia Cerato GT | Hyundai i30 N Line | |
List price | $28,990 | $30,490 | $32,990 | $29,490 |
Driveaway price | $32,790 | $34,286 | $31,990 | $33,250.30 |
And now the standard features.
Ford Focus ST-Line | Mazda3 G25 Evolve | Kia Cerato GT | Hyundai i30 N Line | |
Proximity key | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Push button start | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Screen size | 8-inch | 8.8-inch | 8-inch | 8-inch |
Head-up display | No | Yes | No | No |
Apple CarPlay | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Android Auto | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Sat nav | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
No. stereo speakers | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
Seat upholstery | Cloth | Cloth | Leather | Leather |
Driver’s seat adjustment | Manual | Power | Power | Manual |
Heated seats | No | No | Yes | No |
Ventilated seats | No | No | Yes | No |
Ready for the scores? Here they are.
Model | Score |
Ford Focus ST-Line | 7 |
Mazda3 G25 Evolve | 7 |
Kia Cerato GT | 10 |
Hyundai i30 N Line | 8 |
Engine and transmission
Four cars, but three different engines. What the heck? Yes, well, there’s the 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo engine in the Focus ST-Line, the 2.5-litre four cylinder in the Mazda3 and the 1.6-litre turbo four in the Cerato GT and the i30 N Line. Why do the Hyundai and Kia have the same engine? It’s because the Cerato GT and i30 N Line have the same parent company and as with all siblings they sometimes have to share – in this case it’s an engine with identical outputs. You wouldn’t know it though from the difference in the way they sound, though. The Cerato GT has an electronic sound generator, which produces a growly noise that becomes even more prominent in Sport mode. I’m a fan of it, some people aren’t. Either way, that 1.6-litre engine is superb, delivering the most power here and making all its torque from 1500rpm.
The Focus ST-Line’s 1.5-litre turbo three is fun and it’s seriously a puppy compared to Mazda’s big dog 2.5-litre, in that it's peppy and responsive from the get-go, while the larger unit in the G25 Evolve feels a bit lazy.
All of these engines are petrol, while all cars are front-wheel drive and have auto transmissions.
It’s probably no surprise to you that the Cerato GT and i30 N Line have the same seven-speed dual cutch transmission, while the Focus ST-Line has an eight-speed traditional automatic and the Mazda has a six-speed.
The dual-clutch transmission in the Cerato GT and i30N Line shifts super quickly and is smooth, even at low speeds. Also smooth is the six-speed auto in the Mazda, but its slower shifts means it doesn’t lend itself as well to sporty driving as a DCT does.
While the Focus ST-Line’s three cylinder is fun, the eight-speed auto does nothing for the driving experience. All four of us testing the hatches found the transmission to be overly keen to shift up, and it often vetoed our gear selection through the shifting paddles. Let's take a look at what's making these hatches move.
Ford Focus ST-Line | Mazda3 G25 Evolve | Kia Cerato GT | Hyundai i30 N Line | |
Engine size | 1.5-litre | 2.5-litre | 1.6-litre | 1.6-litre |
Cylinders | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Turbocharged? | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Power | 134kW@6000rpm | 139kW@6000rpm | 150kW@6000rpm | 150kW@6000rpm |
Torque | 240Nm@1750rpm | 252Nm@4000rpm | 265Nm@1500rpm | 265Nm@1500rpm |
Transmission | 8-spd auto | 6-spd auto | 7-speed dual-clutch auto | 7-speed dual-clutch auto |
Weight (kg) | 1347 | 1368 | 1395 | 1344 |
Ready for the scores? Here they are.
Model | Score |
Ford Focus ST-Line | 7 |
Mazda3 G25 Evolve | 7 |
Kia Cerato GT | 9 |
Hyundai i30 N Line | 9 |
Driving
The four cars in this comparison were tested by myself, CarsGuide’s editor Mal Flynn, deputy editor James Cleary and senior editor Matt Campbell. The 20.2km test loop on mainly course-chip bitumen bushland roads, with its uphill and steep descent section, along with hairpin corners, proved ideal for testing and comparing not only the hatches’ dynamic capabilities but also ride comfort.
We conducted a four-up test in each car – with all of us onboard. Then each tester cycled individually through the hatches and compared notes.
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So, these four hatches look sporty (to varying degrees), but are they at all athletic?
The answer is absolutely yes in the case of the Cerato GT and to a slightly lesser degree, the i30 N Line. Both have multi-link rear suspension and MacPherson struts up front, which have been locally tuned and set up for sporty driving. Handling ability in both on the tight and twisty roads we tested on was well above what is normally offered by most small cars at this price point.
The Cerato GT was outstanding among these four hatches in its agility, flat cornering, great grip and its accurate steering, with good feedback and feel. Praise goes to that four cylinder, which feels strong, responsive and works superbly with the seven-speed dual clutch. Yes, the growly induction noise is fake and produced electronically, but Kia isn’t the only brand doing this, and besides, it sounds great.
What you should know is that while the Cerato GT feels rigid and handles impressively for this class, the flipside is a ride that was firmer than the rest and less comfortable over potholes and speed bumps. With four riders on board, those in the backseat felt that, while they were supported by the centre armrest and contoured seatbacks, the ride was the harshest of the lot.
If a more comfortable ride is high on your priorities list, then the i30 N Line could be the perfect compromise, with a softer suspension set-up but the same engine as the Cerato GT. Yes, there was more roll in the corners, but the N Line still handled well, although its steering was lighter and offered less feedback than the Kia.
The two testers in the back did mention they had less room, but were much happier with the level of comfort in terms of ride. Cleary even remarked that you could tell that the i30 N Line has been refined over this generation. I couldn’t agree more with that, and up front the ride was excellent.
The Focus ST-Line looks the part, with the tough body kit, and its three-cylinder engine was peppy and willing to please with its off-the line punch and burbly sound, but the steering and transmission let the driving experience down.
All four testers on this comparison felt the steering in the Focus ST-Line lacked feedback and was too light, leaving the driver feeling disconnected. We also all felt the transmission was too keen to shift up and resisted attempts or downright vetoed the driver’s gear selections at times.
Complaints came loud and clear from the two testers riding in the back of the Focus ST-Line on our loop, too. The lack of a centre armrest and unsupportive seats with a thin cushion in the base not only meant they were uncomfortable, but saw them moving around more than in any other hatch.
Finally, the Mazda3 G25 Evolve. You may be wondering why we’ve included it here? Well first Mazda sees all of its cars as being sporty – you know the whole ‘Zoom Zoom’ thing. Next, it’s the sportiest Mazda3 you can currently buy, with its 2.5-litre engine sitting above the 2.0-litre below it in the range.
The four testers put the Mazda3 G25 Evolve through the same regime as the rest of the cars here and, while it was no surprise to find it the least sporty in its handling, the level of ride comfort and insulation from road and wind noise was outstanding. The backseat riders had never been happier. However, from a sporty-driving perspective, the Mazda3 G25 Evolve struggled. Soft suspension meant the ride was floaty and the engine offered lacklustre performance, unless you really put the boot in. Maximum torque is at 4000rpm or, as my notes put it; “engine is meh”.
Ready for the scores? Here they are.
Model | Score |
Ford Focus ST-Line | 6 |
Mazda3 G25 Evolve | 7 |
Kia Cerato GT | 9 |
Hyundai i30 N Line | 8 |
Fuel
Can you have your sporty hatch and afford to feed it, too? Well the good news is that all bar the Focus ST-Line are happy with el-cheapo 91 RON. Seeing as the Ford needs 95 RON, we gave all four hatches that fuel in this test.
After a combination of open and urban roads, the official fuel economies for the Cerato GT, i30 N Line, Focus ST-Line and Mazda3 G25 Evolve are: 6.8L/100km; 7.1L/100km; 6.4L/100km and 6.6L/100km respectively.
Those are the figures from the car companies and I hardly ever match them in my own driving, and with the four testers swapping between the cars for some ‘brisk’ loops it was also unlikely that we were going to come close, too.
After a day of testing and 126km, the fuel economies for the Cerato GT, i30 N Line, Focus ST-Line and Mazda3 G25 Evolve were: 9.5L/100km; 8.7L/100km; 11.9L/100km and 12.3L/100km respectively, as you can see in the table below.
Ford Focus ST-Line | Mazda3 G25 Evolve | Kia Cerato GT | Hyundai i30 N Line | |
Type | 95 RON premium petrol | 91 RON premium petrol | 91 RON premium petrol | 91 RON premium petrol |
Fuel tank capacity (L) | 52 | 51 | 50 | 50 |
Official combined consumption | 6.4L/100km | 6.6L/100km | 6.8L/100km | 7.1L/100km |
Consumption on test | 11.9L/100km | 12.3L/100km | 9.7L/100km | 8.7L/100km |
Ready for the scores? Here they are.
Model | Score |
Ford Focus ST-Line | 7 |
Mazda3 G25 Evolve | 7 |
Kia Cerato GT | 8 |
Hyundai i30 N Line | 8 |
Practicality
Hatches have long been admired for handling the double duties of being sporty and practical. So, which of the four here was the most versatile when it came to room for people, cargo space and amenities like USB ports? Let’s see.
First the boot sizes. The i30 N Line’s boot capacity to the cargo cover is 395L and the Mazda3’s is 295L. Kia only measures the Cerato GT’s 428L cargo capacity to the roof (which is silly because unless you have the boot caged off you shouldn’t pack that high). The Focus throws another curve ball because while its 421L is measured to the cargo cover, it’s not measured in VDA litres but in accordance with ISO 3832, which Ford says is very close to being the same as VDA.
The best way to discern space, then, was using suitcases, and the Cerato GT provided the most cargo space, and also had handy storage under the boot floor.
The Cerato GT also provided the most room for people, with the best rear legroom of the four hatches. I’m 191cm tall and could sit behind my driving position in the Cerato GT with about 30mm of space between my knees and the seat back.
Not the case with the i30 N-Line, which offered the least amount of legroom of the four, and had my knees hard up against the driver’s seat in my position.
The Focus ST-Line gave me about 10mm of knee space, thanks to the way the seatback is scooped out, while the Mazda gave me less room, with my knees just kissing the back of the seat in front.
Rear headroom was adequate in all hatches, even for me.
Space up front in all cars was excellent, with plenty of head and elbow room. Not once did I feel cramped while driving in any of these hatches, and I have a wingspan of almost 2m.
While we’re talking cabin comfort, you should know that only the Focus ST-Line doesn’t have directional vents for the back-seat passengers. Parents will know the value of these vents. The Focus was also the only one without cupholders in the second row, nor a centre armrest back there. The rest all have four cupholders – two in the front and two in the back.
The Mazda3 was the only hatch tested here not to have wireless charging for phones. Here's a breakdown of the storage for each hatch.
| Ford Focus ST-Line | Mazda3 G25 Evolve | Kia Cerato GT | Hyundai i30 N Line |
Boot volume five seats up (litres) | 341(ISO) | 295 (VDA) | 428 (VDA)* | 395 (VDA) |
Directional rear air vents | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
USB ports | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
12V outlets | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Wireless charging | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Cupholders | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Bottle holders | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
*Measured to roof, while all other boot volumes are measured to cargo cover.
Ready for the scores? Here they are.
Model | Score |
Ford Focus ST-Line | 7 |
Mazda3 G25 Evolve | 7 |
Kia Cerato GT | 8 |
Hyundai i30 N Line | 7 |
Safety
All cars have five-star ANCAP ratings with the i30 N-Line tested in 2017, the Focus ST-Line in 2018, while the Cerato GT and Mazda3 G25 Evolve were tested in 2019.
All our test cars have AEB as standard, but only the Mazda3 G25 Evolve has AEB that works while reversing. The Mazda is also the only hatch here with front cross traffic alert. The Cerato GT and the Mazda3 are the only two to have rear cross traffic alert and blind-spot warning. You’ll have to option them as part of a pack if you want them on the Focus ST-Line or i30 N Line.
Only the Focus doesn’t have adaptive cruise control as standard – you’ll have to option it, too.
While all hatches here have rear parking sensors only the Cerato GT has front sensors.
LED headlights? Only the Cerato and Mazda3 have them as standard.
As for child seats, all our hatches have two ISOFIX and three top-tether mounts across the back seat.
A space-saver spare is offered on all hatches here, too. Here's what's keeping you safe.
Ford Focus ST-Line | Mazda3 G25 Evolve | Kia Cerato GT | Hyundai i30 N Line | |
ANCAP | 5 (tested 2018) | 5 (tested 2019) | 5 (tested 2019) | 5 (tested 2017) |
Airbags | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
AEB (forward) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
AEB (reverse) | No | Yes | No | No |
Lane keeping Assist | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Rear cross traffic alert | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Blind spot alert | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Reversing camera | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Front park sensors | No | No | Yes | No |
Rear parking sensors | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Adaptive cruise control | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Child seat (ISOFIX) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Child seat top tether | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Spare Wheel | Space saver | Space saver | Space saver | Space saver |
Ready for the scores? Here they are.
Model | Score |
Ford Focus ST-Line | 7 |
Mazda3 G25 Evolve | 10 |
Kia Cerato GT | 9 |
Hyundai i30 N Line | 8 |
Ownership
You’ve just forked out about $30K for the car, now how much is it going to cost you over the time of ownership? Fortunately, all four cars here are covered by long warranties and the servicing costs for routine maintenance are transparent and, in most cases, they’re not capped, or at least there’s a price guide.
A quick glance at the table shows that the Cerato can’t be beaten with its warranty, capped-price servicing and roadside assistance, which all last seven years. If you were to sell the car after four years, the new owner would see the value in having three years’ left of coverage.
Ford Focus ST-Line | Mazda3 G25 Evolve | Kia Cerato GT | Hyundai i30 N Line | |
Warranty | 5 yrs/unlimited km | 5 yrs/unlimited km | 7 yrs/unlimited km | 5yrs/unlimited km |
Service intervals | 12mths/15,000km | 12 mths/10,000km | 12 mths /10,000km | 12 mths /10,000km |
Servicing plan | Capped price | Capped price | Capped price | Life time capped price |
Average servicing cost per year (over five years where applicable) | $309.20 | $316.2 | $410.20 | $277 |
Roadside assist cover | Seven years if serviced at Ford | Five years free | Seven years if serviced at Kia | 10 years if serviced at Hyundai |
Ready for the scores? Here they are.
Model | Score |
Ford Focus ST-Line | 8 |
Mazda3 G25 Evolve | 8 |
Kia Cerato GT | 10 |
Hyundai i30 N Line | 8 |
Verdict
Time to announce our winner, if it isn’t obvious already. There is no doubt, the Kia Cerato GT not only offers the most features for the lowest driveaway price, but it’s the sportiest hatch here, with exceptional driving dynamics for this class. The Cerato GT also has the longest warranty, outstanding safety technology and the best legroom and boot space of the hatches here. Unbeatable.
The i30 N Line comes second, offering a softer, more comfortable take on what is a closely related car to the Cerato GT, but it comes with less features, less safety tech and less warranty, all for more money that its Kia cousin.
In third place is the impressive Mazda3 G25 Evolve. It’s the least sporty of the contenders here, but offers a refined and comfortable driving experience, with stunning looks, a beautiful interior and excellent safety technology.
In fourth place is the Focus ST-Line, which is a disappointing result for this new-generation car, which only came onto the market in December 2018. While it has an attractive, sporty exterior, the Focus ST-Line’s insides feel dated already. Looks aren’t everything, but when you add steering that lacks feel and a transmission that seems indecisive and resistant to sporty driving, the Focus ST-Line starts to fall through the rankings. On the bright side, the Focus ST-Line’s three-cylinder engine is playful and punchy, while the driveaway price is good.
Ready for the scores? Here they are.
Model | Score |
Ford Focus ST-Line | 7 |
Mazda3 G25 Evolve | 7.6 |
Kia Cerato GT | 8.8 |
Hyundai i30 N Line | 8 |