There’s plenty of choice if you’re one of those people who likes the looks of a hardcore hatchback but, for one reason or another, can do without the performance, or the running costs, that brings.

It’s a familiar, and simple, recipe. Take a performance division name and add the word ‘line’ on the end, bolt on a sporty body kit and you end up with something that looks rapid, but really isn’t.

There are plenty of examples: Ford’s ST-Line, VW’s R-Line, Renault’s GT-Line and, here I’m reviewing Hyundai’s entry into the not-so-hot hatchback market, the unsurprisingly-titled i30 N Line.

What sets the N Line apart? Well, the differences are all largely aesthetic. The front and rear bumpers mimic the ones that the i30 N wears, the handsome 18in alloy wheels are shod in 225/40 section Michelin Pilot PS4 rubber, there’s a purposeful-looking twin exhaust and lots of N Line badging. Inside there are new sports seats, plus an N Line gear lever and steering wheel.

Other than that, like the rest of the i30 range, the N Line represents the brand’s latest design language with a fresh cascading grille which, the firm says, is inspired by the flow of molten steel, and bold LED headlight.

The front and rear overhangs are short, the bonnet – relatively – long and the roof silhouette tapered to give a reasonably sporty profile. A prominent crease runs along the length of the car, linking the front and rear lights, and continues across the boot.

Overall it’s a decent-looking car. It isn’t going to stand out in a crowd, but its proportions are balanced and reasonably athletic, especially in N Line guise.

Under the bonnet is the same 1.4-litre T-GDi petrol engine that powers the i30 S. Power is sent to the front wheels through either a six-speed manual transmission or, if you prefer automated gear selection there’s an optional seven-speed dual clutch ‘box available.

The engine produces a respectable 138bhp at 6,000rpm while peak torque, 242Nm, is available from 1,500rpm. It’s suspended on MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link arrangement at the rear. The dampers are a touch stiffer compared to the standard model, the brakes have been tweaked and engine response has been revised too.

The N Line sports an eight-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included as standard. A rear-view camera is also included and the big screen means that you’re provided with useful detailed images. There’s also a wireless charging pad for your mobile, which is great, but I’m still waiting for a manufacturer to provide adequate storage for a device that’s connected via USB.

Should you decide to use the built-in sat-nav Hyundai have thrown in a free seven-year subscription to LIVE services, which offer real-time updates on traffic, speed cameras, weather and online searches for points of interest.

The multimedia system’s menus are clear and responsive, despite the slightly dated-looking interface.

It feels properly put together but there are a few scratchy plastics here and there that impact on the overall quality.

It is comfortable, though, with supportive seats that offer ample adjustment for front-seat passengers. There’s plenty of flexibility in the position of the steering wheel too, so finding a decent driving position should be a doddle. Legroom is adequate in the rear but passengers over six feet will bemoan – possibly – the lack of decent headroom.

There’s lots of storage space, with a decent-sized bin between the front seats and door pockets big enough for a bottle of water or any other non-alcoholic beverage of your choosing. The boot’s capacity is 395 litres with the rear seats in place and they can be folded away in one simple motion to free up 1,301 litres.

Standard safety features include Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, cruise control, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, and lane-keeping and high-beam assistance.

The N Line doesn’t deliver anything close to hot hatch performance, nor is it meant to, but the engine will pull eagerly from low down while the exhaust delivers a reasonably sporty note.

There isn’t much information feeding back to the driver through the electronically-assisted steering rack but it does, at least, weight up nicely as you wind on lock. It’s quite direct, too, and lends the car a front end that feels quite keen to go hunting for an apex or two, and there’s plenty of grip to exploit when you arrive there.

Despite the slightly firmer dampers there is still a considerable degree of body roll through corners but the way the i30 moves its mass around is predictable and progressive. You can feel the outside tyres loading up as you turn into a bend before shifting it back steadily as you wind the steering in the opposite direction.

The ride is excellent. At speed the i30 handles lumps and bumps with ease, smoothing out crests and compressions with aplomb. It’s a little less successful at dealing with broken surfaces around town at lower speeds where things do get a little choppier, but we’re only talking about marginal differences.

The engine is a peppy little performer if you’re prepared to work it hard. Peak torque arrives at 1,500rpm but it doesn’t really feel as though it starts to spring into life until the needle starts to approach the 3,000-mark.

If you enjoy the full experience you can have the N Line with a 6-speed manual gearbox but my review was equipped with the company’s dual clutch transmission which happens to be rather good. There is no discernible shunting at lower speeds and it’s decisive enough with its choice of gear when you go searching for a quick change of pace.

The only, minor, complaint is that when you slip it into manual mode the display that you would expect to show your selected gear sometimes defaults to displaying the most economical gear instead.

If you’re looking for hot hatch looks without the hot hatch performance or the accompanying insurance premiums there are plenty of options out there and, in truth, the i30 N line struggles to make itself stand out from the crowd.

It is good looking, is nice to drive and can just about accommodate two adults in the back. It is also equipped with a decent number of active safety systems and plenty of kit to play with, including the eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system that brings with it DAB radio, Bluetooth and smartphone mirroring through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Here’s the thing though, for the same price as the car tested here, you can pick yourself up a full fat i30N. I know what I would do.

Hyundai i30 N Line +

Price as tested: £25,090

Engine: 1.4 T-GDi 4-cylinder turbocharged

Transmission: 7-speed DCT

Max power: 140PS

Max torque: 242Nm

Max speed: 127mph

0-62mph: 9.2sec

Combined: 49.6mpg

Emissions (CO2): 129g/km

For more information visit www.hyundai.co.uk