It doesn’t matter what you consider the automotive’s styling or the Hyundai model itself, you gotta give credit score the place it’s due: the Hyundai Elantra N is improbable. For its fourth mannequin yr available on the market, Hyundai has tweaked the game compact with new styling and slight efficiency enhancements. On this case, minor adjustments are completely nice, as what Hyundai’s engineers have carried out with this compact automotive platform is a case research in excellence. Albert Biermann actually helped Hyundai make a BMW M3 for the plenty.
Full Disclosure: Hyundai lent me the Elantra N for per week. I almost requested them if I might hold it for a month and hated it when it needed to depart.
The usual Hyundai Elantra is nothing particular. That isn’t to say it’s a nasty automotive; it’s a stable providing if you happen to don’t desire a Toyota Corolla or a Honda Civic. When Hyundai’s N division — lead by Biermann, former vice chairman of engineering at BMW M — received its fingers on the Elantra, one thing really particular was created. Slapping a turbocharger onto a 2.0-liter inline-4 ends in 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque. You may pair that engine with both a six-speed guide or an eight-speed moist dual-clutch transmission, the previous of which has a rev-matching characteristic whereas the latter has an overboost perform that offers 10 additional horsepower for 20 seconds.
For 2024, the Elantra N will get a slight styling refresh. The brand new entrance fascia has slimmer LED headlights and bigger intakes, whereas round again there are new taillights and a redesigned rear diffuser. New wheels and a brand new exterior shade referred to as Final Crimson spherical out the adjustments you possibly can see. The larger adjustments are underneath the pores and skin.
Hyundai’s N division enhanced the Elantra N’s already stellar journey and dealing with. We’re not speaking about new suspension designs or something like that, however little particulars that some fanatics wouldn’t even take into consideration. The insulator on the rear suspension has been modified from rubber to urethane that Hyundai says improves yaw response and damping. G bushing reinforcement additional improves yaw response and steering precision, and the steering can also be enhanced with common joint friction discount. The engine mounts have been bolstered, and entrance and rear tire pressures have been elevated by one psi for optimization of the entrance axle load.
Fortunately the Elantra N nonetheless doesn’t break the financial institution. Together with vacation spot expenses, pricing begins at $34,850 for the six-speed guide model. The Elantra N I had was geared up with the DCT, which provides on one other $1,500. With every little thing, my Elantra N tester rang in at $36,350. Given the efficiency and normal options the Elantra comes with, it makes spending over $40,000 on opponents just like the Honda Civic Sort R and Volkswagen Golf R appear to be a idiot’s errand.
Earlier than I get into how the Elantra N drives, I must be sincere. One factor I all the time do once I evaluation a automotive is to return at it from an unbiased, goal perspective. Reviewing the Elantra N stirred actual feelings in me, although. That is an truly attainable automotive that I’ve been making an attempt to purchase for over a yr now. It’s one factor to get enthusiastic about one thing like an Aston Martin or Porsche, but it surely’s one thing else to get excited a couple of automotive you’re driving that provides superior efficiency and you’ll truly afford it.
Some would possibly suppose it’s ridiculous to say that the Elantra N is an inexpensive BMW M3, however M3 house owners could be impressed by how a lot the Elantra N rips. Prepping the usual launch management perform and utilizing the on-board timer, with out even making an attempt I used to be in a position to hit 60 mph in simply 4.9 seconds, and I managed to shave a tenth off that point utilizing the N Grin Shift enhance mode. A vibrant pink button labeled “NGS” on the steering wheel provides a 20 second burst of 10 additional horsepower, and you’ll truly really feel a distinction. Simply to place that efficiency in perspective, it’s a tenth of a second faster than the Honda Civic Sort R and neck and neck with the Toyota GR Corolla. This factor isn’t nearly straight line velocity, although.
I took the Elantra N to a few of my favourite native canyon roads and I can confidently say that it’s one of the vital succesful automobiles available on the market. Nothing that Hyundai’s N engineers did here’s a gimmick. Take the digital limited-slip differential, which Hyundai calls the N Nook Carving Differential. If you’re powering out of a curve, you possibly can truly really feel it working, serving to you employ the engine’s energy to drag out of the curve. It’s so good that it’ll virtually idiot you into believing that the Elantra N has all-wheel drive in some cornering conditions. Its dealing with is enhanced by high-performance brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer time tires. The Elantra N’s eight-speed dual-clutch transmission’s lightning-fast shifts received’t make you miss the guide, both. The cherry on prime of this efficiency sundae is listening to the pops and crackles of the Elantra N’s variable exhaust system echoing off the canyon partitions. It’s among the finest sounding inventory exhausts available on the market.
In the event you’re into tech like I’m, you’ll be in heaven with the quantity of digital efficiency changes that may be made within the Elantra N. Whereas loads of efficiency automobiles available on the market have some stage of customization via issues like pre-set drive modes, the Elantra N takes all of it to a different stage. All the pieces from the engine response to the steering, suspension and exhaust will be personalized. Don’t desire a stiff journey however nonetheless need to blast via visitors? You are able to do that by having the suspension in Consolation and every little thing else in Sport+. Wish to cruise round however have a cool sounding exhaust? Simply set every little thing to Consolation besides the exhaust.
You may even customise a built-in shift gentle. In the event you’re on the observe, you should use N Observe Sense Shift, which detects issues like g-forces and steering angle to verify the transmission has optimum shifting whereas sustaining a excessive engine rpm. This actually is a sport compact for the twenty first century.
When the Elantra N isn’t tearing up the hills or backroads, it’s merely an Elantra with a pleasant and surprisingly snug driving expertise. It’s loaded with rather more stuff than the best trim of an everyday Elantra, too. Incredible wanting and closely bolstered heated leather-based and Alcantara sport seats have trick illuminated N logos, and so they really feel nice. You get normal options like a sunroof (so long as you select the eight-speed transmission; a sunroof isn’t out there with the six-speed guide), a Bose premium audio system, 64-color ambient lighting, a set of driver security aids and 20.5 inches of screens. Properly, it’s actually two 10.25-inch screens, but it surely seems like one lengthy display screen.
There’s not an excessive amount of ache on the pump, both. Although the Elantra N has a comparatively small tank that needs to be full of premium gasoline — a full tank is simply shy of 300 miles — you possibly can anticipate to get 20 mpg metropolis, 30 mpg freeway and 23 mpg mixed from its turbocharged engine, in response to the EPA. I averaged simply over 21 mpg in combined, principally metropolis driving.
There are some downsides. The aforementioned small gasoline tank dimension form of sucks, particularly once you’re like me and are used to a full tank of gasoline getting you over 500 miles of vary. Materials high quality within the inside isn’t so scorching, both. Various surfaces remind you that it has financial system automotive bones, however that’s additionally not one thing that’s unique to the Elantra N. I’m you, Toyota GR Corolla.
Nowhere is that extra obvious than within the sparse backseat, the place the U.S-spec Elantra has undergone complicated cost-cutting. There’s not one cupholder, air vent or armrest to be discovered, one thing that’s bugged me about shopping for one personally. The one replace for the 2024 refresh is the addition of a single USB-C charging port within the rear. In the meantime, Korean-market Elantra Ns not solely get a rear armrest with cupholders, however there are additionally air vents and heated rear seats. Common U.S.-spec Elantras get the armrest on Restricted trims, as does the up to date Elantra N-Line. Make it make sense, Hyundai! I can perceive if that is all for weight financial savings, however the availability of a sunroof and rear consolation options in different markets throws that excuse out the window.
Lastly, whereas it’s a cool characteristic to have a automotive geared up with a trunk-mounted rear crossbar, it impedes cargo house. The aim is for additional chassis rigidity. This additionally permits for issues like lift-off oversteer, making it straightforward to get sideways in a nook. For on a regular basis use the rear seats do fold for additional room, however you’re going to be caught with making an attempt to suit longer objects via the crossbar’s open areas. The bar will be eliminated, but it surely requires watching YouTube movies and utilizing some instruments that you simply’ll in all probability must borrow, although it’s mentioned that eradicating it solely requires undoing 4 bolts.
Regardless of these few downsides, what we’ve got right here is likely one of the greatest efficiency automobiles available on the market, fingers down. Certain, there are these which might be going to yell concerning the Civic Sort R, GR Corolla and Acura Integra Sort S on the prime of their lungs, however contemplate the details. This can be a automotive that’s in a splendidly unusual grey space the place it outpowers and outperforms equally priced automobiles just like the Subaru WRX, Honda Civic Si and VW GLI whereas concurrently having efficiency that matches the costlier Civic Sort R and GR Corolla, and bests them within the fun-to-drive class.
Then it begins to daybreak on you that the Elantra N is actually a way more reasonably priced different to the BMW M3, front-wheel drive be damned. Don’t imagine me? All of the similarities are there. The game seats with the illuminated emblems, the excessive diploma of customization through a big contact display screen, the aggressive styling and loud exhaust word — all harking back to the M3. Even the way in which it drives will remind you of BMWs of yore. Until you merely hate Hyundai or simply must have a kind of different sport compacts, the Hyundai Elantra N is likely one of the greatest efficiency buys available on the market in the present day.
