It doesn’t matter what you consider the automobile’s styling or the Hyundai model itself, you gotta give credit score the place it’s due: the Hyundai Elantra N is unbelievable. For its fourth mannequin yr in the marketplace, Hyundai has tweaked the game compact with new styling and slight efficiency enhancements. On this case, minor adjustments are completely effective, as what Hyundai’s engineers have completed with this compact automobile 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 preserve it for a month and hated it when it needed to go away.
The usual Hyundai Elantra is nothing particular. That isn’t to say it’s a nasty automobile; it’s a stable providing when you 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 — bought its palms on the Elantra, one thing actually particular was created. Slapping a turbocharger onto a 2.0-liter inline-4 ends in 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque. You possibly can pair that engine with both a six-speed handbook or an eight-speed moist dual-clutch transmission, the previous of which has a rev-matching characteristic whereas the latter has an overboost operate that provides 10 further 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 coloration referred to as Final Crimson spherical out the adjustments you possibly can see. The larger adjustments are beneath the pores and skin.
Hyundai’s N division enhanced the Elantra N’s already stellar trip and dealing with. We’re not speaking about new suspension designs or something like that, however little particulars that some lovers 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 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 costs, pricing begins at $34,850 for the six-speed handbook model. The Elantra N I had was outfitted with the DCT, which provides on one other $1,500. With every part, 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 look like a idiot’s errand.
Earlier than I get into how the Elantra N drives, I have to be trustworthy. One factor I at all times do after I overview a automobile is to come back at it from an unbiased, goal perspective. Reviewing the Elantra N stirred actual feelings in me, although. That is an really attainable automobile 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, nevertheless it’s one thing else to get excited a couple of automobile you’re driving that provides superior efficiency and you’ll really afford it.
Some may suppose it’s ridiculous to say that the Elantra N is an inexpensive BMW M3, however M3 house owners can be impressed by how a lot the Elantra N rips. Prepping the usual launch management operate 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 brilliant purple button labeled “NGS” on the steering wheel provides a 20 second burst of 10 further horsepower, and you’ll really 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 succesful automobiles in the marketplace. 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 really really feel it working, serving to you utilize the engine’s energy to drag out of the curve. It’s so good that it’ll nearly 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 handbook, 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 probably the greatest sounding inventory exhausts in the marketplace.
When 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 in the marketplace have some degree of customization via issues like pre-set drive modes, the Elantra N takes all of it to a different degree. All the pieces from the engine response to the steering, suspension and exhaust may be custom-made. Don’t desire a stiff trip however nonetheless wish to blast via visitors? You are able to do that by having the suspension in Consolation and every part else in Sport+. Wish to cruise round however have a cool sounding exhaust? Simply set every part to Consolation besides the exhaust.
You possibly can even customise a built-in shift mild. When you’re on the observe, you should utilize N Monitor 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 comfy driving expertise. It’s loaded with far more stuff than the very best trim of a daily Elantra, too. Unbelievable wanting and closely bolstered heated leather-based and Alcantara sport seats have trick illuminated N logos, they usually really feel nice. You get normal options like a sunroof (so long as you select the eight-speed transmission; a sunroof isn’t accessible with the six-speed handbook), a Bose premium audio system, 64-color ambient lighting, a set of driver security aids and 20.5 inches of screens. Nicely, it’s actually two 10.25-inch screens, nevertheless it 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 stuffed with premium gas — a full tank is simply shy of 300 miles — you possibly can count on to get 20 mpg metropolis, 30 mpg freeway and 23 mpg mixed from its turbocharged engine, in line with the EPA. I averaged simply over 21 mpg in combined, largely metropolis driving.
There are some downsides. The aforementioned small fuel tank dimension type of sucks, particularly once you’re like me and are used to a full tank of fuel getting you over 500 miles of vary. Materials high quality within the inside isn’t so sizzling, both. Quite a lot of surfaces remind you that it has economic system automobile bones, however that’s additionally not one thing that’s unique to the Elantra N. I’m taking a look at 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 automobile outfitted with a trunk-mounted rear crossbar, it impedes cargo area. The aim is for further 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 further room, however you’re going to be caught with making an attempt to suit longer objects via the crossbar’s open areas. The bar may be eliminated, nevertheless it requires watching YouTube movies and utilizing some instruments that you just’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 have now right here is without doubt one of the finest efficiency automobiles in the marketplace, palms down. Certain, there are these which might be going to yell in regards to the Civic Sort R, GR Corolla and Acura Integra Sort S on the prime of their lungs, however think about the information. It is a automobile 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 admittedly a way more reasonably priced different to the BMW M3, front-wheel drive be damned. Don’t consider me? All of the similarities are there. The game seats with the illuminated emblems, the excessive diploma of customization by way of a big contact display screen, the aggressive styling and loud exhaust be aware — all paying homage to the M3. Even the best way 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 without doubt one of the finest efficiency buys in the marketplace in the present day.
