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 incredible. 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 modifications are completely fantastic, as what Hyundai’s engineers have achieved 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 practically requested them if I might maintain 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 automobile; it’s a strong providing for those who don’t need a Toyota Corolla or a Honda Civic. When Hyundai’s N division — lead by Biermann, former vp 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 leads to 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque. You’ll be able to 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 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 modifications you possibly can see. The larger modifications are below the pores and skin.
Hyundai’s N division enhanced the Elantra N’s already stellar experience 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 strengthened, 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 handbook model. The Elantra N I had was outfitted with the DCT, which provides on one other $1,500. With the whole lot, 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 rivals 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 should be trustworthy. One factor I all the time do once I evaluate a automobile is to return 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 attempting to purchase for over a yr now. It’s one factor to get enthusiastic about one thing like an Aston Martin or Porsche, however it’s one thing else to get excited a couple of automobile you’re driving that provides superior efficiency and you may really afford it.
Some would possibly assume 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 attempting I used to be capable of hit 60 mph in simply 4.9 seconds, and I managed to shave a tenth off that point utilizing the N Grin Shift increase mode. A shiny purple button labeled “NGS” on the steering wheel offers a 20 second burst of 10 additional horsepower, and you may 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 pace, although.
I took the Elantra N to a few of my favourite native canyon roads and I can confidently say that it’s some of the succesful vehicles 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. Whenever you’re powering out of a curve, you possibly can really 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 handbook, both. The cherry on high 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 the most effective 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 vehicles in the marketplace have some degree of customization by means of issues like pre-set drive modes, the Elantra N takes all of it to a different degree. Every thing from the engine response to the steering, suspension and exhaust may be custom-made. Don’t need a stiff experience however nonetheless wish to blast by means of site visitors? You are able to do that by having the suspension in Consolation and the whole lot else in Sport+. Need to cruise round however have a cool sounding exhaust? Simply set the whole lot to Consolation besides the exhaust.
You’ll be able to even customise a built-in shift gentle. When you’re on the observe, you should use 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 way more stuff than the very best trim of an everyday Elantra, too. Improbable 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 obtainable with the six-speed handbook), a Bose premium audio system, 64-color ambient lighting, a collection of driver security aids and 20.5 inches of screens. Properly, it’s actually two 10.25-inch screens, however it seems to be 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 gasoline — 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 response to the EPA. I averaged simply over 21 mpg in combined, largely metropolis driving.
There are some downsides. The aforementioned small fuel tank measurement kind of sucks, particularly while 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. Various 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 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 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 attempting to suit longer objects by means of the crossbar’s open areas. The bar may be eliminated, however it requires watching YouTube movies and utilizing some instruments that you simply’ll most likely should borrow, although it’s stated that eradicating it solely requires undoing 4 bolts.
Regardless of these few downsides, what we’ve right here is likely one of the finest efficiency vehicles in the marketplace, palms down. Certain, there are these which can be going to yell concerning the Civic Sort R, GR Corolla and Acura Integra Sort S on the high of their lungs, however take into account the details. It is a automobile that’s in a splendidly unusual grey space the place it outpowers and outperforms equally priced vehicles just like the Subaru WRX, Honda Civic Si and VW GLI whereas concurrently having efficiency that matches the dearer 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 inexpensive 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 notice — 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 should have a type of different sport compacts, the Hyundai Elantra N is likely one of the finest efficiency buys in the marketplace at present.
