Hyundai Bakes Performance and Value Into the Elantra N

The Hyundai Elantra N has not-so-quietly become one of the most fun and affordable cars. If you want real performance at a low price, this is the car for you.

If you’re asked what the best N car from Hyundai is, you might immediately talk about the now-gone Veloster N. While this performance car was pretty cool, the Elantra N receives the nod as the best that’s come out of this sub-brand from Hyundai. This compact sedan brings a performance bend when you add the N badge to the mix.

The power of this Elantra won’t blow you away

If you’re tired of hearing about how a brand brings a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine to a high power number, too bad. The Elantra N has this engine, and it makes 276 horsepower. While that’s not enough to blow anyone away, this engine has plenty of cool noises to make it fun to hear when you’re on the road. Hyundai gives this car a slick six-speed manual transmission to increase the engagement quality ad feeling you want when you’re ready to take this car out for some fun on the road. It’s easy to get active and aggressive with this fun little car.

A chassis made to make you smile

The secret sauce to the fun of the Hyundai Elantra N is the chassis setup. This car brings a ton of oversteer to the mix to make it fun to toss around on the track. If you’ve been looking for a car that you can slide around and enjoy some fun, the Elantra N could be right for you. All you’ve got to do is turn off the stability control, and you’ll see just how loose the rear can be. The fun of the fast slides becomes addictive when you’re behind the wheel.

You’ll love the cabin of this little Hyundai

The seating position and seats are great in the Elantra N. The interior isn’t as over-the-top sporty as a Honda Civic Type R, but it offers you the useful and practical feeling you want. There are buttons on the steering wheel to help you have controls right where you need them, and you’ll see the various dials and readings that make a huge difference for you when it’s time to get in and take a drive.

This is a fantastic on-road sports car

Where do you do most of your driving? Most of us are going to answer this with “on the road,” which makes a lot of sense. The Hyundai Elantra N is the ideal sports car when you’re looking for an impressive level of on-road driving performance and fun. You can use most of the horsepower of this car on the road and enjoy the fun of riding around corners quickly without the need to change gears or transition to slower drives. The short gear ratios allow you to enjoy the fun and the torque-vectoring differential helps you keep a strong grip on the corners during your drive.

The Elantra N is faster than you think

Although this performance car only brings 276 horsepower to the mix, that’s all it needs. This impressive little performance machine can hit 60 mph in five seconds, which is pretty quick. To find cars that hit this mark faster, you’ll spend a lot more than what the Elantra N calls for. All of the power is sent to the front wheels, which induces the torque-steer feature, but that won’t matter when you realize just how quick this Hyundai can be.

Hyundai offers an automatic transmission option

You don’t have to row the gears to drive the Hyundai Elantra N. If you’re looking for an automatic version, you’ve got it. The transmission is an impressive 8-speed dual-clutch model that makes this car even more fun and exciting. There’s a little secret to this automatic model; it’s faster than the manual version. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, but it will to some drivers.

This is a non-traditional hot hatch

The Elantra N doesn’t look like a hatchback because it has an elongated rear deck that end in a more traditional sedan-like rear end. The rear hatch does open to offer an impressive cargo area with lots of room for your gear. This makes the Elantra end a hot hatch, but its not short and stubby like most hot hatches in the market.

The playfulness isn’t pointless in this Hyundai

There’s a large red button on the steering wheel that looks like it should be on a Formula 1 race car and not in an affordable Hyundai. This red button is an overboost feature that gives you a little more fun when you push it and let this car take off for you. No other automaker has put something like this in their car, and that could be a deciding factor for you when you’re looking for something fun to drive.

This car is bold

There’s something more than just a little sporty about the Hyundai Elantra N. This car offers sharp, bold design elements, the stylish qualities you’re looking for, and an aggressive stance. The Elantra N isn’t ready to blow you away with smooth curves and sensual qualities. Instead, it makes a bold statement with sharp lines and pure aggression, which is another reason we can see most drivers falling in love with this performance machine.

It’s not perfect, but it’s a lot of fun

The Elantra N might not be the perfect car, but it has the qualities and driving features you’ll want to enjoy when you get behind the wheel. This car starts at $33,245, which makes it a value-oriented model that brings a lot more of what you want than you might expect. Step inside and see what makes this Hyundai one of the most compelling and affordable performance machines in the market today.

Are you ready to approach Hyundai performance with an open mind? If so, the Elantra N could be right for you. This car isn’t the most powerful, stylish, or fastest, but it sure is a whole lot of fun to drive. All you need is some open road and a little adrenaline, and you’ll see for yourself.