2021 Hyundai Elantra N Line: Budget Fun With a Stick

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Hyundai dropped details on the upcoming Elantra N Line sedan Thursday, revealing that the six-speed manual that disappeared from the previous Elantra Sport for 2020 will reappear in the new-generation model.

Not appearing in ’21 are extra horses, however.

We’ve discussed the outward appearance of the sporty N Line variant already, so let’s dive into specs. The warmest of all new-generation Elantras carries a familiar powerplant: a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder making 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, just as before.

Buyers not enamored with archaic shifting practices can opt for a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. It’s worth noting that the model’s closest competitor, the Honda Civic Si, carried a standard six-speed manual (that model disappears for ’21, but will return). Perhaps this will work in Hyundai’s favor.

By choosing N Line, Elantra buyers gain larger front brakes, 18-inch allow wheels, and a suspension (multi-link in the rear, as before) tuned for stiffness. Inside, the automaker fields N Line seats (with leather bolsters) and a perforated, leather-wrapped N Line steering wheel, allow pedals, and metal accents on the gearshift. While the company talked up its list of N Performance Parts, those add-ons are, thus far, reserved only for Korean customers.

Standard tech includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Hyundai’s Smart Key, and a range of safety features, among them forward collision-avoidance assist, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist.

The N Line model arrives later this year, with pricing to be revealed closer to its on-sale date.

[Images: Hyundai]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Tassos Jong-iL Communist America Rises!
  • Merc190 A CB7 Accord with the 5 cylinder
  • MRF 95 T-Bird Daihatsu Copen- A fun Kei sized roadster. Equipped with a 660cc three, a five speed manual and a retractable roof it’s all you need. Subaru Levorg wagon-because not everyone needs a lifted Outback.
  • Merc190 I test drive one of these back in the day with an automatic, just to drive an Alfa, with a Busso no less. Didn't care for the dash design, would be a fun adventure to find some scrapped Lancia Themas or Saab 900's and do some swapping to make car even sweeter. But definitely lose the ground effects.
  • MRF 95 T-Bird These 164s, as documented by its owner have to be constantly sorted, as they say. They are nice drivers. I’d rather find a, under the 25 year rule nice and easier to deal with Type 916 Alfa Romeo GTV/Spyder.
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