2021 Hyundai Elantra N Line: Budget Fun With a Stick

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]