The “hot compact” segment has its players, and they all seem to have a defined role.
This is especially true when we’re talking about compacts with more than two doors, especially if they offer a three-pedal option and are priced under $40K.
The Subaru WRX is the all-wheel-drive one. The Honda Civic Si is the bargain one. The Volkswagen GTI is the balanced hatchback one. The Hyundai Veloster N is the quirky three-door one. The Volkswagen Jetta GLI is the refined one.
Extending things out to compacts that are a bit pricier/higher-performing, the Honda Civic Type R is the track-focused one and the Volkswagen Golf R is the luxury one. The Subaru WRX STI would’ve been here as the “WRX on steroids” one, but alas, it is instead the dead one.
Into this mix comes the Hyundai Elantra N. Based on price and door count – no three-door madness like its Veloster N stablemate, but no hatchback version, either – it aims to be the sedan version of the GTI. Meaning it aims to be the best at balancing daily-driving needs with track-day fun.
Does it succeed? Read on.
(Full disclosure: Hyundai flew me to Atlanta and fed and housed me so that I could drive the Elantra N along with several other Hyundai models. Hyundai also offered a travel organizer, which I declined to take home.)
Hyundai structured this program in such a way that attending journalists got wheel time in not just the Elantra N but some of its N-Line vehicles. We also had time to drive the Ioniq5 and we got our hands on the Kona N and the Veloster N. I posted my first drive of the Ioniq5 recently, and since I’ve also already driven the Kona N and Veloster N, the focus here is on the new kid on the block.
The structure of our drive day meant we were assigned to modules, rotating to different events throughout the day. I started my morning on the track in the Elantra N, followed by some autocrossing, with an on-street drive later.
Backing up, the Elantra N is a hopped-up Elantra powered by a 2.0-liter turbo-four that makes 276 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque. Your transmission choices are a six-speed manual or an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters. All-wheel drive is not available.
Save the manuals fans, be happy: The only creature comfort you’ll sacrifice by not opting for the DCT is a sunroof. That’s it. If you want to row your own, you otherwise get all the same features as with the auto. This is a mild bummer – I, personally, am a sunroof fan – but the stick is so good that it’s not worth opting for the automatic just to get a little extra fresh air.
When Hyundai first turned me loose on the track at Atlanta Motorsports Park, I was slow. That’s not the car’s fault. It was wet, the track was new to me (and a bit tricky to learn), and it was my first time turning a wheel in anger since I had a very bad day at Road America last fall. I mention this not because you care about my track experience but in the spirit of transparency. Because I suspect the car has a lot of capability that I just wasn’t able to wring out of it on this particular day.
Example: My unfamiliarity with the track led me to occasionally leave the car in third when I should’ve been in second. On the other hand, the flat torque curve kept me from lugging the motor too much.
Once I got more comfortable and started pushing harder, I started to feel the N come alive. It’s not perfect – the steering was a bit artificial in feel, for example – but it’s damn good. It had enough power to flit down the straights with alacrity, the brakes seemed up to the task, body roll was close to non-existent, and the car just went where it was pointed with zero complaint.
The shifter in the manual was generally a joy to row, though I occasionally found fourth when looking for second. Overall, though, the car was a delight on the track, especially with N mode engaged.
I did get to try out a DCT on the track later in the day when the pavement had dried and I’d started to understand the proper line. Unsurprisingly, the car could shift better than I can, but the manual is more fun. Regardless, I was able to push harder than I had in the morning, and the car continued to be a great partner even as I built more speed and braked later. This is no mere badge job – the N is up to the task.
On-road, the N felt right at home on a rural two-lane with gentle sweepers. I toggled between N and Sport modes (more on the drive modes below), finding Normal to be a bit too genteel for aggressive driving. That said, the car is sedate enough in Normal mode that I suspect it will be the choice for rush-hour traffic or long freeway jaunts.
The Elantra N uses a MacPherson strut-type front set up along with a multilink independent rear suspension. Nineteen-inch wheels are shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, and the car has an electronically controlled limited-slip differential.
Drivers can select from one of four drive modes: Eco (why bother on this car?), Normal, Sport, N, and Custom. The N mode is your best bet for track use, while Sport seems best suited to spirited street driving. That said, N was just as much fun to use on-road as it was on track.
Automatic-trans cars get an “N Grin Shift” button that can temporarily add 10 horsepower when pressed.
A fair amount of wind and tire noise at speed ruined the party a bit. I also must leave my evaluation of the ride as incomplete – I had no chance to drive the car on the freeway or over the kind of nasty tarmac I see on the daily here in the Upper Midwest.
The car does have a snap crackle pop exhaust burble from the variable exhaust when in N mode – and to an extent, in Sport mode – but putting the car in Normal quiets the fun. This is perhaps for the best on long commutes, or if you leave for work at 5 am and your neighbors are light sleepers.
Inside, the Elantra N has the now-typical sweeping dash that bleeds into the infotainment system, and the digital gauges change based on which drive mode you’re in. The infotainment system can also be set up to give you track data, including, in some cases, a track map. There are still knobs for key radio and climate functions, thankfully, and the climate controls, which sit below the infotainment screen, are easy to use.
It’s a nice, if relatively unremarkable, cabin. Not as refined as the GLI’s, not plagued by VW’s digital cockpit like the GLI and GTI, and a bit more upscale than that of the WRX, though not quite as sleek as the Honda’s.
Outside is a slightly different story – the Elantra N has weird lines and angles and a tacked-on rear spoiler to go along with N-specific front and rear fascias and side sills. The Elantra is already a bit of an odd-looking duck, and this version does it no favors, though it does show that it means business.
Styling is subjective, of course, but the Elantra N lacks the bland handsomeness of the Civic SI or Jetta GLI. Then again, it doesn’t have the questionable fender flares of the Subaru or the boy-racer styling of the Type R. Hyundai calls the car a “tweener”, and while that was meant to refer to price and power, it also works when it comes to looks.
Speaking of price, the Elantra N sets you back $31,900 before destination ($1,045) if you want to row your own, or $33,400 if you want the DCT. There are some port-installed options you can choose, and the Performance Blue and Ceramic White paint jobs add to the cost, but otherwise the options sheet is simple.
Features include LED lighting all around, the rear spoiler, leather-trimmed seats with microsuede inserts, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and starting, hands-free trunk release, digital key for Android users, Bluetooth, wireless cell-phone charging, dual USB ports, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, Bose audio, Blue Link connected-car services, and satellite radio.
Driver-aid tech includes forward-collision avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, blind-spot collision avoidance assist with rear cross-traffic avoidance assist, park-distance warning for reverse, lane-following assist with lane-keep assist, high-beam assist, and driver-attention warning.
Fuel economy is listed at 22/31/25 for the manual and 20/30/23 for the automatic.
Hyundai is trying to find the sweet spot in the performance compact-car market, and it comes really close. The price is right, the specs are right, and the car is up to the task. The flaws here come down to polarizing styling and a bit too much exterior noise intruding during sedate driving.
It’s not as refined as the GLI or well-balanced as the GTI, it’s not quite as wonderful on track as a Type R, and it doesn’t offer the Subie’s AWD. Nor is the MSRP as low as the Civic Si’s. On the other hand, it’s got a nice cabin than the WRX, it’s cheaper than the Type R, it has a more-traditional interior than the GTI/GLI and it has more guts than the Si.
So, yeah, it’s right in the middle of the market, and it also mostly attempts to beat the competition in the areas where those vehicles are flawed. Of course, aiming for the sweet spot of the market necessitates some compromise. Hyundai could’ve made the N another value performer, or a track-focused toy, or a sport sedan with a hint of luxury, but it instead tried to come up with a machine that will siphon customers away from the existing rides.
In that regard, Hyundai very much succeeded. If you want something mission-specific, other choices in the segment will suit you well. If you want cheaper, or more refined, you can also find the right car for you.
But if a blend of the best attributes of the competition is what you seek, you’ll be just fine with the N.
[Images © 2022 Tim Healey/TTAC, Hyundai]
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Pass.
Not even worth a test drive?
Not when it looks like that, no.
Pass.
And- not a fan of the flat gray.
On a cheap car, well that s that.
But on an Audi, i just shake my head.
I know – I know – I m weird or full of it.
I bet it looks much more subdued in a darker color. I don’t personally mind the whole “factory crashed then home repainted” “streetfighter” look on agressive cars, but I recognize many prefer a bit more “refinement.”
Pass.
Great car. I wouldn’t buy it because it’s just so damn ugly (why didn’t they add all this performance gear to the last-gen Elantra?), but my hat’s off to Hyundai nonetheless.
Side note: good luck a) finding one, or b) finding someone to sell you one without five grand in ADM.
It really is hideous. The Civic is now the looker of this group, and is the one I’d have. I do like the N blue and gray, as well as the wheels.
The loud ride would also put me off, as living with that the 90 percent of the time you’re not caning it isn’t acceptable.
A nice car accident could improve the looks on this moose no end.
I’m not interested in hooning and will keep the sedate looks of my Mazda. Now, if Mazda were to offer a manual with the turbo….
Is this one of the few cars lately where the manual fuel mileage is better than the non-manual mileage?
You can hoon the 3, you’ll just be going more slowly. Depending on how nice the Civic feels inside, the 3 might still be my choice here.
The 3 is actually a lot faster than it feels. But it’s definitely a cruiser.
“You see him on any given Sunday…win the Super Bowl and drive off in a Hyundai”
Pass
This thing is solid, but I would have to take mine in black (https://preview.redd.it/0omfrzxc4df71.jpg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=195f747a1df052e1f52535bd99c28f19bb6e5401)
Yup. Black is the car-equivalent of a paper bag – Hides the flaws.
And now WHITE paint is additional cost????? Sheesh…..
I think you made your point the first three times…LOL
And now WHITE costs extra???
WTAF???
“And now WHITE paint is additional cost????? ”
WHITE is a privilege.
My truck is white, but my sedan is white and my other sedan is white.
You need to be more inclusive.
Racist
Car & Driver picked this over the Civic Si and the Jetta GLI.
Not sure I understand the hate people are pouring on this car here. It is an affordable compact sport sedan with a stick shift, and great acceleration and handling. Car enthusiasts should be applauding Hyundai for bringing this car to market. Instead, the B&B are grousing about its styling (subjective) and posting multiple objections to the added cost of its white paint.
Missing the big picture, peeps.
It’s not “hate” to not be into it.
I get that styling is subjective but so is my desire.
I am DEFINITELY applauding the job Hyundai did with this car. I just wouldn’t buy one because of the styling. I’m aware that’s subjective, but are you saying poor styling isn’t a valid reason to not like a vehicle? If so, let me know when I can borrow your Aztek.
Preach.
I’ve noticed, as of late, that the…commentariat around here whenever whatever car company makes an interesting enthusiast-car they bemoan said product’s right to exist or are upset it isn’t an electric, an SUV or both.
The GR Corolla now this. I wonder if this site’s owners should consider changing the name on the door to “thetruthiswehatecars.com”.
I agree. Compared to the last Civic and the new Toyota, the Elantra’s styling is semi-sedate. Figure in better reliability than VW, and I can’t imagine why this won’t be a legit contender.
The hate is due to the fact this car is a threat to the establishment. While GM and other US car makers are producing angry looking trucks and SUVs, Hyundai is designing world-class sedans that rival the best from Toyota and Honda. Is either GM or Ford willing to produce anything to compete with the Elantra N? The Maverick maybe a very good truck, but it is a rotten car.
While I’ll agree that there are cars out there that aren’t good looking, I really like the looks of the Elantra. I haven’t seen an N yet, and I’m not a fan of the rear spoiler, but otherwise, I like the look.
Sounds like a car that is very good at everything but best at nothing. If you don’t like the styling, which is its weakest point, buy it in black to hide the flaws.
I’d probably just get the Veloster N if I wanted a hot Hyundai. That one isn’t a beauty queen, but it isn’t as agressively bad looking as the Elantra (IMO, YMMV).
I think it’s cool and it’s quick but… that front end is unfortunate. Same can be said about the WRX’s rear but I’d feel better buying the less powerful WRX than this manic, wheel hopping Hyundai.
I know Hyundai is different now and the N cars are pretty legit but I just wouldn’t feel good paying money for one when I could get something more established like an SI or WRX.
That front end is a common (but not universal) theme on Hyundais these days. My opinion:
Venue – works
Kona – not great
Elantra – not great
Sonata – not great
Tucson – works very nicely
Santa Cruz – works
Santa Fe – OK (I just bought one)
Palisade – not great
It’s weird because there’s an Elantra N line in dark grey at my work and the front end looks completely fine. It’s just the added black plastic under the headlights of the full N that looks so odd.
Regardless, the styling wouldn’t keep me out of this car. The competition would.
Pass.
Great car, but given the choice of bringing the sedan vs the hatch, not sure why brought the sedan to the US.
The Elantra hatch wasn’t much of a seller. Aside from my kid, very few people bought one.
Elantra hatchback needed the N treatment though to go up against the GTI. Veloster N was a little quirky!
Never saw a car’s design inspired by John Randle’s face paint before. Ooph.
Never saw a car’s design inspired by John Randle’s face paint before. Ooph.
Eager to see the GRorolla(TM) reviews and where it falls in this group.
Yikes…that front end.
I’m sure it’s a nice car and all but WOOF
I like it. It has personality(GLI/GTI lookin’ at you). It not slow (SI lookin’ at you).Read the Jack’s write up on piston bore/stroke on Hagerty. The SI is apparently a dog in real life.
Plus this is capable on track/autocross course, and standard with summer tires. Oh and it’s not an SUV, but still practical enough for those with kids or enough social skills to have friends to drive around.
I’m hoping there are some recently minted engineers/computer programmers in their 20s that will take, because H/K deserves some credit for this car.
I actually really like the angled body panels, which look clean, but give a lot of visual interest to the sides and rear of the car. (Though I fear they wouldn’t look that great after a few years parked next to my fellow humans.) And the overall proportions look pretty good. The front fascia, I think, lets the car down a little. But I am at least glad the hood/cowl line isn’t massively tall, as on so many cars/CUVs these days.
I really like the “dove gray”, black, and red color scheme. It’s actually kind of a blast from the past – I think it would have gone over fairly well in the mid-80s.
I think the one area that looks a bit dubious is the fun factor. Performance seems OK, and the AWD is kind of a perk at times, but if the steering is bland, what’s the point of this car exactly?
Still, I guess it’s worth a look and a test drive.
Had one of these show up to a track day. Owner loved it.
Why can’t GM produce a decent refined family sedan like this!
GM- what a disgrace!
I’d drive one but I’d rather have an M5.
I love it! It’s different and very noticeable. Anyone can buy a Honda…and they all look like Hondas.