Sport No More: Hyundai Elantra N Line Enters the Picture

Typically, using the word “sport” to describe a sportier, more powerful version of a bread and butter model goes over well with consumers. It’s straightforward, leaving little room for confusion.

Well, sport is out at Hyundai, and N Line is in. No, not “N” — that’s the Korean marque’s full-on sporting sub-brand. The trim level below it, which still offers improved power and road-holding, is N Line. Think of it as N Lite, if that helps.

Which is a lengthy way of saying N Line is exactly was Sport was, and will remain when the next-generation Elantra sedan gets around to welcoming a warmed-up variant.

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  • ToolGuy Please allow me to listen to the podcast before commenting. (This is the way my mind works, please forgive me.)
  • ToolGuy My ancient sedan (19 years lol) matches the turbo Mazda 0-60 (on paper) while delivering better highway fuel economy, so let's just say I don't see a compelling reason to 'upgrade' and by the way HOW HAVE ICE POWERTRAIN ENGINEERS BEEN SPENDING THEIR TIME never mind I think I know. 😉
  • FreedMike This was the Official Affluent-Mom Character Mobile in just about every TV show and movie in the Aughts.
  • Offbeat Oddity The RAV4, and I say this as someone who currently owns a 2014 CR-V. My aunt has a 2018 CR-V that has had a lot of electrical issues, and I don't trust the turbo and CVT to last as long as Toyota's NA engine and 8-speed automatic. Plus, the RAV4 looks sportier and doesn't have the huge front overhang.
  • Offbeat Oddity I'd go with Mazda, especially now that there's no more cylinder deactivation on the 2024 NA motor. It's around $4-5k less than the Toyota with similar equipment, and I think reliability is probably very close between them.Regarding reliability, hasn't this generation of RAV4 taken a hit? I know it's not rated as highly in Consumer Reports, and there were teething issues during the first few years. I'm surprised it's not mentioned in more reviews- even Jack Baruth's. I'm sure the bugs have been worked out by now, though.