THE NAUGHTY AND NICE EDITION ELANTRA

The look here is all sharp edges, up front, alert, aero, and on point with performance parts like a IMSA GT-look rear deck wing, huge four wheel ventilated disc brakes* showing through a set of tall, wide alloy nineteen inch wheels that are (quite seriously) shod with a set of classic go fast tires (Michelin 245/35 ZR19 Pilots to be specific) tires.  This is a car that, even standing still, fully indicates that it’s well set up to be a damn stout runner.** 

That “N” part of the power package designation comes from first letter of Namyang, the global R&D center in South Korea where Hyundai’s high-performance models are designed. It’s also the first letter of the name Nürburgring, the legendary 14.2-mile/20 kilometer German racetrack all the way across the World where Hyundai puts their special tech to the test.  As the Hyundai literature proudly states: “N Line vehicles are built to give you a race-inspired rush.”  (which we will here attest to).

Of course, there’s Hyundai’s stout (“America’s Best Warranty”) 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle warranty backed up with an even stronger 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.  There’s also 3 years or complimentary maintenance and 5 years (unlimited mileage there) of roadside assistance.  

Yes, it’s true ... manufacturers are building cars better.  And the overall build quality of this one was right up there with the best.  In fact, I’m pretty sure that I can no longer tell a friend or reader to absolutely avoid just about any make or model of automobile that’s sold here in the USA as I did 20 or more years ago. 

The Elantra’s comprehensive safety system is a full-on array of safety tech that includes whole laundry list of features starting with blind-spot collision warning, and continuing with forward collision avoidance, lane keeping and following assist, along with parking distance warning, rear cross traffic warning, and even warns when its unsafe to open the door.  

As powerful as it’s turbo motor is, this one’s demeanor on the road handles that horsepower with style and grace.  The window sticker entitled “Performance Technology” lists a full arsenal of items that contribute to the this special version of the Elantra.  Among them are the afore-mentioned turbo/4 engine (hooked up to an 8-speed Dual-Clutch automatic transmission), multi-link independent rear suspension, and a very evident cross-trunk tubular steel chassis brace added to forestall any chassis twist when one is carving the corners in this four-door GT (that’s not in the car’s official title, but it come out in any spate of spirited driving.

 As cool and quick as this sharpshooter is, and just in case you didn’t notice that while driving, there are AI-generated engine sounds that work even better that that playing card clothes-clipped to your bicycle’s wheel spokes when you were 12.  It bumps, it burbles, it sounds like rev-marching on downshifts, and it growls when provoked by a heavy dose of right boot on the go pedal. (If you don’t believe me, just dial up “Elantra N engine noise” on your favorite search engine and get an earful for yourself).

There’s a good (and yet unobtrusive) multi-function 10.25 inch navigation screen and a nice Bose sound system.  The unit is also ready and waiting to hook up to Hyundai’s Blue Link service package that includes remote start and climate control, automatic crash notification, and stolen vehicle recovery. It also offers features such as sending destinations from one’s phone to the car's navigation, remote locking/unlocking, and parental controls like speed and geofencing alerts.

The window sticker on this one indicated fuel mileage numbers of 23 miles per gallon city and 27 highway and the bottom line showed an all-in price of $36,600.00. – Doug Stokes 

NOTE: The real shame of this article is the recent demise of the only street legal drag strip in Los Angeles County, Irwindale is gone (it closed after twenty-five years in December of last year).  This N-car could have chalked up some good numbers for this article there.  (sadly, all of the once viable motorsports facilities in the LA/SoCal area, Ascot, Riverside, Ontario Motor Speedway, Saugus, and Auto Club Speedway have all disappeared)  - DS

* Of course all four massive of the “N-Car’s massive brake calipers are painted racing red and are quite visible.

** Here, near matching torque and horsepower numbers indicate this car is going to be a balanced performer.  The (relatively) small supercharged four cylinder engine in the Elantra is very “well-trained” (electronically controlled) never seeming to run out of breath ... power (and plenty of it) is delivered fresh and on time here.

SIDEBAR COMMENT

LACar readers are likely more familiar with Hyundai’s electrified N cars like the Ioniq 5 N tested earlier this year (see Everything, Everywhere, All at Once in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N).  It was the most enjoyable car we’ve had in recent memory. But that car carried a sticker price of $66,000 plus spare change. The Elantra N, by comparison, is about $30,000 less. In other words, you can almost buy two Elantra Ns for the price of an Ioniq 5 N. 

The Elantra N lacks some of the driving modes of the Ioniq 5 N, such as N Active Sound+ (simulating the sound of a supersonic fighter jet, among other entities) and N Drift Optimizer (for drifting the rear end out on turns – the Elantra N is a front-wheel drive car). On the other hand, the Elantra N doesn’t need the Ioniq 5 N’s most popular mode—the ability to simulate the sound of a high-performance street car with a gas engine. The Elantra N IS a high performance street car with a gas engine. It offers most of the joy of the Ioniq 5 N at about a little over half the price. That makes the Elantra N an outrageous bargain. And a likely candidate for future collector car status. – Roy Nakano