Sharp design

With a low-to-the-ground design, sharp paint options like Performance Blue, and a unique grille design, the Elantra N stands out visually compared to rivals, and looks quite luxurious.

Standout features include: 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, power sunroof, N-Specific body styling and rear diffuser, rear wing spoiler, and dual exhaust outlets.

Inside, the Elantra N offers high-quality materials such as leather-trimmed seats that surpass what you would expect at this price point. Cargo space is 14.2 cubic feet, and the front passengers have ample head and leg room. Back row can be a bit tight for larger adults. Other interior features of note include: Heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and alloy sport pedals.


Made for driving enthusiasts

The drive is the whole point of a vehicle like the Elantra N — It has to offer a sporty, fast experience since it competes for enthusiasts’ dollars against a fun bunch of vehicles including: Honda Civic Type R and Civic SI, Kia Forte GT, VW Jetta GLI, Toyota GR Corolla, and Subaru WRX.

With a turbo-charged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and a total of 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, the 2023 Elantra N is a blast to drive, and offers a customizable driving experience — including the ability to adjust steering feel, transmission shift times, suspension firmness, launch control settings, and sound of exhaust.

The Elantra N features Eco, Sport and Normal drive modes, as well as N mode and the NGS (N Grin Shift) button to spice things up. Hitting the NGS button adds 10 extra horsepower for 20 seconds and is like a rocket boost.

This is also the only Elantra to still offer a manual transmission (a rare win in today’s auto marketplace for manual lovers). It’s also available with automatic transmission and paddle shifters.

Due to its effortless nimble feel, driving the Elantra N on curvy roads is a great way to spend a Sunday morning. The sport-tuned suspension with adaptive dampers helps enhance these excursions, which are more impressive considering the Elantra N comes in FWD only. The engine can be quite loud, but honestly that sound is part of the reason to get a car like this.


User-friendly tech 

A 10.25-inch screen hosts the Elantra N’s infotainment setup, and Hyundai offers one of the best-looking and most user-friendly systems in today’s vehicles.

Voice commands for music, navigation and more are effective and understood on first attempt, and the system is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A Bose premium audio system is also offered.

Among the most helpful safety tech on the Elantra N are: Automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, and rear automatic braking.


Respectable fuel mileage

When a car is this fun to drive, it’s rare for it to have decent fuel mileage numbers. But that’s the case with the Elantra N. Numbers on the automatic transmission model come in at 20 city/30 highway/23 combined, and move up on the manual version to 22 city/31 highway/25 combined. 

A full tank can get you north of 360 miles of travel, but your efficiency will depend on how you drive the vehicle. More aggressive driving will lower the fuel economy, but I don’t blame you if you want to drive that way in the Elantra N.


Surprisingly affordable

A vehicle this enjoyable to drive usually costs a lot more than $34K to start, but that’s the case with the 2023 Elantra N.

And as an added bonus, excellent warranties are offered on the Elantra N, as per usual with Hyundai.

They include a 5-year/60,000 mile new vehicle warranty; 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty; 3-year/36,000-mile complimentary maintenance; and 5-year/Unlimited-mile Roadside Assistance.

With all of these attributes, it’s easy to see why the 2023 Hyundai Elantra N is a strong option for sedan shoppers looking for something both practical and exciting to drive.

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