Overview The Hyundai Elantra N is a feisty little sports sedan, bound to liven up any commute with its full-throated exhaust note, sharp handling, and zippy performance. Its turbocharged four-cylinder consumes less fuel than expected while delivering more power than many rivals, and its track-ready suspension and sticky summer tires deliver gobs of fun as you zig and zag down back roads.Sticking with the standard six-speed manual gearbox makes the Elantra N all the more engaging to drive, but we won’t begrudge anyone for choosing the dual-clutch automatic. The latter helps the car reach 60 mph in a Honda Civic Type R-beating 4.8 seconds.Expert Tip: If you came to this page by mistake, looking for info on the regular Hyundai Elantra, perhaps consider it a happy accident that you landed here instead. The N model is a lot more fun than the core model and well worth the price premium. What’s New for 2026?The Elantra N has another uneventful year, cruising into 2026 with no changes.Pricing and Which One to BuyElantra N buyers have only to decide which paint color and transmission they want. There’s no wrong decision, but in case you were wondering, we’d spec Performance Blue and the manual.Engine, Transmission, and Performance
- Engine: 276-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder
- Transmissions: 6-speed manual, 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
- Drivetrain: front-wheel drive
Every Elantra N employs a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder to drive the front wheels. Some do it through a six-speed manual gearbox, while others have an (added-cost) eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. Normally, there are 276 ponies on tap, but in models with the dual-clutch, drivers can temporarily increase output to 286 horsepower by pressing the red N Grin Shift (NGS) button on the steering wheel. (Manual models have a red button too; it turns on automatic rev-matching for no-effort downshifting.)The Elantra N has a significant power advantage over the similarly priced VW Jetta GLI, which develops only 228 horsepower. The N is also great fun to drive, with quick acceleration, decent feedback through the steering wheel, sharp handling, and a wonderfully sonorous exhaust note. In fact, it did a star turn at Virginia International Raceway in our 2025 Lightning Lap event, turning laps quicker than some very sporty cars. Our only complaint on the street: the dual-clutch occasionally clunks during shifts in stop-and-go traffic. 0–60-MPH Times
- C/D 60-mph Test: 4.8 seconds (automatic), 6.1 seconds (manual)
In Comparison: The automatic-equipped Hyundai Elantra N races to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, besting the class-favorite—but much more expensive—Honda Civic Type R by a tenth of a second.Additional ResearchFuel Economy and Real-World MPG
- C/D 75-mph Highway Fuel-Economy Test: 37 mpg (automatic), 32 mpg (manual)
- EPA City Ratings: 20-21 mpg
- EPA Highway Ratings: 27-29 mpg
The EPA hasn’t released fuel-economy information for the 2026 Hyundai Elantra N yet, but the ratings shouldn’t change. The 2025 row-it-yourself model earns EPA estimates of 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, while the automatic Elantra N’s fuel economy comes in at 20 and 27 mpg, respectively. Those numbers proved to be conservative. In our hands, on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, the manual car saw 32 mpg, and the automatic blew past expectations with a 37-mpg result. For more information about the Elantra N’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.Interior, Comfort, and CargoFirst Row: The Elantra’s driver-focused cabin design—featuring a left-canted center stack and a passenger-isolating grab bar along the right edge of the center console—is apt for the N. Aggressively bolstered leather-trimmed sport seats, metal pedals, and a unique steering wheel set this performance model apart from lesser Elantras. Second Row: Folks cresting six feet should be cozy but not cramped in the back of the Elantra N, which has more rear-seat legroom than the Honda Civic Type R and Si, the Volkswagen Golf GTI, and the Toyota’s hot GR Corolla. Cargo Capacity: While not class-leading in size, the Elantra N’s 14-cubic-foot trunk is perfectly acceptable for a sport compact car and large enough for the average person’s hauling needs.Infotainment and Connectivity
- Infotainment: 10.3-inch touchscreen
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
- Audio System: 8-speaker Bose stereo
Two 10.3-inch screens take up much of the dashboard. One serves as the driver’s digital instrument cluster. The other, atop the center stack, operates by touch and features built-in navigation. Phone charging can happen wirelessly, but users must physically hook up their device to enable Apple CarPlay or Android Auto tech.Safety and Driver-Assistance FeaturesMany driver-assistance technologies come standard on the Elantra N, though adaptive cruise control is unavailable.
- Standard Safety Features: automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist
For information about the Elantra N’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.Warranty and Maintenance CoverageThe Elantra N boasts Hyundai’s lengthy 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty as well as three years of complimentary maintenance—some of the best coverage around.
- Limited Warranty: five years or 60,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: ten years or 100,000 miles
- Complimentary Maintenance: three years or 36,000 miles
C/D Test Results and SpecsWe test hundreds of vehicles each year. Data in the chart below may be for a different model year, but remains correct if the current model is unchanged from when we last tested it.SpecificationsSpecifications
2023 Hyundai Elantra N Automatic
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $35,515/$35,515
Options: none
ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 122 in3, 1998 cm3
Power: 286 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 289 lb-ft @ 2100 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed dual-clutch automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 14.2-in vented disc/12.4-in vented disc
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
245/35ZR-19 (93Y) HN
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 107.1 in
Length: 184.1 in
Width: 71.9 in
Height: 55.7 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 56/46 ft3
Trunk Volume: 14 ft3
Curb Weight: 3313 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 4.8 sec
100 mph: 11.7 sec
1/4-Mile: 13.4 sec @ 106 mph
130 mph: 22.1 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 5.4 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.1 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 3.8 sec
Top Speed (C/D est): 155 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 161 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 324 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.96 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 21 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 37 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 450 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 23/20/30 mpg
2022 Hyundai Elantra N Manual
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $33,245/$33,245
Options: none
ENGINE
Turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 122 in3, 1998 cm3
Power: 276 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 289 lb-ft @ 2100 rpm
TRANSMISSION
6-speed manual
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 14.2-in vented disc/12.4-in vented disc
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
245/35ZR-19 (93Y) Extra Load HN
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 107.1 in
Length: 184.1 in
Width: 71.9 in
Height: 55.7 in
Passenger Volume: 99 ft3
Trunk Volume: 14 ft3
Curb Weight: 3199 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 5.1 sec
100 mph: 12.9 sec
1/4-Mile: 13.8 sec @ 103 mph
130 mph: 24.0 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 5.9 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 10.3 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 7.1 sec
Top Speed (C/D est): 155 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 156 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 318 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.99 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 21 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 32 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 390 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 25/22/31 mpg
C/D TESTING EXPLAINEDMore Features and Specs
Source: caranddriver.com
