The Hyundai Elantra N proves what many people already know: drivers want a car that’s fun, engaging, and affordable. This car is hot and ready to trot.
During the month of May, sales for the Elantra N rose141 percent, spurning growth for the entire brand. The brand was up eight percent and the Elantra model as a whole is up 18 percent so far this year compared to 2024. The Elantra N is an accessible, performance-based version of the brand’s compact sedan, making it an easy choice for many drivers to have the experience they want when its time to get behind the wheel and go for a drive.
Hyundai has reason to celebrate
The impressive sales percentages for the Elantra N are certainly enough reason to celebrate at the Fountain Valley, CA headquarters, but the brand has even more reason to throw a huge party. Since arriving in the United States in 1986, Hyundai has finally reached 17 million vehicles sold. There are six nameplates that top the list and have sold more than one million vehicles each: Sonata, Tucson, Santa Fe, Elantra, Accent, and Excel. Of these, only the Excel is no longer offered. The Elantra is the second-best-selling Hyundai in recent years, behind the Tucson, but still occupies the top spot for the brand.
The Elantra N reaches 15,741 models sold during May, which was a massive increase compared to the same time a year ago.
How much will you pay for the Elantra N?
The base price for the Hyundai Elantra N is $34,350, which is certainly a bargain price for a performance car. This gives you a car that’s extremely fun to drive, has an electronic suspension, electronic center differential, variable valve exhaust, N Grin drive modes, summer performance tires, and a few other goodies to make this car go fast and handle turns like a high-powered sports car. If you don’t want the manual transmission, you can have a dual-clutch automatic for only $1,500 more. This makes the Elantra N one of the most accessible performance cars you’ll find.
By comparison, the Subaru WRX starts at $37,750 and has less power, while the Honda Civic Si begins at $30,250, but it also has much less power and doesn’t come with an automatic transmission version. If you look at the Volkswagen Jetta GLI, you’ll spend a little less, at $32,715, but will also receive much less power than the Elantra N.
Considering the competition can’t keep up, it’s easy to see why the Elantra N has become so popular.
What powers the Elantra N?
The beating heart of this affordable performance machine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that sends 276 horsepower to the wheels. If you select the N Grin Shift mode, which is essentially an overboost feature, you’ll have 286 horsepower on tap. This car also delivers 289 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels, making this a small but mighty beast on the road.
The Hyundai Elantra N can rocket to 60 MPH in 4.8 seconds and complete a quarter mile in 13.4 seconds at 106 MPH. These are highly respectable numbers, and the 155 MPH top speed rounds out the trio of excellent performance figures for this unlikely sports car.
The experience
When you get behind the wheel, you’ll hear a sonorous exhaust note that makes your adrenaline rush with anticipation for what’s about to happen. The sharp throttle response, crisp handling, and impressive driving manners make it easy to see why this car has enjoyed exponentially increasing sales. The more you drive this car, the more it will be the sport compact sedan that you love whenever you’re ready to feel like you did when you first got your driver’s license.
Going inside
Hyundai created a cockpit-like style for the Elantra, even models that don’t wear the N badge. This made it easy for the performance-based model to be racier and more exciting than other Elantra models. The interior is enhanced by leather-trimmed sport seats with aggressive bolsters, metal-accented pedals, and N badges everywhere you look. If you have to carry passengers, you can. There’s plenty of room in the rear for passengers, and the trunk is large and provides you with more space for cargo than you’ll find in most performance sedans.
Does the Hyundai Elantra N sound like a car you want to drive? Its become a popular choice, and for many good reasons. If you’re looking for a car that’s affordable, fun, and exciting, this could be the perfect choice.