As car enthusiasts, there are certain models we always look forward to testing. And as people living in the real world, we get even more excited when it’s an affordable ride.

Right now is a great time to be a penny-pinching car lover – especially if you need 4-doors, with great choices including the Honda Civic Si and Type R, VW GTI and Jetta GLI, Toyota GR Corolla and the Mazda 3.

And let’s not forget the Hyundai Elantra N. The maker’s N division (kind of like BMW’s M division) got our attention with such road burners as the Veloster N and Kona N, and now we have the Elantra N (and Ioniq 5N EV), and it’s so much fun that we jumped at the chance to spend time in one again.

All Sharp Angles and Aggressiveness

The Elantra N has been with us since 2022, and the 2024 model got a notable refresh. For 2026, the lineup is pretty much unchanged. Which is fine by us, as the Elantra is a handsome and bold design.

Up front, the look is aligned with Hyundai’s direction that seems to be melding their EV models with the gas-powered ones. A sweeping horizontal look with slim LED headlights feels fresh, while the lower and side grilles look ready to feed lots of air to the hungry turbo motor under the hood. We also like the contrasting red trim at the bottom of the grille that adds some visual pop.

 If you like origami, you’ll love the N’s sharp profile, with a prominent high shoulder line, angular cut-ins on the doors, and more cut-ins at the bottom of the doors. Contrasting red trim on the lower side moldings continues the theme from the front. The biggest visual pop comes from glossy, blacked-out 19-inch forged alloy wheels, with massive red calipers poking out beneath. Wrapped in grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires, the look is aggressive and track-ready.

 The rear changes continue the sharp-angled design with a large rear spoiler and angled brake lights, featuring an LED strip that runs the width of the back. Adding some class, E L A N T R A is spelled out in block letters, and a blacked-out lower fascia with more red trim. Our favorite part of the rearview has to be the massive dual exhaust pipes poking out beneath, promising real power. The finishing touch was our tester’s optional Cyber Gray paint, a light cement tone that looks elegant and really sets off the black and red trim on the Elantra’s exterior. Look for the upcoming 2027 Elantra (and its inevitable N model) to enhance its spunky character.

Driver’s Cockpit

Open the door, and you feel a little like you’re getting into your own fighter jet.

Things feel upscale and personal right away with deeply-bolstered front sport seats, with some added cred, with cut-outs in the backrest for a racing harness, and a cool little N logo that lights up –especially cool at night!

Rear seating is very spacious, and Hyundai says it offers among the best room in its class. That’s the good news. The quest for performance tempers that, with a large cross brace behind the rear seats that looks bitchin’ but makes it difficult to take advantage of the full length of the cargo area with the rear seatback folded down. Trunk space is quite good, however.

One thing you will notice is the use of hard plastics in the interior, a reminder that the N is built on the affordable Elantra, and it also keeps the N affordable. That’s really our only complaint, as the rest of the interior punches above its class.

You get the popular wall-o-information dual digital displays that are handsome and could easily be found in a BMW. The driver’s digital gauge display gives you a handsome rendition of a traditional 8,000-rpm tach and 180-mph speedometer!  

The gauges themselves change color with mode, and when you hit the N button on the steering wheel, you even get a dedicated sport cluster with a single large tachometer in the center – very Porsche-like! Key performance readouts on the side give info that would come in handy at the track.

But there’s a whole lot more available on N, including a series of performance N displays and controls, including individual control of key performance features, launch control, and you can even swipe the screen and get lap timers for select racetracks!

The second part of the dual display is equally impressive with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with navigation and a wireless charging pad below. Rather than overloading the touchscreen with features, Hyundai shows good common sense with easy-to-use buttons for many of the infotainment features and even serves up a volume knob.

Below that, a dedicated climate control system makes it easy to get comfy, with more dedicated buttons for things like heated seats, recirculating air and defroster within easy reach.

It’s all tactile and nice and makes for a perfect flow as your hand falls down to the nicely sized manual shift knob. Adding to the sporty vibe, the right-hand side of the center console features a grab handle – sure to be appreciated by your passenger when you start enjoying the N’s impressive performance capabilities.

N-Tastic!

Of course, all of this is just icing on the cake – the Elantra N is an awesome performance machine.

It starts with a wonderful, 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder serving up 276 horsepower and 289 lb.-feet of torque at just over 2,000 rpm. Kick it over and the engine starts with a deep “whump” and settles in a deep, dark gurgle that will make any owner smile.

If you live in close proximity to neighbors, you can dial up some quieter exhaust choices, all the way up to crackling, popping, look-at-me type of stuff. We found we liked the middle settings, throaty and responsive but not obnoxious.

Speaking of sound, the N adds a virtual engine sound into the cabin that not only simulates sounds from Hyundai Motorsports, such as TCR race cars, but also has an equalizer function that allows adjustment of details for each range (whine, throat, bass) to personal preference.

While we’ve driven Elantra N models before, this is our first time with the 6-speed manual. A couple notes: the available 8-speed sequential automatic may be the racer’s choice, as it’s faster (0-60 in 4.8 sec!) and features an overboost function that gives you 286 horsepower for a short time

That said, the manual transmission model is plenty fast; we’re guessing 0-60 mph in the high fives, and there’s a sense of connection you only get from a stick. On the manual transmission model, the red REV button on the steering wheel serves up auto rev-matching for seamless downshifts, and even though this tech isn’t that new anymore, it’s still amazing. And we might add the launch control function adds to the fun!

 The shifter is smooth and direct, and the clutch is light making even rush hour traffic pretty painless. It even has a hill hold feature, so you want roll back on an incline when pulling away from a stop. Good stuff.

And that’s just the beginning of the N’s magic, with a superb chassis to match that lovely engine. While this is a Front Wheel Drive car, there’s little torque steer noticed, and steering is precise and quick. Nudge it into Sport Mode, and the steering gets heavier but really doesn’t improve feel – you just get a better workout. Thankfully you can go into the individual settings and get the standard, preferable steering paired up with the other sport settings.

And that brings another point worth mentioning: the incredible customization that’s available to the driver. You can individually adjust engine, steering, suspension, rev matching, electronic Limited Slip Differential and exhaust sounds. Wow!

That electronic LSD is part of the Corner Carving Differential that reduces torque steer – a big deal on a high-power front-wheel-drive car. Adjustable suspension settings let you choose comfy ECO and Normal modes that are just right for daily drive, and a focused Sport setting for track days, autocross, or when you’re feeling frisky. It reminds us of the VW GTI we tested – a great all-arounder that serves up the driving experience as you like.

All that go and turning goodness makes you thankful for those massive brakes poking through the alloy wheels. Braking is strong, linear and easy to modulate.

On another side, we’ve seen that the Elantra N has become very popular with enthusiasts doing track days and the like, and the N has earned a reputation of being very stout, with few if any weaknesses – truly an arrive-and-drive kind of car. That’s impressive!

How Much for the E-Ticket N model?

Here’s where being part of the Hyundai brand pays big benefits. For reference, you garden-variety Elantra sedan starts at $22,825.  No, it’s nowhere near an N model, but it shows that being built off an affordable sedan helps create an affordable enthusiast car.

Our tester was the entry-level N model and started at $35,100. With the sole option being Cyber Gray paint ($500) and $1,245 for Destination, we rang the bell at $36,485. (If you opt for the 8-speed DCT automatic, it includes a sunroof and adds a quite reasonable $1,500). Another benefit of being part of the Hyundai family – the Elantra N features a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty – nice with the turbo motor and all that advanced tech on board.

Competitors are interesting. Performance-wise, the N fits in the middle ground between the 200-hp, Honda Civic Si ($33,145) and the much more expensive 315-hp Type R ($49,045). Both great driving cars, but to be noted, neither Honda is available with an automatic, if that matters to you.

We also like the VW GTI a lot, at $35,865 for the S model, you get a standard DSG automatic (manual transmission is no longer available on the GTI!) and a 241-hp, turbo 4-cylinder. It’s a joy to drive, and the hatchback body style makes it eminently practical.

One note: if you want something like a Sunroof and some of the other goods that are standard on the Elantra N, the GTI’s price jumps up an eye-watering $4,500, putting it close to $40k. Not a knock on the VW, as much as evidence of the Elantra N’s impressive value.

With thrilling performance, loads of features, a super warranty and excellent value, the 2026 Hyundai Elantra N remains our favorite affordable sport sedan!