Materials quality is good for its price, with substantial soft-touch surfaces where it matters, and the various switchgear and controls are laid out in a very clean manner—as is its infotainment system, which is lag-free. Conveniently, there’s a grab handle carved into the center console for the front-seat passenger. Finally, the N’s spacious interior translates to good overall visibility from a sporty driving position; you don’t sit up high but rather down in it, as any good sport compact ought to be.
Going for a spin
I had the opportunity to drive the 2024 Hyundai Elantra N to my heart’s content on canyon roads around Monterey, California, as well as through a short autocross course. First things first: Hyundai nailed one of the top marks of a good sport compact: its sense of occasion.
The direct-injected 2.0 L turbocharged four-cylinder engine sprang to life with a light baritone rasp, sounding eager to get on with it and revving freely.
Credit:
Peter Nelson
Developed by driving enthusiasts for driving enthusiasts.
Credit:
Peter Nelson
Its enthusiasm was contagious. Pulling out onto the main road, the Elantra N’s engine revved up like a classic, angry turbo-four and double-timed once the tach needle swept past 4,500 rpm. The shifter possessed excellent spring and notch, albeit a longer throw than I’d prefer. The clutch was awfully light and uniform throughout its entire travel, proving hard to make smooth gas/clutch transactions. The gas and brake pedal positioning didn’t make for easy heel-toe downshifting, either—auto rev-match is almost a necessity, which might not sit well with purists.
Once on a proper canyon road, the joyful Elantra’s rarin’-to-go character shone through. Hyundai says the engine’s 276 hp (206 kW) and 285 lb-ft (386 Nm) will propel it to 60 mph (98 km/h) in just over five seconds. Based on how full throttle in second gear felt, I believe that. It’s an entertaining power curve, and the six-speed manual’s gearing matches it well. Economy is rated at 20 mpg (11.8 L/100 km) city, 27 mpg (8.7 L/100 km) highway, and 23 mpg (10.2 L/100 km) combined for the manual, and 21, 29, and 24 mpg (11.2, 8.1, and 9.8 L/100 km) respectively, for the DCT.
