Same Body, Totally Different Car: The 2024 Hyundai Elantra N

If this car looks familiar, it's because there was one that looked a lot like it that I reviewed in February. That was the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, a 139-horsepower marriage of combustion and electrons that the EPA says is good for 49 miles per gallon city/52 highway...and that I squeezed 61.2 mpg out of without really trying.

This is also a Hyundai Elantra---but one with an entirely different mission and attitude.

This is the 2024 Hyundai Elantra N and that is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque. It puts the power down to its front wheels via an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters.

It has an electronically controlled suspension, a multi-link independent rear suspension, an electronic limited-slip differential, NGS (N Grin Control System) drive mode select, a sport exhaust system with variable valve positions, and rear chassis bracing. It rides on 19-inch forged wheels with Michelin Pilot 4S summer tires, and has big (14.2-inch front and 12.4-inch rear) ventilated brake rotors with big red calipers.

It'll do 0-60 in 4.8 seconds and has a top speed of 155 miles per hour. And an EPA fuel economy estimate of 20 mpg city/27 highway.

Beyond that, it's just as practical as an Elantra hybrid---14.2 cubic feet of trunk space and 38 inches of rear seat legroom.

With a base price of $35,200 ($36,350 with destination), the 2024 Hyundai Elantra N includes heated side mirror with turn signal indicators, LED headlights, daytime running lights and taillights, a power sunroof, rear wing spoiler, navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Bose premium audio system with a 90-day SiriusXM satellite radio trial, Hyundai digital key, alloy sport pedals and door sill plates, a bench folding rear seatback, dual automatic temperature control, heated front seats, mechanical parking brake, N-light sport bucket seats with illuminated N logo, N-exclusive leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, proximity key with pushbutton start, and a tire mobility kit.

Hyundai's one price per trim level philosophy applies to the Elantra N, too. The only extra-cost option on our vehicle was the Atlas White paint ($470), so the as-tested price comes to $36,820.

That is a bargain-basement price for that level of performance and feature content, and living proof that a humble subcompact sedan can be a legitimate sports car with the right equipment.