A Quick Drive In The 2024 Elantra N Proves Hyundai Can Close Budget Gaps With Fun

In the short time I recently spent behind the wheel of the refreshed 2024 Hyundai Elantra N, I quickly learned that the Korean automaker knows how to make a fun, track performer without breaking the bank. After its introduction to the market in 2022, Hyundai has dialed in the Elantra N further with motorsport-derived enhancements to improve performance, technology updates, and styling changes. Altogether, the 2024 Elantra N makes for a fun and comfortable daily driver.

Everything New On the 2024 Hyundai Elantra N

Focusing on updates to the 2024 Elantra N's performance, Hyundai made a fun car even better. According to the automaker, the refreshed Elantra N gets better components that reduce vibration and improve agility, make steering ability more controlled and precise, and suspension more rigid. Hyundai also says that the software on the Electronic Controlled Suspension has been updated to accommodate the hardware upgrades.

In addition to the mechanical changes, the Elantra N gets redesigned styling elements. In the front, the 2024 Elantra N receives an updated front bumper fascia and grille with larger air intakes, as well as dual-projector LED headlamps that give the sedan an edgier look than the prior model year. The Elantra N also gets new shoes with redesigned 19-inch forged alloy wheels, and a new rear bumper fascia and diffuser round out the Elantra N's styling updates.

Behind the Wheel of the 2024 Elantra N

I felt a little nostalgic when I got behind the wheel of the 2024 Hyundai Elantra N with a six-speed manual. The performance sedan exudes youth. It feels like you just got your license and it's the first time you get to drive your friend's modded Civic or Lancer and you let it rip. My first car had a manual transmission, so hopping in, I felt at home. I immediately noticed the driver's seat was comfortable and well-bolstered without pinching my shoulders or sides.

At startup, a burbly stock exhaust note fills the cabin with complimentary sounds of the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four cylinder engine well. Material quality around the cabin is okay but could benefit from more soft-touch pieces throughout. I found it disappointing that no sunroof is available on manual models.

As I exited the parking lot, it took me a second to get used to how the clutch feathered as the engine seemed to pre-rev a smidge to prevent stalling. Once I got my footwork in order, I found it to make take-offs easier. Off-the-line acceleration felt tame in normal mode, but even with 276 horsepower and 286 lb-ft of torque, I wanted more. Hyundai's N Mode, which is the Elantra N's most aggressive sport mode that allows the driver to customize the driving dynamics via the engine response, rev matching, electronic limited slip differential, suspension, electronic stability control, and exhaust sound, lets you get a little more out of the engine and transmission by adjusting the control logic of both.

I wished shifts with the six-speed manual felt shorter, but it doesn't take away from the fun. In normal mode, the Elantra N is fun but noticeably muted in sound and physical performance. I also could tell there was more rev hang between shifts. I gravitated to N Mode for the majority of my time in the Elantra N. There was much more auditory feedback from the turbocharged engine. Shifts were more crisp and rev matching made kickdowns much easier. Steering was stiff and direct, with little torque steer when launching. The Elantra N's suspension was also stiff, but absorbed harsh bumps sufficiently without making me cringe.

Price of the 2024 Elantra N

Pricing for the 2024 Hyundai Elantra N six-speed starts at $33,700. Of the six color options available, three do not include a premium, but the Performance Blue and Atlas White colors are $470 extra. Opting for the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission is a $1,500 up-charge. There is also a number of factory accessories that can add up to $530 to the Elantra N's price tag.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the 2024 Hyundai Elantra N is engaging and comfortable. It's a driver's car with a suite of setting choices that can make daily commutes as rambunctious as you wish. The Elantra N is cheaper than the Civic Type R and Toyota GR Corolla and offers comparable performance and grin-worthy fun.