Hyundai made a bold move by launching the N sub-brand in 2012. It’s unlikely to find unfavorable reviews of any Hyundai model bearing the “N” badge, as these vehicles are renowned for their exceptional performance and handling, suggesting that any N Line or N-branded model will deliver a fun experience, regardless of the car’s category.
A representative case is the Elantra, a compact sedan commonly seen in rental fleets and university parking lots, which has regained its appeal with the N trim level.
The 2025 Hyundai Elantra N is a sporty compact sedan that combines performance and functionality, all while exuding a touch of elegance.
Hyundai Elantra N’s sporty
The model reviewed in this evaluation, as seen in the images, features a sophisticated Ultimate Red exterior (at a cost of $500) with the signature N design, including a rear diffuser with large dual exhaust outlets and a black rear spoiler.
Additionally, it features 19-inch black alloy wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires and highly effective N brake calipers in a bright red finish.
The vehicle’s overall appearance clearly conveys its on-road performance. The Elantra N sits low, with a curved front end that reminded me of a nurse shark, a friendly species of shark. Its low profile appears to have been sculpted with great precision, while the rear end rises slightly to give it an athletic stance.
The car’s low, angled roofline requires a bit of flexibility to get into the Elantra. However, the interior offers more space than its exterior appearance suggests, as evidenced when two people over 1.80 meters tall settled into the rear seats.
They both made a few funny noises before settling into position, but were surprised to find that their heads didn’t touch the roof and their knees didn’t bump against the seatback. The trunk space is also surprisingly spacious for a compact sedan.
The N Light Sport bucket seats don’t immediately impress with their comfort. They’re as stiff as an ironing board, which might make you doubt their lower back support. However, just like with a new pair of cowboy boots, the initial discomfort quickly fades.
I never felt any back discomfort or experienced circulation problems during four-hour trips to another city. Additionally, the “N” logo on the seats lights up, adding visual appeal at nite.
The small rear window gives the impression of looking thru a periscope. This limits visibility of low-slung vehicles, such as a Mazda Miata, or of a small child. Fortunately, the Elantra comes standard with a system that prevents cross-traffic collisions both front and rear, alerting you if something or someone gets in your way while navigating a public parking lot. It also includes the safety features you’d expect from a modern car, such as blind-spot monitoring, a rearview camera with parking sensors, and cruise control with lane-keeping assist.
The Elantra N’s engine is the same one used in the Hyundai Veloster N hatchback, which was discontinued in 2022: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This engine produces 276 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed manual transmission (recommended) or an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic (at a cost of ,500). The model analyzed in this review had the automatic transmission.
The car makes it easy to perform by means of an “N” button on the steering wheel that unlocks its full potential. I found it curious that the steering wheel has two buttons labeled “N” to switch between sport and normal modes, which I assume was a design decision to maintain symmetry.
Beside the sport mode button, there’s another one on the steering wheel, glowing red, that says “NGS.” This button activates N Grin Shift mode, a system paired with the dual-clutch automatic transmission that adds 10 extra horsepower, thereby optimizing acceleration from the get-go.
This mode can only be activated when the engine is warm, and it makes a considerable difference in the Elantra’s responsiveness, especially when pressing the accelerator all the way down and experiencing shifts like those of a much more expensive sports car.
The exhaust note, in both normal and sport mode, delivers a pleasant auditory experience that accentuates the thrill of acceleration. You never get used to how light and fast this car is, which is a very good thing.
The purpose of the Elantra N is to deliver the thrill of a high-performance sports car on winding roads at a reasonable price. During the evaluation, I inscribed