Hyundai is one of those brands that have significantly changed how we view them. They went from making boring little family hatchbacks and sedans to making exciting enthusiast cars that most gearheads are looking forward to driving one day. The new Hyundai Elantra is a small sedan that just got redesigned in 2021 for its seventh generation. But we are here to talk about its all-new N version. The N series of Hyundai vehicles is the sports moniker given to Hyundai's sports vehicles, kinda like BMW’s M series.
The Elantra N is a $33,000 small to mid-size sedan designed to deliver 276 HP worth of enticing performance for enthusiasts who can’t afford a NISMO, an AMG, or an M car. It also comes with a generous list of standard and optional features, a roomy cabin with lots of comfort and convenience features. Despite its performance-oriented driving mechanics, the inline-4 is very fuel-efficient (35-37 mpg according to EPA) for its type. The handling of the Elantra N is very commendable, and the new redesign looks better than ever. In order to keep the asking price low, Hyundai deployed many cost-cutting measures. As a result, there is hard plastic to be found here and there. Overall, the Elantra N is a good value-for-money car for beginners. Still, the competition is stiff, and there are better and worse options. Here are 5 examples of either side.
10 Honda Civic Si
Both the new Honda Civic Si and Hyundai Elantra N are front-wheel-drive with a 6-speed manual, seat 5 people, have the same fuel tank capacity, and are identical in dimensions. The Elantra N’s inline-four makes 76 HP and about 100 lb-ft of torque more than the Civic Si.
But the Civic’s way more fuel-efficient, more than 250 lbs lighter, the torque comes in earlier, offers a bit more cargo space, and costs about $4,500 less. But the main thing here is Honda’s trustworthiness. The Civic is just slightly less performing, but way more reliable than the Hyundai. Plus you can mod the hell out of it so the performance disadvantage is not permanent.
9 Kia K5 GT
Hyundai’s other brand, Kia offers something similar in the K5, especially its GT trim. They boast the same basic warranty and the difference in price is less than a thousand bucks. However, the K5 has a better range thanks to a bigger fuel tank and slightly better mpg.
The K5 GT is also bigger, and hence, more spacious than the Elantra N. If the K5 is bigger and more fuel-efficient then it’s gotta be slower, right? Not really, the Inline-4 in the Kia makes more HP and produces more torque than the parent company’s counterpart. If you’re fine with an automated manual, then the K5 is a slightly better choice here.
8 Toyota Camry TRD
Just like the Civic, the Camry has been here for a long time, and its reliability and longevity are part of the reason we’d pick it over the Elantra N. It used to be a mild, practical family sedan, but the TRD is anything but mild. The V6 inside it makes 301 HP and 267 lb-ft of torque.
The mpg numbers are similar, it has good seats, and the steering & visibility make it easy to drive. The Camry also comes equipped with an extensive list of driver safety features as standard.
7 Mazda6 Grand Touring
Keeping up with the tradition of affordable Japanese sports sedans, let’s take a look at Mazda. Beauty is subjective, and both are good-looking cars, but the Mazda just exudes class on a different level.
We already know how reliable Mazdas are, and the Grand Touring trim’s turbo engine delivers marginally less HP but more torque so the car is quicker off the line. The fuel economy is similar, but the Mazda has a bigger fuel tank. While the handling is not as lively as the Miata, it's still pretty good and exciting for a 4 dr sedan.
6 Subaru WRX STI
If there’s one thing Subaru knows so well, it’s how to make great handling sports cars. Once you drive a WRX STI, we can almost guarantee that other cars in the same segment will feel comparatively bland. The WRX is slightly costlier, coming in at around $38,000.
But we feel like the extra money is worth the AWD technology, more power from its punchy, turbocharged flat-four engine, and an amazing handling experience. The redesign for 2022 is believed to change things up, and it’s a hotly anticipated compact sedan we’re eager to drive.
5 Buick Regal Sportback Avenir
If cars like the GNX are anything to go by, it can be said that Buick knows how to make a captivating car that’ll outshine the competition through sheer badassery. But it looks like they missed their mark when making the Regal Sportback.
The Avenir or the Essence trims are closely priced as the Elantra N. But that’s where the good similarities end. The Regal Sportback is slower, heavier, and yet the fuel efficiency is not better than the Elantra N. Buick’s automatic engine stop-start system can be annoying in city traffic, and the handling is not as exciting as we expect.
4 Volkswagen Passat R-Line
2022 marks the final production year for the Volkswagen Passat. The Passat spans four generations and has seen the streets since 1990. While it’s got a comfortable ride and plenty of backseat room and cargo space, there’s an issue.
The Passat, for its asking price of $30,000, is not as powerful or sharp as it should be. Not only is it underpowered, but the fuel economy or luxury features also are not enough to make up for it. The Passat has had a good history over the years, but it couldn’t go out on the highest note possible.
3 Nissan Altima VC-T SR
The VC-T SR trim is sold as the sport version of this affordable sedan. The car is perfectly fine for a family sedan, but to consider buying one over the Elantra N is a tough decision. The interior quality of the Altima is inferior, the outward visibility is poor due to thick pillar roofs, and the steering doesn’t feel connected to the road.
There are some minor issues like the poor resolution of the backup camera, that make it even harder to recommend it over other cars. On top of that, despite Nissan making their CVT better over the years, it's still no match.
2 Honda Accord Touring
The Accord is in its tenth generation right now, and we have known it to be a decent sedan for a long time now. The 2022 model is similar to the current 2021 iteration so the same stuff is found here. There are advanced driver safety aids fitted as standard, the ‘Touring’ trim has a powerful and fuel-efficient engine, the interior is big and beautiful, and the handling is fun.
But for the asking price of $38,000, the Accord is a great family sedan, but it cannot offer the same experience as the Elantra N so we wouldn't recommend it over the Hyundai.
1 Mazda 3 2.5 Turbo
Mazda 3 is another example of a perfectly good sedan that gets outshined by somewhat better cars. The 2.5 Turbo trim is very fast thanks to a 227 HP Inline-4 and AWD. The interior design and materials feel premium and sharp handling makes it fun to drive. The Carbon Edition looks amazing.
But there are problems too. The legroom is mediocre, the manual transmission is dearly missed, and the cargo capacity leaves us wanting more. All this is even more comprehensive when the Mazda 6 is available, which is better.