The 2023 Hyundai Elantra N is a fun, feature-packed, and spirited sedan that delivers great performance with a surprising amount of versatility. If you're willing to overlook its few downsides, this perky little Hyundai will reward you with an entertaining and engaging driving experience.
Excess
Powerful turbo four-engine
Athletic handling
Decent fuel economy
Straightforward infotainment system
The 2023 Hyundai Elantra N's #2 ranking is based on its score in the Compact Sports Car category. Currently, the Hyundai Elantra N has a score of 8.4 out of 10 based on our assessment of 9 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
The 2023 Elantra N is a very nice car. It comes with a nimble and well-tuned turbo-four engine and has athletic handling, lots of standard features, and a fairly spacious and comfortable cabin. It also offers decent fuel economy estimates. However, cargo space is decent, and some of the cabin's building materials look and feel cheap. Ride quality is quite firm, though not overly uncomfortable.
The Elantra N is a well-rounded small-performance car that's sure to please drivers with its nimble handling, powerful four-turbo engine, and four-door versatility. It's also very good value, with plenty of standard performance, technology, and comfort. If you want a nicer interior, more horsepower, and more cargo space, a performance hatchback like the Toyota GR Corolla or Honda Civic Type R is worth checking out. Please note that this vehicle is more expensive than the Hyundai. The Subaru WRX has a similarly powerful engine, and like the GR Corolla, it comes standard with all-wheel drive, but its infotainment system isn't as intuitive as the Hyundai's, and its gas mileage is worse.
The 2023 Elantra N starts at $32,900. It is equipped with a 276-horsepower turbo-four engine, a six-speed manual transmission (automatic is available), and front-wheel drive. Trim-exclusive amenities include performance components such as a limited-slip front differential, rear strut brace, and adaptive suspension. It also comes with technology, comfort, and driver assistance features such as leather and synthetic suede seats, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, navigation, a Bose audio system, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, and more.
The cost of insuring a Hyundai Elantra N will depend on a variety of factors, including your deductible, the level of coverage you want, and the type of insurance you choose. Your age, gender, location, credit score, and driving record can also impact your insurance rates. Check out our car insurance guide to find the best policy for you.
Hyundai Elantra N vs. Honda Civic Type R
The Honda Civic Type R lives up to its reputation as a tough hot hatch thanks to its precise handling, powerful engine, and racy, solid cabin. The Elantra N beats the Elantra N in terms of engine output, cargo capacity, and cabin quality, but both cars offer nimble handling and a wide range of standard technology, comfort, and driver assistance features. The Type R is a fantastic car overall and outperforms the Elantra N in some ways, but you'll pay a premium to drive it home: The Honda's base MSRP is about $10,000 more than the Hyundai's starting price.
Hyundai Elantra N vs. Toyota GR Corolla
The Toyota GR Corolla is a strong competitor in the small performance car segment. The Toyota hatchback has a slightly higher starting MSRP than the Elantra N — and can top $50,000 on higher trims — but the higher price tag may be worth it for many buyers. Compared to the Elantra N, the GR Corolla has a more powerful engine, a nicer interior, a comparable list of standard features, and standard all-wheel drive (the Elantra N is front-wheel drive only). Among some of Toyota's weaknesses are the lack of an automatic transmission option and limited availability. Still, it's a must-try if you're looking for a fresh and practical hot hatch.
2023 Elantra N Engine
The 2023 Elantra N comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic is also available. Front-wheel drive is standard on all models.
The Elantra N's big turbo-four propels this little Hyundai off the line quickly, and speed delivery remains strong and linear once you reach highway speeds. You can even select a launch control mode that provides a 10-horsepower boost for a short time. The manual transmission works well, but some critics say it could be a little smoother and quicker. The slick dual-clutch automatic gets most of the good marks and delivers the vehicle's fastest zero-to-60 times.
2023 Elantra N Fuel Mileage
The 2023 Elantra N offers above-average fuel economy for a small-performance car. When equipped with the manual transmission, EPA estimates reach 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. Models with the automatic get 20/30 mpg city/highway.
2023 Elantra N Ride and Handling
The Elantra N provides drivers with an enjoyable driving experience, thanks in large part to the Elantra's balanced, communicative steering and excellent road feel. Carving corners is a thing of excellence in this peppy sports sedan, and its nimble handling provides plenty of opportunity to attack mountain corners or twisty forest roads with gusto. The Elantra N has a firm ride quality, but it's not overly taxing on long trips. The performance brakes are easy to modulate and quickly bring this Hyundai to a stop.
How Fast is the 2023 Elantra N?
Hyundai hasn't provided an official zero-to-60 time for the 2023 Elantra N, but independent outlets report a time of around 6 seconds on models with a manual transmission. Models with automatic transmissions are even faster, capable of reaching 60 mph in about 5 seconds. The Elantra N has a top speed of 155 mph.
Elantra N Interior: Soup Style
2023 Elantra N Interior Quality
The 2023 Elantra N's interior is a mixed bag. The seats look good, the infotainment suite is sleek, and the aesthetic is attractive and sporty. On the other hand, the abundance of hard plastic makes the car feel a little cheap. Fit and finish are mostly good, but some critics report creaking interior panels.
2023 Elantra N Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation
The Elantra N has a feature-packed infotainment system that looks great and works well. The touchscreen is responsive and displays sharp graphics, as well as an easy-to-navigate menu interface. There are also plenty of physical knobs and buttons for quick audio and climate adjustments.
Standard infotainment features: 10.25-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, wireless device charging, Wi-Fi hot spot, satellite radio, HD Radio, voice recognition, Bluetooth, eight-speaker Bose audio system and two USB ports
Additional standard features: 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, dual-zone automatic climate control, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, remote start, Hyundai Digital Key, and ambient LED interior lighting
Another available feature: sunroof
2023 Elantra N Cargo Space
The Elantra N has an average amount of cargo space for a compact car. The trunk offers up to 14.2 cubic feet of space, which is enough to accommodate two people's luggage on a weekend. However, the trunk has a small opening, and the rear strut supports are located at the rear of the trunk. The clamp makes it difficult for long items to pass when the rear seats are folded.
How Many People Can Sit in a 2023 Elantra N?
The Elantra N can accommodate five people. The front sports seats are comfortable and supportive, and the sides hug passengers without feeling too snug. There's also plenty of head and legroom up front, and visibility is good. The rear seats are comfortable enough, and legroom is ample, but taller adults may feel cramped due to the Elantra's sloping roofline.
2023 Elantra N and Child Car Seats
There are two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats and a tether anchor for the rear center seat. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave this LATCH system the second-highest rating of Acceptable due to its ease of use because the lower anchor sits too deep in the seat.
2023 Elantra N Crash Test Results
Neither the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has fully tested the 2023 Elantra N, but the NHTSA gave the Audi five out of five stars in its rollover test.
2023 Elantra N Safety Features
Standard driver assistance features:
Rear camera
Forward collision warning
Automatic emergency braking on the front
Pedestrian detection
Lane departure warning
Lane-keeping assistance
Blind-spot monitoring
Rear cross-traffic alert
Driver attention monitoring
High-range automatic headlights
Rear parking sensors
Vehicle exit warning (exit warning passengers to vehicles approaching from behind)
2023 Hyundai Elantra N Models and Trims
The 2023 Hyundai Elantra N comes in one trim and body style (sedan) and is priced from $32,900. It comes with a 276-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, front-wheel drive, 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive suspension, limited-slip front differential, launch control, performance brakes, rear chassis brace, and rear wing. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic is available for $1,500.
Standard features include synthetic leather and suede upholstery, heated front sport seats, 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, 10.25-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, wireless device charging, Wi-Fi hot spot, satellite radio, HD Radio, voice recognition, Bluetooth, eight-speaker Bose audio system, two USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, remote start, Hyundai Digital Key and ambient LED interior lighting.
Standard driver assistance features include a rearview camera, forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitoring, high-speed auto monitoring headlights, rear parking sensors, and vehicle exit warning.
The only notable option is a sunroof, which is included if you opt for the $1,500 dual-clutch automatic transmission.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked the best cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our staff has more than 75 years of combined experience in the automotive industry.
This 2023 Elantra N review combines nine professional reviews with concrete data like performance specs, fuel economy estimates, and safety ratings, and incorporates research that can be applied to all models in this generation, launching in 2022. See excerpts from some of the reviews featured to drive our rankings and analysis.
