By Chris Tropea
Dec 5, 2022
Hyundai has come a long way since the ’80s, but has the Korean carmaker finally produced something that outperforms the Honda Civic Type R?
We took the new Elantra N to the Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park, the official test track of Grassroots Motorsports, to find out.
Presented by CRC Industries.
12/2/22 6:29 p.m.
Sounds like a great car so I drop a request to my local Hyundai dealer - how much if I drop a deposit?
12/2/22 6:40 p.m.
Still less than the Type R tax.
(But if you want to throw a brick through the dealership's window just on principal I'll look the other way)
12/2/22 6:49 p.m.
Hyundai and Kia, generally speaking, have some of the absolute worst customer service. The good news is that Honda recognizes the rarity of the type R brand, and typically discontinues them after 2 or 3 years.
The "N" brand is relatively new and Hyundai doesn't seem super concerned with diluting their offerings. The veloster N got killed off pretty quickly, but "weird shaped hot hatches" is one of the few segments that's smaller than "weird shaped performance sedans"...I'd bet we see discounts on the Elantra N if they continue to produce it for a few more years...
12/2/22 8:31 p.m.
Very cool analysis. I've been watching Hyundai since the 2017 Elantra GT and appreciate the value they've brought to the segment.
12/2/22 8:37 p.m.
When you where doing the analysis was the blue/red numbers on the top screen Peak G for each trace?
Sounds like it's a pretty great car. And QUICK too.
12/2/22 10:24 p.m.
Not peak but momentary.
12/3/22 9:39 a.m.
I am currently sitting in a rented Hyundai SUV of some kind. I picked it up at the airport late last night and didn't really look at it other than to note it is brand new with less than 2,000 miles on it so I guess it's a 2022. That's the thing is, I started it and other than the tach registering it was hard to know that it was running because it was so smooth and quiet. I rolled down the window and revved it a couple of times and confirmed to myself I was not driving an ev. It is hands down the smoothest and quietest vehicle I have ever driven. The rest of it is not bad either although I only have maybe 30 minutes of night time driving so far.
12/3/22 2:25 p.m.
I have a 2022 Elantra N-Line 6M, and I love it. I have experience with two Hyundai dealers, and they were polar opposite. One was one of the worst experiences at a dealer, the other was fantastic. The fantastic one should be what all dealerships act like.
12/3/22 5:13 p.m.
I was thinking the other day that a Kia Soul with a Veloster/Elantra N drivetrain swap would be relatively straightforward and yield a stealth track rocket with some weight taken out and assuming the it can be suitably lowered with decent size rubber.
12/3/22 11:03 p.m.
In reply to Datsun310Guy :
I purchased my EN from Jermaine of St. Augustine at sticker and there was no hidden BS to contend with. 13,000 miles and 5 track days and as the song says "Lovin' every minute of it" I love the DCT... Just switched to a wheel and tire set-up that is about 40 lbs less unsprung weight so looking forward to Sebring in a couple of weeks
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