Is The 2024 Hyundai Elantra N Line The Best Sub-$30k Sports Sedan?

Hyundai’s 2024 Elantra N Line features a sharper exterior design

The Hyundai Elantra has been one of the finest-looking cars in the compact sedan segment, impressively blending aggression with premium design cues. Hyundai, however, upgrades its aesthetics with a crucial refresh, giving the car a much-needed makeover.

While the Elantra N Line features a handful of upgrades, for those in the know, the more you gaze at it, the more you’ll unravel about its subtle evolution. The fascia mainly showcases a handful of additions; the headlights look leaner and more aggressive than the outgoing model, with bulging body lines running on the hood, both bestowing a sinister vibe.

Also, the bumper and grille design are all new; the previous trapezoidal grille is replaced by a wider intake combined with a honey-comb grille to add a sportier touch. The fascia also adds a new bumper with bigger intakes, working in tandem with the larger grill to motivate more airflow.

Head to the rear, and you’ll see a familiar profile with sharper taillamps and a new bumper underneath. The N Line adds an athletic touch with a sporty bumper, integrating a diffuser and a dual exhaust system mated with a lip-rear spoiler. The lower profile is dominated by 18-inch unique N-exclusive alloy wheels draped to Hankook Ventus S1 all-season tires, providing capable grip for most driving scenarios.

Outpacing the competition

If you’re seeking a sports sedan with more power than the typical Elantra trims, Hyundai got your back with its Elantra N Line to deliver superior acceleration and an engaging driving experience.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra N Line’s 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four engine generates 201 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 195 pound-feet of torque available from 1500 rpm, with power going to the front wheels via a seven-speed automatic gearbox. The seven-speed DCT automatic gearbox is designed with shorter gear ratios that work closely to give you faster, smoother shifts and can efficiently hold the power in higher revs. It also features paddle shifters for optimal convenience when shifting gears.

This makes it swift off the line, catapulting from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds and a quarter-mile arriving in just 14.5 seconds. Besides the perky acceleration, the turbo-four is respectably efficient, returning 28 mpg in the city and 36 on highways.

In comparison, the Honda Civic Si brings a 200-horsepower 1.5-liter turbo inline-four unit with a six-speed stick shift. Speaking of which, it’s slightly slower than the Elantra N Line, taking 6.8 seconds for 0-60 mph and 15.1 seconds for a quarter-mile.

Driver-centric interior with a myriad of creature comforts and technology

The 2024 Elantra N Line complements its restyled exterior design with a refreshed interior fitted with some new features. We find the dashboard layout similar to the 2023 model, but it looks plushier because of the finer materials. Most cabin parts are covered with soft-touch artificial leather to reduce the noise and vibration levels plus improve the look and feel.

The interior offers up to 99.4 cubic feet of room, making it the same as before in terms of space. Therefore, you get 38.7 and 42.3 inches of head and legroom with 37.3 inches of rear headroom and 38 inches of rear legroom, making both rows quite spacious.

As you expect from a sports sedan, the cockpit supports you with N Line-exclusive sports seats with power and HVAC features. Again, if you compare the specs with the Civic Si, the N Line outshines its rival.

If you’re seated in the cockpit, you’ll undoubtedly love the 21-inch curved cockpit display, seamlessly integrating two 10.25-inch displays. Once you take command, you’re treated with a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster, replacing the outgoing MID. There is also a 10.25-inch touchscreen, running on the previous interface but offering crisp graphics.

The infotainment system brings wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, dynamic voice recognition, and HD Radio. There is also an eight-speaker Bose stereo set providing a premium audio experience.

Best-in-class safety ratings and advanced safety aids

Hyundai knows many Americans value safety and look for a car with stellar safety besides being stylish and fast. Therefore, Hyundai commits to including its name among the safest car brands to earn a strong reputation.

One of the best things that can happen to a model year is improved safety ratings, and that’s the case with the 2024 Elantra. Unlike the 2023 model, the 2024 Elantra receives the Top Safety Pick+ title from the IIHS, increasing its safety standards. This provides you with more protection during a collision or a mishappening.

The N Line, the second-costliest trim in the lineup, also gets some unique cutting-edge driver assist features. This includes Smart Cruise Control to automatically accelerate, decelerate, and forward collision avoidance with pedestrian, cyclist, and tri-junction detection to sense any obstacle while driving. The suite also brings Level-2 autonomous driving with Lane Keeping/Follow Assist with Highway Drive Assist to pamper you with hands-free driving on highways.

Additionally, the N Line gets blindspot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert to inform you about other vehicles running at your blindspots and motivate safer driving.

A competitively-priced alternative

Let’s talk about the most essential aspects – pricing and value. The 2024 Hyundai Elantra N Line starts at $28,315, making it the second-costliest trim in the lineup. Yet, hear us out - we feel it’s worth every penny.

The N Line delivers the performance the lower models can’t without heavily compromising on fuel economy. While it doesn’t offer the punch that the flagship Elantra N boasts, the N Line still adds decent zest if you’re a high-spirited driver.

In comparison, its main rival, the 2024 Honda Civic Si, costs $29,100, making it $785 costlier than the latter. While it sports a larger engine, power outputs are lesser than the N Line.

On the other hand, Volkswagen’s Jetta GLI starts at $28,085 with a manual gearbox option, but rises to $30,035 if you equip the automatic upgrade. Moreover, it’s not as sporty as the N Line and outfits a smaller touchscreen. Therefore, the N Line stays ahead of its rivals with its value and features.

FAQs

How much does the Elantra N Line cost?

The 2024 Elantra N Line starts at $28,315, making it the second-costliest trim.

What engine does the 2024 Elantra N Line have?

The Elantra N Line boasts a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, pumping out 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque.

How fast is the 2024 Hyundai Elantra N Line?

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra N Line takes 6.5 seconds for 0-60 mph and 14.5 seconds to cover a quarter-mile.

How does it compare to the Elantra N?

The Elantra N is the true performance champ with a more powerful engine, upgraded brakes and suspension, and even sharper handling. However, it’s also several thousand dollars pricier. The N Line offers a sweet balance between performance and affordability.

What is the fuel economy of the 2024 Hyundai Elantra N Line?

The 2024 Elantra N Line returns 28 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highways, making it an economical sports sedan.

What’s new for the 2024 Hyundai Elantra N Line?

The 2024 Elantra N Line gets refreshed styling with new bumpers, headlights, taillights, and wheels. It also receives interior updates like new seats and a revised steering wheel.

How safe is the 2024 Hyundai Elantra?

The 2024 Elantra earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, performing excellently in most crash tests.

How much cargo space does the 2024 Hyundai Elantra N offer?

The Elantra N Line offers 14.2 cubic feet of trunk space, which is average for the compact sedan segment.

Does the 2024 Hyundai Elantra N Line come with a manual gearbox?

Unfortunately, the 2024 Hyundai Elantra N Line doesn’t provide a manual gearbox.

Does the 2024 Elantra N Line come with self-driving capabilities?

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra N Line gets Hyundai’s Highway Drive Assist, featuring Level-2 autonomous driving capabilities.