2021 Hyundai Elantra N

Looking back at the countless Hyundai releases we've seen over the last few years, the 2021 Hyundai Elantra N will always be a star. This model features a high-performance design, from inside to exterior, and a more upgraded overall experience for Elantra fans and drivers. Notably, this model year saw the first Elantra N nameplate, expanding from the traditional four-door sedan the brand had been producing since 1990.

In this post, we will provide some insight into the 2021 Hyundai Elantra N release, including engine and performance, interior and exterior features, safety, technology, fuel economy, and more. Stick around to learn more about this beloved model!

What's New for 2021?

The whole vehicle! 2021 marked a new age for the Elantra sedan, introducing the N performance model to the family. With this latest version of Elantra, drivers saw things like eye-catching N Line design elements inside and out, an exclusive 1.6-liter GDI turbocharged engine with independent rear suspension, a drivetrain generating 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, and two transmission types.

This sedan went from your everyday vehicle to a race-ready rendition of Elantra and continues to be a favorite for drivers. Design-wise, the Elantra N differs most noticeably from the standard version with its exterior front-end branding, interior coloring, and emblems. It's fast, sleek, and has more to offer than the traditional sedan the world has loved for decades.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Getting inside the 2021 Hyundai Elantra N, you see quite a bit of logos and branding for this performance "N" series sedan. First, details you can experience inside the main cabin include:

• Unique leather-wrapped perforated N steering wheel
• N Line sport seats with leather bolsters and N logos
• N Line gearshift with metal accents and leather inserts
• Red stitching and trim accents only on N-series models
• Qi™ wireless charging pad
• Smartphone digital key (NFC)
• N Line analog gauge cluster
• Black headliner
• Alloy pedals

From this list, the N Line stitching and luxury interior materials make the vehicle shine especially bright. Also, this model shares many of the same specs as the standard Elantra regarding passenger volume, cabin dimensions, and cargo, which we will detail below.

• Passenger Volume: 99.4 cubic feet
• Leg Room (Front/Rear): 42.3 / 38 inches
• Shoulder Room (Front/Rear): 56.5 / 55.6 inches
• Hip Room (Front/Rear): 53.4 / 50.5 inches

Moving onto cargo space,

• Total Cargo: 14.2 cubic-feet

Your cargo space is decent for a compact model, although you won't have the same dimensions or toting capability as larger Hyundai models.

2021 Hyundai Elantra Exterior

Outside the 2021 Hyundai Elantra N, you see a few exciting upgrades to your typical Elantra sedan. First, much like the inside of this performance vehicle, the Elantra N boasts "N" Line stitching, emblems, and coloring from the front grille to the bumper. Here are some exciting changes drivers will experience if they get this particular model:

• N Line version of Hyundai's signature Cascading Grille with a distinctive red character line
• N Line 18-inch wheels and Hankook Ventus S1 RX 235/40R18 all-season tires (7-speed DCT) or Goodyear Eagle F1 235/40R18 summer tires (6-speed MT)
• N Line front bumper fascia
• Black-colored side sill moldings
• N Line rear fascia with diffuser
• Projector headlights and full LED taillights
• N Line logos and badging
• N Line window accents
• Chrome twin exhaust
• Lip spoiler
• Sunroof

Plenty of details were considered when designing this fast, fun Elantra spin-off, with things like LED lighting, chrome exhaust coloring, N Line branding, and even a sunroof coming standard. If you are after a more luxurious-feeling Elantra, we recommend the 2021 N version.

Performance and Powertrain

Onto the 2021 Hyundai Elantra N performance and powertrain specifications, this is where things get most exciting. For this newest release of the Elantra, we saw Hyundai add an exclusive 1.6-liter GDI turbocharged engine with a six-speed manual or seven-speed Double Clutch Transmission (DCT). Moreover, thanks to its turbocharged configuration, the 2021 Elantra N can produce up to 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, a jump from the base Elantra's 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque.

The main objective of introducing an N Line series model to the mix was to give Elantra drivers performance, power, and ultra-precise handling on the road ahead. To this point, the Elantra N remains unparalleled.

• Engine: 1.6-liter GDI turbocharged
• Horsepower: 201 horses
• Torque: 195 pound-feet
• Transmission: 6-speed manual / seven-speed automatic
• Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive

2021 Hyundai Elantra N 0-60

For those wanting to understand how fast the 2021 Hyundai Elantra N can go, let's review its 0-60 MPH test results. Per on-road reporting, this performance vehicle was able to hit 60 miles per hour in a mere 7 seconds, impressive for the ~3,000-pound nameplate. Again, this model won't hit 0-60 MPH speeds in under five seconds like many luxury sports cars, as it's not made to be that way.

Although the 2021 Hyundai Elantra N remains a performance standout, it's ultimately a comfortable, stylish sedan.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Getting into the safety and driver-assistance capabilities of the 2021 Hyundai Elantra N sedan, you see much of Hyundai's typical offering. More specifically, this performance vehicle boasts SmartSense technology, which includes the following:

• Forward Collision Avoidance with Pedestrian Detection
• Blind Spot Collision Avoidance
• Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance
• Lane Keep Assist
• Driver Attention Warning
• Safe Exit Warning

You may also be interested in the fact that the 2021 Elantra N/Elantra is rated five-star by the NHTSA and receiving Top Safety Pick status from the IIHS. This puts it lightyears ahead of many performance vehicles, which often do not prioritize safety over performance. With Hyundai, you get the best of both worlds.

Hyundai SmartSense

To dive deeper into Hyundai SmartSense, this is the comprehensive suite of safety and driver-assistance technology the brand has perfected over many years across various models. For 2021, SmartSense boasts everything from Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection to Driver Attention Warning to Lane-Keeping Assist and even Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist.

This safety technology aims to keep another set of eyes on the road ahead (and behind) to keep all Elantra owners out of harm's way. It plays a large part in why this sedan is rated so highly for crash safety and general passenger/driver monitoring.

Infotainment and Connectivity

You see plenty of bells and whistles for the infotainment and connectivity inside the 2021 Hyundai Elantra N. Because this is your upgraded version of the nameplate, you can expect to see quite an array of standard features throughout the cabin. Specifically, the Elantra N offers you things like:

• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Hyundai's optional Digital Key
• An enhanced natural-language voice-recognition system
• Standard SmartSense safety and convenience technologies
• Two available 10.25-inch multimedia screens under one piece of glass

Many drivers of the Elantra and Elantra N compliment this series's spacious, modern, and tech-heavy cabin, adding that using everything inside is pretty straightforward. At the time of its release, the 2021 Elantra N was a standout in the infotainment category and continues to break stereotypes in 2024.

Fuel Economy and MPG

To cover the fuel economy and MPG ratings from the EPA, the 2021 Hyundai Elantra N shines across the board. Specifically, drivers can expect this vehicle to see up to 31 combined miles per gallon, with 28 city and 36 highway in automatic configurations. In contrast, the manual transmission nameplate sees 28 combined MPGs, with 25 city and 34 highway miles per gallon. You can expect to use between 3.2 and 3.6 gallons of fuel per 100 miles driven in the Elantra N.

Again, this is impressive for a performance model. The basic, non-N Line Elantra can achieve up to 37 combined MPG, while the hybrid can achieve up to 54 miles per gallon, so this is quite the range for shoppers.

2021 Hyundai Elantra N Pricing

Regarding the pricing for a 2021 Hyundai Elantra N mode, you can expect these to start at $24,250-$25,000, making it a nice entry-level performance vehicle for drivers. According to the current market, you would spend closer to $17,830, which means it retains its value better than a lot of the other cars in its class. Most people don't realize the N Line Elantra was one-of-one, meaning it does not come in multiple configurations. You would have to go back to the standard and hybrid Elantra, which offered ~6 trims/configurations. Seven if you add N to the mix.

The starting price for a 2021 Elantra, non-performance, is closer to $16,000, while higher-end models fall close to $23,000, making this nameplate fairly affordable across the spectrum.

Get Your Hyundai Elantra N at Granite Hyundai

With this deep dive into the 2021 Hyundai Elantra N out of the way, it's time to get you into one for a test drive. Luckily, Granite Hyundai has plenty of new and used Elantra models ready to try out, so don't hesitate to see us in Somersworth, NH, today. We're happy to explain the N series to you and answer any other questions you may have!