By Veeno Dewan

Hyundai’s N line is the entry- level performance trim making its way into Hyundai’s sedan lineup. The compact  four- door Elantra is the latest to receive the Hyundai sub-brand N Line performance treatment.  It is a cool, edgy looking car with a premium feel to the exterior  styling. The Elantra  N-Line is powered by a Hyundai’s racing car derived  2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder paired either with six a speed manual transmission or a responsive dual clutch automatic.,

Exterior wise, the Elantra N-Line is lowered and has the same cool Performance Blue paintjob which is unique to the N models in Hyundai’s line-up. Accents include red accented rocker panels, front splitter as well as unique 19-inch wheels with red brake calipers. A rear spoiler, blacked-out front fascia and matching blacked-out wing mirrors, functional front bumper cooling ducts round  off the cool, sleek aggressive look.

Inside, there is a performance Blue theme  with blue contrast stitching on the seats, steering wheel, and other hits around the cabin. There is a dramatic looking red button on the steering wheel marked with “NGR” on automatic models, that button stands for “N Grin Shift” –and provides a 10-horsepower boost (for a total of 286hp)   for 20 seconds and “REV” on manual models. (On manual cars, that button activates or deactivates the REV(Rev-matched downshifts) feature. There is also an all-new N-Line “performance” mode for the standard digital gauge cluster as well as a performance data-tracking app on the main 10.25-inch infotainment display. There are also special lightweight heated performance seats with manual adjustment only.

Interior wise, the Elantra N Line has a spacious cabin with sporty upgrades  such as driver orientated  instrument cluster, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and shifter and funky supportive racing style bucket seats with side bolsters and the N logo inserts on the backrests. Accent stitching and an N Line badge  on the steering are also present. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with a wireless charge pad  is standard on the N-Line. There is also BlueLink telematics, Bose AM/FM/XM/MP3/HD premium audio with 8 speakers, and an 8.0″ touchscreen display with rear view camera.

Although the Elantra is a compact car, fit finish and details are way ahead of what you would expect for the price. Yes, there is a surplus of hard black plastic trim, but its all high quality; with particular  attention to detail on items such as the controls and  dash.  There is a  premium luxury air to the Elantra with its heated seats, dual-zone climate control and wireless phone charging. The  rear  compartment is well finished with a  cargo volume of 402 litres (14.2 cu ft) in the trunk. Headroom and legroom is fine in all quarters.

On the safety front, The N Line is decently equipped with six airbags,   Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian Detection, , Lane Following Assist (LFA), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, lane keep assist, cruise control, and front crash avoidance plus more.

On the road, the first thing that surprises you is the serene, hushed ride, no doubt in part to the updated suspension system.   The Elantra  is peppy to drive with stable, no drama handling. It feels agile, yet not jittery.  There is sporty ride on the twist and turns that make the everyday driving experience pleasant. Power delivery comes fast from the mid-range and the driver is rewarded with a nice smooth progression of torque.  You can also play with the various performance settings, but sport is the mode for entertaining driving. Of course, the cool NGR button on the steering wheel gives that delightful extra  surge of horsepower for overtaking or a quick boost in acceleration when needed. I liked the taut, athletic ride, it is not too firm or soft. You can choose between different drive modes – Eco, Normal, Sport, or customize your drive mode and pair them with those N buttons, there’s even a launch control system for even faster standing starts. By the way, simply love that , aggressive sporty exhaust note.

Body roll is minimal and the DCT gearbox gives quick, no glitch shifts, especially when using the steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. Fuel economy is rated at: (Regular 87) 8.4 / 6.6 / 7.6 L / 100 km city / highway / combined.

Downsides are few, I find there is a lack of soft touch materials, too much hard plastic  at the touch points.  To sum up, the Hyundai Elantra is amongst the top compact sedans in its class, and arguably amongst the best looking. The N Line provides great performance, features, and comfort. You get fine   acceleration, handling and driver satisfaction from a sedan that beats cars costing at least $10,000  more.

Decent fuel economy also makes it a good performer. Highly recommended for families and singles everywhere looking for a little spice in their ride!

2022 Hyundai Elantra N Line: Price as tested with extras – $30,254 Plus options and delivery.

Website: www.hyundaicanada.com