Though this year’s hot Hyundai enters 2024 with meaningful refinements to gear like its engine mounts and suspension bushings, not to mention its fresh new face, the brand has added less than a thousand bucks to its starting price.
In this era of inflation and general profit mongering, that’s not a bad deal. Pedants will enjoy knowing the hike is exactly $835, climbing to $34,850 including destination fees. That’s about smack dab in the middle of the class in which it competes, where the Civic Si trades for just over 30 grand while the Golf GTI and Subie WRX are each within shouting distance of the Elantra N. If you’re curious as to where the (arguably) next-rung cars reside, a GR Corolla is in the $38k-ish bracket.
For yer money, the 2024 Elantra N has numerous ride and handling enhancements including those reinforced engine-mount membranes for reduced vibrations and an alleged improvement in agility. Other bushings are reinforced for better yaw response and steering precision while a rear suspension insulator that goes from rubber to urethane should help damping and yaw response. With this fettling, lines of code have been updated in the suspension software to make the most of these changes.
Elsewhere, new wheels reduce unsprung weight by 33 pounds, no small amount for a car this size. And even though your author was probably one of the few people who didn’t mind last year’s styling decisions, he is most certainly in the minority. This model year brings a face with improved cooling and aero; binning the fish face will be a bonus for some onlookers blessed with the gift of sight. The rear fascia also gets some tweaks.
In case you need a refresher, Hyundai claims the front-wheel drive Elantra N’s 2.0-liter turbo mill was specially developed for N models. It’s available with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, delivering an estimated 276 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque.
[Images: Hyundai]
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