Hyundai has been pushing pretty Elantra numbers over the past three years, with sales comprising between 175,000 and 200,000 units sold yearly. It’s no surprise then that the South Koreans gave the greenlight to a more attractive, N-badged iteration of the Elantra sedan, albeit not in the same verve as a fully-fledged N car, but dressed in what Hyundai calls the N Line treatment.

2021 Hyundai Elantra N Line Sedan

Specifications
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  • Model: 2021 Hyundai Elantra N Line Sedan
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So, what changes on the outside?

Before we get to the heart of the N Line, here’s a little context. Hyundai has no less than six trims available for the U.S. 2021 Elantra. Those are:

-* SE

-* SEL

-* Value Edition

-* Eco

-* Limited

-* Sport

With the N Line, Hyundai highlights is intentions to “solidify Elantra’s position in the compact sedan segment” but the real meaning of that is an attempt to lure in customers wanting for a more in-your-face design approach with more attention to detail.

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Concretely, what’s changed affects the cascade grille (it not features a more complex geometric pattern) and the lower fascia, courtesy of arrow-shaped air curtains that work two-fold: 1) they offer some aero goodness while cooling the engine and 2) they reinforce the idea of high performance.

Also redesigned are the side skirts and the 18-inch wheels, coupled with gloss black plastic bits of trim scattered around the wheel wells, side mirrors, and the said side skirts. In the back, the new additions include a twin chrome exhaust and an N Line diffuser.

What powers the Elantra N Line?

Power output reaches 201 horsepower, while torque comes in at 195 pound-feet. This is the same engine and setup found inside the Hyundai Elantra Sport.

The other engine options, unavailable for the N Line, though, are a naturally-aspirated, 2.0-liter inline-four mill (147 horsepower, 132 pound-feet of torque) and a turbocharged inline-four displacing 1.4 liters (128 horsepower, 156 pound-feet of torque).

Other than that, Hyundai tells us that its engineers stiffened the suspension setup and added the afore-mentioned 18 inchers as well as larger brake rotors on the front wheels.

Hyundai Elantra N Line - Essential Specs

Engine

l-4, turbo

Displacement

1.6 liters

Power

201 hp @ 6000 rpm

Torque

195 lb-ft @ 1500-4500 rpm

Compression ratio

9.5:1

Valve train

DOHC 16-valve

Fuel system

Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI)

Transmission

7-speed EcoShift DCT or 6-speed manual

Fuel consumption

26 mpg city/33 mpg highway/29 mph combined

Fuel tank capacity

14 gallons

Cargo volume

14.4 cubic feet


How about the Elantra N Line’s interior?

The cabin stays pretty much the same design-wise, except for a few sporty details, such as the paddle shifters and the drive mode selector setup. In terms of materials, there’s a leather-wrapped (and perforated) N steering wheel adorned by metallic spokes, N sport seats with leather bolsters, and metallic accents on the gearshift, as well as alloy pedals.

What’s more, customers get a Hyundai digital key, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

Final Word

We’re still waiting for an official price tag associated with the Hyundai Elantra N Line, but while that pops up, know that the carmaker is also poised to launch a hybrid version of the Elantra, powered by a 1.6-liter GDI four-cylinder engine and a 32-kilowatt electric motor fed by a 1.32-kWh battery pack for a total of 139 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, and an EPA rating fuel economy of over 50 mpg.