2025 Hyundai Elantra N TCR: Tribute Special, But Not for Americans

Hyundai may be the grittiest automaker around today. If the manufacturer wants to do something, the manufacturer will do it.

Looking at just the past 15 years, Hyundai decided to produce, for the first time ever, a rear-wheel drive performance car, launched an entire luxury division, jumped to the forefront of the electric-vehicle world, and started a performance sub-brand. The latter, called N, has spawned the Veloster N, i20 N, Kona N, Ioniq 5 N, and the car on these pages, the Elantra N.

Starting with the post facelift Elantra N, there are plenty of exterior upgrades that separates the TCR from regular Elantra N models. The most obvious change, and one that could literally slap someone in the face if not careful when wandering around the rear of the car, is the carbon swan neck spoiler. A virtual inch-for-inch recreation of the unit found on the TCR race car, it looks comically big on the Elantra N. It blurs the line between tribute and tacky, with personal taste being the deciding factor.

Other exterior upgrades for the TCR edition of the Elantra N include 19-inch N TCR black forged wheels, TCR Edition mirror-mounted puddle lights, and a set of TCR Edition emblems on the trunk. Of course, my test car was painted in the hallmark N car color, Performance Blue.

Under the hood remains the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that puts out a punchy 276 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque. That’s more power or torque than similarly priced sport sedans like the Honda Civic Si, Subaru WRX, and Volkswagen Jetta GLI.

The engine can be paired to an optional 8-speed dual clutch transmission, or the standard 6-speed manual like in my tester. Hyundai’s row-your-own transmission isn’t one of the better ones out there, but it does the job well enough. Plus, I’m just ecstatic it’s still an option in 2025, as so many manuals are disappearing.

I should probably mention this is the first time I’ve driven any Elantra N since the facelift, so I was surprised how much quieter the car is inside. Road and wind noise are more subdued than I remember, and the exhaust note has been muffled slightly, even in the most aggressive N driving mode. The exhaust is still valved, and there is a noticeable difference between the normal and sportier settings. It makes great crackles and bangs when driven aggressively, just now at the proper volume that’s crisp, attention getting, but not obnoxious.

The 2025 Hyundai Elantra N TCR Edition gets the N performance brake system with four-piston monoblock front calipers with 2-piece front rotors. It also includes the eLSD, MacPherson front struts, multi-link rear, the chassis brace behind the rear seatbacks, and 245/35R19 Pilot Sport 4S tires.

It’s all the right goods to make an incredibly responsive, communicative sport sedan that begs to be driven hard. As a first attempt in this segment, it still blows my mind how well Hyundai succeeded, especially with the tweaks made to the car post-facelift. Weighing a mere 3,186 pounds (1,480 kg), flinging the car around on its summer tires is addictive, and with approachable limits, so easy to do.

Aside from the reworked exhaust note, it’s the ride quality that has undergone the largest transformation compared to pre-facelifted cars. In the Normal drive mode, the electronically controlled suspension feels downright normal. Stiffer than the average compact sedan, the Elantra N TCR Edition’s ride comfort is more than acceptable for a sporty four-door. Even in the hardcore N mode, the car no longer has the jarring, teeth-rattling suspension tuning that plagued earlier cars.

The rest of the cabin offers decent comfort as well. The N front buckets with the illuminated N logo are heated, manually adjustable, and include good lateral support along with decent cushioning. With 37.3 inches (947 mm) of headroom, cranial capacity is a bit tight in the rear seat, but 38.0 inches (964 mm) of legroom is generous, and with a slight slouch, most adults will fit back there. The trunk features 14.2 cubic (402 L) of cargo carrying capability, but remember, although the rear seat back does fold down in a single piece, there are the cross-brace bars permanently installed behind it.

The TCR Edition of the Elantra N gets a few upgraded styling bits such as the N Performance Alcantara steering wheel with 12 o’clock marker, performance blue seatbelts for front row passengers, N Performance metal door scuffs, and N Performance floor mats. There’s also Alcantara on the shift knob and parking brake handle.

The rest of the interior is the usual Elantra N layout which is highlighted by a single pod that houses the driver information and infotainment screens.

Those screens both measure 10.25 inches in size and can be fully customized. Also included in my test car is a Bose audio system, wireless phone pad, digital key, and power sunroof. The two items that continue to be absent though, are wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto functionality.

From a safety front, the 2025 Hyundai Elantra N TCR Edition comes with the brand’s SmartSense that includes all the usual active safety technology, like forward collision assist, driver attention warning, lane keep assist, and more.

As the Elantra N TCR Edition is a Canadian-only package, I’ll start the discussion on pricing for that region. The entry level Elantra N costs $42,849 (all prices include destination charges) in Canada, with the TCR Edition bumping pricing up a good chunk to $49,499.

In the USA, the 2025 Hyundai Elantra N starts at a price of $35,595 and comes in as tested at $36,095. Again, there’s no TCR Editon for the United States, nor is there a way to recreate it through factory-installed options. Using this pricing, the Elantra N continues to showcase what a performance value the car is. The Hyundai comes in around the same price as an equally equipped, yet less capable Volkswagen Jetta GLI. The Elantra N also undercuts the base WRX by thousands.

With Honda, it’s hard to make a direct comparison as the Elantra N falls between the Civic Si and Civic Type R in terms of performance and price. But the Hyundai is priced closer to the Civic Si, while its performance is more of a match to the Type R.

The Hyundai Elantra N continues to impress, even more so since the car’s recent refresh. Is the TCR Edition worth the roughly $6,000 price increase? Depends on who’s asking the question. For me, no, it’s not. Although I do like some of the added bits, they don’t equate to the cost increase in my mind, and that rear wing is ridiculous. I’ll gladly save the money and thoroughly enjoy life with a regular Elantra N.

But, for the burgeoning number of Hyundai N enthusiasts, this represents the ultimate Elantra N. A mechanical tribute to the rapid success of Hyundai’s motorsports and performance arm. While some may find the TCR Edition a bit much, others will proudly display it as a badge of honor.

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