Hyundai’s Latest N Models Are Outstanding on the Race Track

AutoTrader.ca

2022-07-11 · 12 min read

Hyundai’s Latest N Models Are Outstanding on the Race Track

The Elantra N and Kona N take the torch from their quirky three-door sibling, providing confidence-filled thrills. A day at the track also revealed how different they are

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Hyundai N’s latest models in Canada are the 2026 Elantra N, the limited-run Elantra N TCR Edition, and the 2027 IONIQ 5 N, with the IONIQ 6 N on the way. Each is built to lap a circuit and still drive home.

We’ve tested the Elantra N and TCR Edition at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, and the 641-hp IONIQ 5 N earned a perfect powertrain score in our review.

Key Takeaways

Hyundai Canada’s current N lineup is the 2026 Elantra N (276 hp) and the 2027 IONIQ 5 N (641 hp with N Grin Boost); the IONIQ 6 N has been revealed.
On CTMP’s grand prix circuit, the Elantra N hit 207 km/h, and its limited-slip differential all but erased torque steer.
The order-only Elantra N TCR Edition adds a swan neck wing and bigger brakes from $47,599, with no extra power.
The IONIQ 5 N weighs 2,205 kg but uses up to 0.6 g of regenerative braking to help it turn in.
N Line is a trim, not a full N car: the Elantra N makes about 37 per cent more power than the 201-hp Elantra N Line Ultimate.
Hyundai Canada recommends winter tires for the summer-shod Elantra N in the cold.

What Is Hyundai N? Hyundai’s High-Performance Brand

Hyundai N is the in-house performance division that builds the fastest versions of Hyundai’s everyday cars. Hyundai’s history of the brand dates back to 2012. Racing feeds it: Hyundai Motorsport won the 2019 and 2020 WRC manufacturers’ title, and the Elantra N TCR race car still competes.

What the N Stands For: Namyang and the Nürburgring

N stands for Namyang, home of Hyundai’s global R&D centre and, since 2015, an N-only test track. It also stands for the Nürburgring, where Hyundai tests N models.

N vs. N Line: How the Two Badges Differ

N Line is a trim level: sportier styling, a sport-tuned suspension and, on some models, a turbocharged engine. Canada has seen the Elantra N Line, Kona N Line and Sonata N Line.
A full N model adds far more engineering, including an electronic limited-slip differential and bigger brakes.

Hyundai Canada rates the Elantra N Line Ultimate at 201 hp; the Elantra N makes 276 hp, about 37 per cent more.

2022 Hyundai Elantra N Line

The Elantra N on Track at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

We lapped a 2022 Elantra N at CTMP. Does that still count? Yes. The 2026 car Hyundai Canada sells today keeps the same 276-hp, 289 lb-ft 2.0L turbo and the same manual or dual-clutch choice.

Hyundai had a handful of these hotted-up models waiting for me and a few other automotive media types at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) in Bowmanville, Ont., for an evening lapping session on the grand prix circuit. It’s a true test of any car’s performance prowess, if there ever was one.

Elevating the Elantra N Experience

2022 Hyundai Elantra N at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

Switching into the Elantra N, what became immediately apparent is just how much more amped up it looks and feels than the N Line. Inside and out, this sport sedan plays the part to perfection. Its styling isn’t for everyone, but it’s not shy about showing the world exactly what it’s made of. Not-so-subtle cues suggest that this is more than the average economy car, and that’s because it is.

While the shorter driver development course at CTMP is tight and technical, the 4-km grand prix circuit is all about big speed. It’s a bold vote of confidence for an automaker to put a pack of front-wheel drive sport compacts on a course that’s considered among the fastest around.

I’ve been lucky enough to lap the big track at Mosport in 600-hp machines that felt tailor-made for the fast corners and epic elevation changes, not to mention the Mario Andretti Straightaway. That’s why I was so impressed with the aptitude of the Elantra N on this high-flying track.

Torque Steer? Not With This Limited-Slip Differential

2022 Hyundai Elantra N on the CTMP grand prix circuit

With racer and instructor JC Trahan providing laid-back, actionable guidance from the passenger seat, I was able to wring out about all the performance possible from this pocket rocket after a rather brief familiarization period.

A sport compact car like this would normally be prone to torque steer, thanks to the 289 lb-ft being channeled to the front wheels. Instead, a masterfully made limited-slip differential (LSD) leaves nothing but usable pull when rocketing out of corners. It took more than a few reminders from Trahan for the concept to register that I could jump on the throttle rather than roll onto it.

The results were spectacular: a top speed of 207 km/h down the back straight.

What stands out is how neutral and balanced this sedan feels, with as much compensation for front-drive understeer as for rear-drive oversteer. Late braking leads to sharp turn-in, while that LSD means even imperfect corner exits can be easily overcome.

It’s a precise machine that’s still playful without feeling over-engineered, and that’s not an easy balance to strike.

Don’t Discount the DCT

Hyundai N track day at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, 2022

Far be it from me to nitpick over a day spent at the track, but if I had to find something to complain about, it would be an unlikely culprit: the Elantra N’s six-speed manual transmission. I know, I know. There’s a place in gearhead hell waiting for me just for typing such sacrilege. Now let me explain.

It’s not that the three-pedal setup is a bad one, and it pairs nicely with the rev-happy 276-hp motor. But the shifter just wasn’t as notchy as I’d like, and we weren’t speaking the same language on the track, which is where it really matters.

The eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, meanwhile, is outstanding: predictive, running all the way up to redline when prodded, with paddle shifters for those impatient moments.

The Newest Hyundai N Models: TCR Edition, IONIQ 5 N and IONIQ 6 N

The N range has since gone electric. Here’s where the latest N cars stand as of September 2026.

Model	Status in Canada	Output	Drivetrain
Elantra N	2026, on sale	276 hp, 289 lb-ft	Front-wheel drive
Elantra N TCR Edition	2026, order only	276 hp, 289 lb-ft	Front-wheel drive
IONIQ 5 N	2027, on sale	601 hp; 641 hp with boost	All-wheel drive
IONIQ 6 N	Revealed	Up to 641 hp with boost	All-wheel drive

Elantra N TCR Edition: Sharper, Not Faster

The Elantra N TCR Edition adds a carbon fibre swan neck wing, 19-inch forged wheels and bigger monobloc front brakes. Power doesn’t change. On CTMP’s driver development course, our first drive found the wing helped through fast corners and the brakes calmed the car on corner entry.

It starts at $47,599 with the manual or $49,199 with the DCT (Hyundai Canada pricing, accessed Sept. 2026).

IONIQ 5 N: Heavy, Fast and Surprisingly Agile

The IONIQ 5 N earned a Trader score of 8.7, with a perfect 10 for its powertrain. Its dual motors make 601 hp, or 641 hp for 10-second bursts, good for 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. It’s heavy. At 2,205 kg, it relies on up to 0.6 g of regenerative braking to help it pivot into corners. N e-Shift mimics a dual-clutch’s gear changes.

Range is the catch. Hyundai Canada quotes 356 km from its 84-kWh battery, and Natural Resources Canada rates it at 26.7 kWh/100 km.

IONIQ 6 N: The Next N Model

The IONIQ 6 N sedan uses the same all-wheel drive, multi-motor setup, with up to 641 hp in boost, 3.2 seconds to 100 km/h, and a 257 km/h top speed.

Used Hyundai N Cars: Kona N and Veloster N

The Kona N shared the Elantra N’s 276-hp turbo but came with the eight-speed dual-clutch only.

Crossing Over

2022 Hyundai Kona N on track at CTMP

The 2022 Hyundai Kona N comes with at least a couple of questions: first, is it a crossover or a hatchback? I happen to think of it as the latter, and more specifically a hot hatch, but either way, it’s even more exciting to drive than its sedan sibling. (Yes, you read that right.)

To some at CTMP, the stubbier Kona was too twitchy, a result of chopping 120 mm (4.7 in) from the wheelbase. I happen to adore the added character and liveliness.

The Kona N wasn’t quite as swift down the back straight. Try as I might, the most I could squeeze out of it was 196 km/h, which is still more than respectable. That lost 11 km/h could easily be explained by aerodynamic differences, although the Kona also carried a third occupant. I’d openly speculate that the Kona would be the faster of the two around the smaller driver development course.

Shop Used Hyundai N Cars on AutoTrader.ca

Find a Kona N, Veloster N or Elantra N near you. Filter used listings by price, kilometres and model year.

Browse Used Cars

Living With N Vehicles Through a Canadian Winter

In Canada, everyday sports car driving includes January.

Summer Tires, Winter Tires and All-Wheel Drive

Hyundai Canada fits the Elantra N with 19-inch wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires. Its fine print warns they can get noisy below 7°C and recommends winter tires in low temperatures. The all-wheel drive IONIQ 5 N wears high-grip 275/35R21 Pirelli P Zero tires.

Check What Your Car Is Worth Before You Buy an N

Trading in to put an N car in the driveway? Get a free valuation with no account needed.

What’s My Car Worth?

Final Thoughts on the N Brand

Hyundai N cars at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, 2022

Four 20-minute track sessions cemented my love for the Kona N, although it’s a bit like toppings on a pizza: preference is everything, but what matters most is that the base it’s built on is delicious either way. There’s nothing doughy or cheesy about these sport compacts, though; they’re crisp and fresh and simply spectacular. (Besides, there’s really no such thing as bad pizza, just good and better.)

Which Hyundai N Car Fits You?

Manual and track days: Elantra N.
Collector’s version: Elantra N TCR Edition.
Maximum power: IONIQ 5 N.
Tighter budget: used Kona N or Veloster N.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Hyundai’s latest N models?

Hyundai Canada’s showroom offers list the 2026 Elantra N sport sedan and the 2027 IONIQ 5 N electric crossover. The order-only Elantra N TCR Edition starts at $47,599. The IONIQ 6 N sedan has been revealed with up to 641 hp in boost, but Canadian timing hasn’t been announced.

The Kona N and Veloster N are now used-market buys.

What does the N in Hyundai N stand for?

N stands for Namyang, the South Korean home of Hyundai’s global R&D centre, where an N test track opened in 2015. It also stands for the Nürburgring in Germany, where Hyundai tests its N models.

Hyundai adds a third meaning: the N logo is drawn to look like a race circuit’s chicane.

Is N Line the same as a full N car?

No. N Line is a trim with sportier styling, a sport-tuned suspension and, on some models, a turbocharged engine. A full N car adds an electronic limited-slip differential and bigger brakes. Hyundai Canada rates the Elantra N Line Ultimate at 201 hp and the Elantra N at 276 hp, about 37 per cent more.

Does the Elantra N come with a manual?

Yes. A six-speed manual with rev matching is standard, and an eight-speed wet dual-clutch with paddle shifters is available. On the TCR Edition, the dual-clutch adds $1,600, taking the price from $47,599 to $49,199. The Kona N came with the dual-clutch only, and the IONIQ 5 N simulates shifts with N e-Shift.

Can you drive an N car in winter?

Yes, with the right tires. The Elantra N comes on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires, which Hyundai Canada says can get noisy below 7°C, and it recommends winter tires in low temperatures. Want all-wheel drive? The IONIQ 5 N has it; filter used listings by drivetrain on AutoTrader.ca.

Sources

Accessed September 30, 2026