From humble beginnings in the United States, Hyundai has vastly improved into a highly acclaimed car brand that is competitive with the most popular brands like Ford and Toyota. Hyundai even won the 2021 North American Car of the Year award from NACTOY for the 2021 Elantra. Let’s look at the fastest Hyundai cars you can buy.
Elanta N-Line (0-60 in 7.0 seconds)
The Elanta N-Line is the sporty version of the basic Elanta model and provides a good level of performance at a low cost of around $25,000. The 1.6L turbocharded engine produces a decent 201 horsepower and 195.2 lb/ft of torque.
In addition to the 6-speed manual transmission, a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is available. Dual-clutch transmission provides slightly stronger performance by maintaining positive torque when shifting gears whereas manual shifters lose torque for a moment when shifting.
Palisade (0-60 in 6.9 seconds)
With a powerful 3.8L V-6, 291 horsepower engine, the Palisade completes a 0-60 in a respectable 6.9 seconds as tested by Car and Driver.
Despite weighing in at about 4,200 pounds and carrying up to 8 passengers, it can beat the Elantra N-Line in a race.
The Palisade is a three-row SUV that offers a lot of value at a low price point of around $34,000. It can tow up to 5,000 pounds, entertain passengers with an 8-inch infotainment display, has a 5-star safety rating, and comes with a 10 year 100,000-mile powertrain warranty like other Hyundai cars.
Some critics do not like the excessive wind noise that permeates the cabin and it only gets 19 miles per gallon in the city.
Sonata N-Line (0-60 in 5.0 seconds)
The 2021 Sonata N-Line is the most powerful Sonata ever with a turbocharged engine that outputs 290 horsepower and 311 lb/ft of torque.
The interior features a standard 12-inch display and 12 speaker Bose stereo. The exterior includes several fake vents, which many car reviewers find unnecessary.
The Launch Control feature increases the initial G-force and acceleration when starting from a standstill. Launch Control will charge the turbocharger and execute maximum torque which shaves a few tenths of a second off the 0-60 time and is ideal for track racing.
Veloster N (0-60 in 4.8 seconds)
The Veloster N has received a lot of positive reviews from car enthusiasts for providing a ton of performance for a base price of around $32,000 for the 2021 model. The impressive 0-60 time of 4.8 seconds was measured by Car and Driver using the Launch Control feature.
At 275 horsepower, the Veloster N offers some of the best performance for the money of any car on the market. For a car that can reach 60 mph in less than 5 seconds, the price starts at just $32,250! A used version can be found for under $30k, which is a remarkable amount of performance for a relatively low cost.
The Veloster N is also available with the dual-clutch automatic transmission option for better performance, although it may be less fun for those who prefer manual shifting.
A button on the steering wheel called N Grin Shift will temporarily boost torque by 18 lb/ft for 20 seconds (only available with the dual-clutch version). It’s similar to the Noz button from the Fast and Furious movies, except not quite as powerful. The Veloster’s computer system only allows this feature to be used once every 3 minutes.
A rare complaint about the Veloster N is the hard plastics in the interior. However, at this price point, it is still an amazing value for drivers looking for elite performance. The Veloster N has captured the attention of the hot-hatch community with YouTube video titles like “The Best Korean Car Ever Made” and some reviewers have recommended it as a better option than the Civic Type-R.
Summary:
1. Volster N (0-60 in 4.8 seconds)
2. Sonata N-Line (0-60 in 5.0 seconds)
3. Palisade (0-60 in 6.9 seconds)
4. Elanta N-Line (0-60 in 7.0 seconds)
