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Jun 24, 2025

This 2021 Sporty Sedan Is As Good As It Gets For $25,000

Not to be confused with the Elantra N, the Hyundai Elantra N-Line is the juiced-up version of the Elantra, packing a 201-horsepower 1.6-liter inline-four, rather than the standard Elantra's naturally

Not to be confused with the Elantra N, the Hyundai Elantra N-Line is the juiced-up version of the Elantra, packing a 201-horsepower 1.6-liter inline-four, rather than the standard Elantra's naturally aspirated 147-hp two-liter four-pot. It's not exactly a sports car, but take it for a test-drive and the word sporty definitely comes to mind. It's got some pep to it, and it looks the part of a turbocharged Hyundai.

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The 2021 and 2022 models started in the $24,000–$26,000 range when they first came out, and typically list with low mileage around the $19,000–$23,000 range today. There are cheaper cars out there and there are more powerful cars out there, but the N Line has to be one of our favorites if you're looking at the fun you can have for your dollar. Here's why we think this is one of the better deals on the market right now.

The following is based on information published by Hyundai, as well as research into the used automotive market and maintenance databases. Any opinions offered thereupon should be assumed to be those of the author unless otherwise attributed.

Reviewing the 2022 Hyundai Elantra, we noted that the N Line was a "truly enjoyable driver".

Okay, that's not the most exciting praise you've ever read in your life. But if you know what you're buying here, you won't be disappointed. The truth is that the car does look sportier than it really is. With that mean-looking grille and those narrow headlights, you could be forgiven for thinking that it would perform with its lookalike sibling, the Elantra N.

2021-2022 Hyundai Elantra N Line Performance Specs

Engine

1.6-Liter Turbo 4-Cylinder

Power

201 hp

Torque

195 lb-ft

Transmission

6-Speed Manual or 7-Speed Automatic

Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive

0-60 mph

7.6 Seconds

We noted that there was "nothing to complain about" in the suspension department. The N Line featured a multi-link setup for the rear suspension, making for a sportier overall feel than you'll get in an entry-level Elantra. And it's available with a six-speed manual transmission. It's basically a "what's not to like?" sort of deal.

It's a significant styling update for only being on the market for 3 years.

This is a recurring theme throughout the look, feel, and performance of the Elantra N Line. It's not a sports car. But it's sporty. It's a little better than you expect for the price. It can hit 60 mph in under eight seconds, it has a nice, tactile sense of feedback on the road, it doesn't look out of place in a parking lot full of twin-turbo hot hatches and Asian sports sedans. It's an affordable driver that's not a bore to drive. Simple as that.

To get an idea of what you can spend on a 2021-2022 Hyundai Elantra N-Line these days, we'll start with a look at Kelley Blue Book. Here are the base MSRPs and current fair market prices, according to the used auto resource.

Model Year

Original MSRP

Fair Market Price

2021

$26,205

$17,011

2022

$26,795

$19,292

Kelley Blue Book assumes around 15,000 miles per year for used cars, depending on factors like location. At that rate, we're getting these cars with well under 100,000 miles on the odometer. Assuming someone bought one of these exactly five years ago, they'd be selling it with 75,000 miles on the ticker at this point, according to Kelley Blue Book.

But, we can do better than that, while keeping our purchase price under $25,000. Here's what we were able to turn up while browsing the used auto websites:

On the one hand, it's interesting how depreciation has barely taken a bite out of these cars, at least if we're counting it dollar-for-dollar. Remember, though, that we've just been through a few years of rapid inflation. Even if these cars were still selling at MSRP, you'd be saving a good chunk of change on the sale price.

10 Cheap-To-Run Used Cars Witha Manual Transmission

According to CarEdge, an Elantra drops around 18% of its value in the first year, and should be worth 60% of its MSRP after the first five. From there, it's a slow trickle down to around 43% residual value after the first decade.

According to RepairPal, the most expensive common repair for 2021 and 2022 Elantras is going to be a new head gasket, running you around $1,859 to $2,345. A serpentine belt here, an oil change there – nothing you've never had to deal with in a used car. RepairPal estimates that an Elantra should cost you around $452 a year to maintain, while CarEdge suggests a 10-year maintenance cost of $6,354. An Elantra N Line is a very low-maintenance auto.

The biggest reliability issues you're going to have driving a used Elantra N Line will likely have to do with aftermarket modifications and tuning. Anything with a turbocharger and four cylinders is going to be a popular starting point for people who like to buy affordable cars and see how much horsepower they can squeeze out of it. And hey, we're not here to put anyone down. Hot-rodding is one of the great American pastimes.

But, too many modders lose interest in their project car, and, rather than sell it off at a third of what they paid for it (because nothing wrecks your car's resale value like a tuned engine and an extra turbocharger), they try to set everything back to stock in hopes that they can get the Blue Book price for it.

We've covered this in-depth before, and we definitely recommend that piece for anyone shopping for a used car with a sporty vibe, but to cover some of the easiest ways to spot a modified vehicle:

The CarBuzz community is vast, and we know you own some pretty cool cars, but I want to see those that are #BuiltNotBought. In the CarBuzz office, we've got heavily modified 1 Series Coupes and Infiniti G37s, but show us yours below by uploading a pic of your built ride. Even better, give us a list of the mods you've made. I promise, we won't judge.

Modded N Lines aren't as common as modded Elantra Ns or Civic Sis, but they're out there, and you don't want to wind up paying full-price for someone else's half-finished project car. A tuned car will naturally have a much shorter life expectancy than a stock model, so they're best avoided.

Sources: Hyundai, Kelley Blue Book, CarEdge, RepairPal, AutoTempest

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