2026 Hyundai Elantra N TCR Edition First Drive Review

Hyundai’s Elantra N sits in a cozy little niche between classic sport compacts and more extreme examples that sit at the apex of economy car thrills.

With the 2026 Hyundai Elantra N TCR Edition, Hyundai’s N brand isn’t just celebrating its 10th anniversary — it’s pushing the hotted-up Elantra out of its happy little valley between the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI and the Honda Civic Type R, among others. But there’s a nagging question of whether enough was done to set it apart.

What’s a TCR, Anyway?

First, though, it may be helpful to explain what the acronym in the model’s name stands for, which would be touring car racing. That is to say, any of a collection of global racing series for cars based on everyday vehicles, as opposed to sports cars (think high end cars like the Porsche 911) or formula cars (think open wheels racing series like F1).

Since 2014, the class has been reserved for front-wheel-drive vehicles that have four or five doors and are powered by small turbocharged engines. It’s little wonder, then, that the N brand has been trying to earn itself trophies in the series since 2021 with the Elantra N TCR. The Elantra N TCR Edition is inspired by the race car (which happens to be leading the TC America racing series as of this writing), hence the massive wing on the back.

The aerodynamic element replaces the smaller spoiler on the standard version and has “swan neck” construction. That’s very racy technology that sees the vertical mounts that connect the carbon fibre wing to the vehicle rise up and over and are attached at the top of the foil, leaving the important underside of the wing unblemished, and the airflow passing across it uninterrupted. Put simply, it makes the wing more effective. Like all the best wings, the Elantra N TCR Edition’s is manually adjustable so that when you’re on the road it isn’t causing too much drag, but when you get to a track, it can provide you with real downforce.

The other big difference maker for the TCR Edition is the way it stops. The special edition version is equipped with much larger four-piston monobloc front calipers and two-piece front rotors that are lighter thanks to the use of aluminum. Together with the lighter-weight 19-inch forged wheels, they help reduce unsprung mass, which improves handling.

Anything Else?

That’s about it for the engineering improvements, but there’s more in the cabin. The Alcantara budget went through the roof for the Elantra N TCR Edition, and the suede-like material can be found throughout the cockpit. The use of the grippy, premium-feeling stuff on the steering wheel is particularly useful, and it’s just nice to have it on the gear shift lever, whether you opt for the six-speed manual transmission or the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic ($1,600).

Some readers may be disappointed to learn the powertrain is the same whether you’re in the regular Elantra N or this TCR Edition. Either way, buyers get a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder that makes 276 hp and 286 lb-ft of torque. Although those don’t seem like impressive numbers anymore, they’re more than adequate even on the track.

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

The big wing was a welcome addition on the track, helping the Elantra N TCR Edition through fast corners. Admittedly, though, the regular N — which we were also given access to — wasn’t exactly out of control. More impressive was the TCR Edition’s composure on the way into corners. The bigger brakes help the car slow down more abruptly and the regular car’s mild squirminess under hard braking is also quelled.

In reality, both cars are excellent on the track. Power is adequate, especially for a small, technical course like the driver development track at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (CTMP) we were set loose on, and steering feel is excellent, providing precision and excellent feedback through the wheel.

The brake pedal is tuned to allow for ample travel, which helps with trail braking into corners (and will no doubt help you come to a stop smoothly in traffic), and the car is eager to rotate into corners. Like any front-wheel-drive car, it can be induced to understeer, but the front differential helps pull it through corners on power. 

The dual-clutch transmission is lightning quick, while the six-speed manual is pleasant and features helpful rev-matching, though the feel through the shift lever is a little light and isn’t particularly mechanical. Far be it from me to complain about Hyundai offering a manual, though. The fact that it offers one at all — and for less than the automatic — is a win, even if it isn’t my favourite one on the market.

Final Thoughts

While I will die on the hill of 276 hp being enough power for anyone, I will say that despite the big wing, the 2026 Hyundai Elantra N TCR Edition feels a little mild. I think it’s OK to keep the engine the same across the two trims, which serves to make the handling improvements all the more clear to the driver. I wonder how owners will express the specialness of their new, limited edition model to their friends, though — especially after shelling out extra cash for the model, which starts at $47,599 for the manual and $49,199 for the dual-clutch model. Sure, there’s the big wing, but otherwise it’s all quite subtle — especially when prices are dangerously close to the rip-snorting Toyota GR Corolla. 

Despite the lighter brakes and wheels, overall weight doesn’t go down for the TCR Edition model, depriving owners of another important locus of boastfulness. While the improvements can be felt on the track, I wonder if they’ll be big enough to be felt on the road, especially when the car hasn’t been equipped with a louder exhaust system or stripped of sound deadening material to make it lighter. Although that all makes the Elantra N TCR quite usable as a daily driver, and I’m sure it will be a fine friend to its owners, that seems to be at odds with the special edition’s focus on the racetrack. 

Ultimately, the Elantra N TCR Edition is a good car, but with just a little more tuning, it feels like Hyundai’s N division could have celebrated its anniversary with something truly special.