Honda Civic Type R Races Hyundai Elantra N in Edmunds U-Drags

[TurboZed-R]

You said it wasn’t a formidable rival. It’s within a tenth of a second. I’d say that’s a rival that demands some respect.

I said everyone has given the tire debate, never said formidable. On equal rubber and driver the N still has yet to pull off a win.

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[Cap]

Buncha sensitive FL5 owners here, Jesus. The Elantra N is a great car for substantially less $ than the R. God forbid you give it some credit.

If it looked better and was a hatch (and their dealers didn't suck) I would have bought one over the FL5.

 

[Clark_Kent]

You said it wasn’t a formidable rival. It’s within a tenth of a second. I’d say that’s a rival that demands some respect.

That was me and isn't and it doesn't. I stand by my previous statement. The Elantra N is a consistent loser to the Civic Type R. The numbers don't lie. In the spirit of plucking random data points, the Elantra N didn't fare too well against the Civic Type R in the C&D Lightning Lap Series. Upgrading PS4S to Cup 2s won't fill that 10 second hole, not on these cars and not on that track. It's not possible.

The Elantra is a fine car for what it is and I'm sure it's fun enough. There's no debating that. But trying to make the Elantra N a comp to the FL5 is a stretch. The Golf R is more of a true comp than the Elantra N.

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42387050/2023-honda-civic-type-r-lightning-lap-2023/

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42386833/2022-hyundai-elantra-n-lightning-lap-2023/

 

[superporpoise]

Anyone who thinks the Elantra N can’t hang with a Type R hasn’t owned both cars. Manual vs. manual the Type R is faster, but the Elantra is more impressive for the money. I’ve owned DCT + manual ENs and now own an FL5

 

[Tickle]

Buncha sensitive FL5 owners here, Jesus. The Elantra N is a great car for substantially less $ than the R. God forbid you give it some credit.

If it looked better and was a hatch (and their dealers didn't suck) I would have bought one over the FL5.

Maybe I missed it but it seems everyone is giving the car credit. More than you really.. keeping things like looks out of it.

Anyone who thinks the Elantra N can’t hang with a Type R hasn’t owned both cars. Manual vs. manual the Type R is faster, but the Elantra is more impressive for the money. I’ve owned DCT + manual ENs and now own an FL5

But now you've upgraded to an FL5. I'm sure the driving the Elantra N at no point feels like it doesn't belong in discussions. I'm also sure it never feels like the better car.

I think of the Elantra N as a car that is faster and more fun than competition. I don't think of it as the best FWD performance offering. I think that's okay..

 

[NoelPR]

Anyone who thinks the Elantra N can’t hang with a Type R hasn’t owned both cars. Manual vs. manual the Type R is faster, but the Elantra is more impressive for the money. I’ve owned DCT + manual ENs and now own an FL5

Case closed



Guys I don't know what race the people complaining about the tires saw.

In both races the EN jumped ahead and before reaching the braking/turning point the CTR was already ahead.

In conclusion with or without Cup2 the outcome will be the same.

 

[Samurai1225]

I’m obviously on team FL5, but the EN did win in one competition that I’m aware one. C&D’s 0-150-0 test the EN was quicker by almost 6 full seconds.

 

[Fanatic]

Honda needs to step up their game, as far as performance and value.

 

[Tickle]

Honda needs to step up their game, as far as performance and value.

I feel like the Civic Si is a really nice car for 30k. (30,195) .

 

[AZCWTypeR]

The perception (and perhaps reality) is Hyundai's are not as durable as Honda's and Hyundai resale value reflects this.

Honda is an engineering powerhouse, doing almost all work in house (including F1 and Indy efforts). Honda values lessons learned from failures and they quickly correct.

My observation (having worked some in automotive engineering) is Hyundai engineering is small, lean, and relies more on contractor engineering. It is harder to improve when in-house expertise is limited.

If you have ever owned VW/Audi/Porsche, you know and same part that broke 10 years ago is the same part that will break today. Problem parts never seem to get culled from the system, despite cars going through multiple generations. Zero lessons learned are corrected. You won't find this with Honda.

 

[Robo7]

The Elantra N is slower but is respectable for a less expensive car. If the metric were speed per $ the EN very well could be #1. To me the EN (and Veloster N before it) has always slotted in between the Si and the Type R. EN does destroy the Type R in one area though, it’s exhaust sounds way more exciting.

 

[Fanatic]

I feel like the Civic Si is a really nice car for 30k. (30,195) .

For sure. 25,000 for the Civic SI would be great and 39,000 for the CTR would be great as well but I guess this is the market we live in currently.

 

[Noize]

The perception (and perhaps reality) is Hyundai's are not as durable as Honda's and Hyundai resale value reflects this.

Honda is an engineering powerhouse, doing almost all work in house (including F1 and Indy efforts). Honda values lessons learned from failures and they quickly correct.

My observation (having worked some in automotive engineering) is Hyundai engineering is small, lean, and relies more on contractor engineering. It is harder to improve when in-house expertise is limited.

If you have ever owned VW/Audi/Porsche, you know and same part that broke 10 years ago is the same part that will break today. Problem parts never seem to get culled from the system, despite cars going through multiple generations. Zero lessons learned are corrected. You won't find this with Honda.

Best post in this thread.
The EN resale won’t hold up longterm.
It’s a new car performance value, but it fell out of the ugly tree and hit every single branch on the way down.

Look under the EN at all the steel componentry instead of aluminum, platform sharing, cost cutting, and VN carryover parts. You get what you pay for.

You also hit the nail on the head with the VAG stuff. Why is it so hard to figure out a water pump or rear main seal on the EA888 for ze Germans?

 

[us17094]

Totally agree with NOIZE. The EN is a great value proposition in several ways - if I was just starting out working, it would probably be the car I went for because of what you get for the price. But man, it just doesn't look "right". Hyundai messed up the styling if you ask me. The profile looks pretty good but from most other angles it looks like an econobox.

 

[tibwolf]

Lots of gatekeeping in this thread!

The EN is a great value for a fun track-capable car that is fun to daily drive.

If the badges were reversed, would everybody be saying that the Hyundai is worth ~10k over a Type R?

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