The Hyundai Elantra N TCR Is A Budget Honda Civic Type R

Hyundai has an alternative for you if you happen to find the starting price of a Honda Civic Type R a bit too high. It's a fair criticism of the near-perfect Honda, which now starts at $48,090. It makes more power, yes, but the Elantra N TCR brings many of the same driver and track-focused upgrades to the table for far less money. The 2026 Lenatra N TCR Edition starts at $40,495, including destination. There's also (unlike the Civic) an available dual-clutch automatic transmission ($41,995) to complement the standard six-speed manual.

The most notable shift as compared to the Elantra N is the TCR Edition's huge fixed wing. It's adjustable, if you want to get really nerdy about your lap times and setup. 19-inch forged wheels complement the new wing and help take a little weight off the corners of the car, where it matters most. Updated brakes also help the TCR slow down better than the N.

Inside, you'll find a new Alcantara-wrapped wheel to keep those sweaty hands in place, TCR badging, and the usual N-branded blue accents found in the standard Elantra N. The console and shifter also get a few Alcantara touches. As for the powertrain, that remains unchanged. This means the front-drive sedan makes 278 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque from a turbocharged four-cylinder. It's not anywhere near as lofty as the Type R's 315 horses, but the sedan is also cheaper to the tune of $7,595 if you opt for the six-speed manual. That figure falls to $6,095 if you opt for the dual-clutch. No matter how you cut it, that's quite a lot of money to spend on track consumables like tires, gas, and brakes.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Apr 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 3:34 PM.