Since its introduction, Hyundai's raucous tuner car has learned some manners and it's now more fun to drive.

Six new small cars packing the hottest turbocharged engines and performance upgrades cost between $35,000 and $53,000. The Hyundai Elantra N, at the bottom of that price range, transforms an ordinary compact into a thrilling sports sedan with a high level of power and poise that can be safely extracted on a public road. As a noisy, lowered car with a thirst for high-test gas, the Elantra N appeals solely to enthusiasts who want a track-tuned model from the factory at an affordable price. Despite some obvious faults, the latest Elantra N has been much improved since its first model year (2022). Remarkably, it’s even better with an automatic transmission.

Verdict: Serious performance at an enticing price.