Ten years ago, buying a sports compact sedan meant you either got the classy VW Jetta GLI or could afford a Subaru. However, one of the top contenders right now is Korean, the 2022 Hyundai Elantra N. But is it really that fast? To find out, we’re checking out a drag race between it and the Volkswagen Jetta GLI.
We mentioned Subaru because the Elantra N has already drag-raced a 2022 Subaru WRX at the hands of Edmunds. They found that Hyundai’s blue 4-door was more than a match, but the result was quite controversial among fans of both cars. This drag race against the Jetta GLI should be more decisive and difficult to contest.
It’s important to note that unlike with the Subaru, which has AWD and a bigger boxer engine, these two are direct rivals. Both the Elantra N and the Jetta GLI have 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 units powering only the front wheels.
As reported by YouTuber Sam CarLegion at the beginning of his video, the outputs are a little different. The Elantra N makes 276 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque. But the Jetta GLI only makes 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. That’s slightly less than a GTI hot hatch for some reason. But some magazines have done the 0 to 60mph sprint in 5.8 seconds, so don’t count it out just yet.
Hyundai N now has DCT
What makes this race extra special is the fact that both have twin-clutch gearboxes. That’s nothing strange for a Volkswagen, which brought DSG to the mass market. But now Hyundai has an 8-speed DCT of its own, and it’s pretty good.
So which is the fastest? Well, with both cars in their sporty settings and launch control engaged, the Elantra N just shoots ahead to secure a clear win. The rolling race produces similar results: the Jetta GLI gets seriously spanked.
But there is obviously a way to make the Jetta faster. Next time, the channel will race a tuned version of this GLI 2.0-liter engine. There are lots of ways to modify it, from basic software to Stage 3 APR kits with new internals. We’re thinking Sam is just going to get one of those 280-300 hp Stage 1 Jettas.
Tuned vs stocks is unfair? Maybe. But the Jetta GLI is cheaper at $30,995 base (without DSG), compared to the $31,900 that a Hyundai dealer is going to charge. Who are we kidding here?! We just want more drag races; it has nothing to do with the price.
