21/10/2026
| Performance + Quality + Ease of Ownership
When Hyundai Makes Cars Like This, Why Don’t We Get Them?
The Elantra N Monochrome is a reminder that there’s a very different side to Hyundai — one Indian buyers have barely experienced.
Look beyond the striking design and there’s plenty to appreciate. The alloy wheel detailing, alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, thoughtfully laid-out cabin and choice of materials give it a sense of occasion we typically associate with European performance cars.
And that’s before we get to its performance and driving dynamics.
To me (A***N), that’s what makes this car so interesting. Hyundai can deliver the performance, sophistication and attention to detail we’d expect from established European brands, while bringing its own engineering philosophy and reputation for reliability.
It makes me wonder whether I’d miss a European-built Octavia as much if Hyundai offered something like this in India.
Of course, performance sedans are a niche here, SUVs dominate buyer preferences, and bringing a specialised model to India isn’t an easy business decision.
But not every car needs huge sales numbers to justify its existence. Some cars matter because of what they do for the brand.
An Elantra N could give enthusiasts something to aspire to, showcase Hyundai’s engineering capabilities and strengthen the N badge in a market where we’ve mostly experienced the relatively mild N Line products.
It doesn’t have to compete with the Creta on sales. Its job would be entirely different.
Skoda has shown with the Octavia RS that there’s an audience in India willing to pay for a genuinely exciting performance sedan, even if it’s relatively small.
I’d love to see Hyundai explore that opportunity.
India needs practical, comfortable and efficient cars, but there’s room for a few that exist primarily to make driving feel special.
Would you consider an Elantra N over an Octavia RS, or spend that money on a premium SUV?
