2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line Road Test and Review

Most people don’t think driving is fun. Instead, driving is viewed as a chore, necessary to transport people and things from Point A to Point B without resorting to public transportation. At the same time, consumer studies show that people prefer to drive vehicles with powerful acceleration and responsive handling. Evidently, even drivers who don’t enjoy the journey nearly as much as the destination want to feel like they can safely merge onto a freeway, or pass slower traffic, or stop fast, or swerve to avoid collisions without putting themselves or their passengers at risk.

Enter the 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line, an affordable mid-size sedan offering plenty of room for people and things combined with powerful acceleration and responsive handling. Loaded with safety and infotainment technology, comfortable for four adults, reasonably fuel-efficient, and remarkably affordable, the Sonata N Line checks all of the boxes on a typical consumer’s list. And, whether you care about such things or not, it is also a heck of a lot of fun to drive.

Hyundai keeps it simple when it comes to the new 2021 Sonata N Line. The car comes one way, with only a handful of options and accessories. The base price is $34,195, including a destination charge of $995. Our test car had the summer performance tire option ($200) and a set of floor mats ($155), bringing the window sticker to $35,545.

The N Line isn’t the most expensive version of the 2021 Sonata, but it's close. Only the Sonata Limited Hybrid costs more. Nevertheless, in general, the entire Sonata lineup seems underpriced when you factor in the generous standard five-year/60,000-mile warranty, the 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, the five-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance plan, the three years of free scheduled maintenance, and the three years of free Blue Link connected services. Yes, all of that is included in the price. Find another mid-size sedan that offers the same level of owner benefits. Not even the Sonata N Line’s cousin, the Kia K5 GT, is as compelling.

Hyundai took a risk with the latest Sonata’s styling, seeking to replicate the success of the dramatic 2011-2014 version of the car. The result is not to everyone’s preference, but that’s the point. If you like the car’s looks, chances are you’ll love the Sonata, and especially in N Line specification.

The N Line does improve on the standard Sonata with larger front air intakes, bigger 19-inch aluminum wheels, gloss-black exterior trim and detailing, and a barely evident lip spoiler. It’s a subtle sports sedan treatment, and the most obvious visual hint to the car’s performance is a dual exhaust system with quad outlets. And that’s what most people are going to see when you surprise them after the light turns green. Inside, Hyundai installs front sport seats, premium Nappa leather and Dinamica suede upholstery, red contrast stitching, and dark chrome accent trim. Otherwise, the cabin is standard-issue Sonata, rendered in quality materials and with an eye for design.

Though they’re bolstered for added lateral support in corners and curves, the Sonata N Line’s heated front seats remain comfortable after hours spent behind the sport steering wheel. The driver enjoys eight-way power adjustment while the front passenger gets six-way manual adjustment, including for height. Rear-seat room is not class-leading, and plastic front seatback panels could prove uncomfortable for adult passengers with longer legs. However, the seat is comfortable and supportive, and the N Line includes rear air conditioning vents and a USB charging port.

Hyundai’s Smart Trunk feature is a hands-free trunk release that allows you to keep both feet on terra firma when your arms are full. As long as you’re in possession of the key fob, all you need to do is stand near the back of the car for a few seconds and it will release the lid. The trunk measures a generous 16 cubic feet, and a split-folding rear seat enhances the Sonata N Line’s utility. Unfortunately, Hyundai does not provide a handle on the inside of the lid, so when you close it your hands will get dirty from touching the outer paint.

Hyundai equips the N Line with its Digital Key technology. Available only for Android-based smartphones, Hyundai Digital Key allows the car’s owner to tap the car door handle with the phone to unlock the car, and to start and drive it without the key fob. Upon arrival at a destination, the digital key also locks the doors.

Residing to the right of the 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display, a 10.25-inch infotainment system provides access to almost everything you want in a modern mid-size sedan. A Wi-Fi hotspot service is conspicuously absent, but otherwise, from Apple CarPlay to Android Auto, and from navigation to a Bose premium sound system, the Sonata N Line delivers in terms of modern tech. Blue Link is Hyundai’s connected services technology, and it’s free for the first three years of ownership. Hyundai says the Sonata N Line has an advanced voice recognition system, but in our test car, it could not respond to several of the test prompts suggested by the automaker. It did, however, respond accurately to most of our standard test prompts.

Hyundai SmartSense is standard for the Sonata N Line, and this collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) is comprehensive. Highlights include both pedestrian and cyclist detection for the forward-collision warning system; lane-centering assistance in addition to lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assistance; and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. Additionally, the car has a Rear Occupant Alert system and more.

Pairing the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology, Highway Drive Assist is a Level 2 ADAS designed to make long-distance travel easier. It is exceptionally smooth and accurate, and while not advisable, it offers substantially more hands-off driving time than most competitive technologies. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not rated the Sonata N Line for crash protection as this review was written. The standard Sonata performs well in both group's assessments.

If the Sonata N Line looks subtle, its performance capability is not. This car boasts a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 290 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque between 1,650 rpm and 4,000 rpm. This motive force flows to the front wheels through an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT), which includes paddle shifters, downshift rev-matching, launch control, and an N Power Shift function.

Undoubtedly, this car would benefit from a torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system. However, since that’s not on the menu, the software’s taming of torque steer is remarkable. At no time during a 75-mile drive did I find the Sonata N Line lacking in terms of its composure. In the mountains near Malibu, California, the N Line was a thrill to drive, especially in its Sport+ mode. The N Power Shift function delivers fast, decisive upshifts on straights and expertly rev-matched downshifts in advance of corners and curves. Plus, an Active Sound Design engine note enhancement adds to your driving pleasure. Despite our regular exploration of the engine’s potential and plenty of Friday afternoon traffic as we made our way into Hollywood, the Sonata N Line averaged 23.7 mpg. That result comes up short against the EPA rating of 27 mpg in combined driving, but it wasn’t entirely unexpected given the situation.

There is more to the Sonata N Line than its engine and transmission. The car also gets stiffer powertrain mounts, a sport-tuned suspension, bigger front and rear brakes, quick-ratio rack-mounted electric steering, and 19-inch wheels shod with all-season performance or summer performance tires.

From the moment you put the car in Drive and head off down the road, you can sense these modifications. They’re evident in a feeling of solidity, an immediacy to steering and braking inputs, and a firm and communicative ride quality. Pitch the Sonata N Line into a turn, especially one with imperfect pavement, and the suspension rapidly eradicates unwanted vertical and lateral body motions. With the summer tires, grip in corners is extraordinary. Since we were driving roads we know well, the kinks and curves held no surprises. Knowing when and where to brake and accelerate meant the Sonata N Line exhibited no tendencies toward understeer. Still, a torque-vectoring AWD system would make this car extra special to drive.

Mainstream mid-size sport sedans are a vanishing breed. Recent departures from the segment include the Buick Regal GS and Ford Fusion Sport, and the only comparatively tuned competitors to the new Hyundai Sonata N Line are the Kia K5 GT ($31,455) and Toyota Camry TRD ($33,180).

If you’re not into a truly meaningful performance massage for your mid-size sedan, other fun-to-drive alternatives include the Honda Accord Sport 2.0T ($32,865), Nissan Altima SR VC-Turbo ($31,575), Mazda Mazda6 Grand Touring ($30,970), and Subaru Legacy Limited XT ($35,370). A V8 engine and rear-wheel drive are standard in the Dodge Charger R/T ($37,990). It’s worth noting that none of these alternatives can match the Hyundai as far as overall value is concerned. In terms of price, ownership benefits, performance, and equipment, the 2021 Sonata N Line hits a sweet spot in this market.

Hyundai strikes exactly the right balance with the new 2021 Sonata N Line. It’s not an outright two-lane or track-day terrorist, but it is far more than a typical treatment of mere stripes, spoilers, and flimsy substance.

Daily drivers who want power and handling when they need it will be happy with the N Line’s effortless acceleration and responsiveness. Enthusiasts who love to drive can switch into Sport+ mode, activate the paddle shifters, and rip along their favorite roads with a big, sloppy smile on their faces. Either way, the Sonata N Line is a pleasure to drive. And couldn’t we all use a little more of that in our lives?