It’s more than slightly unfair to compare Nissan’s 2022 Sentra 2.0 SR Midnight Edition to Hyundai’s Elantra N-Line, but I’m doing it anyway. Get over it.
Nissan Sentra 2.0 SR Midnight
What we have here is a pair of racy-looking compact sedans with loads of safety gear and even more attitude. One is far, far more serious than the other, however.
That one is NOT the Nissan. Turn your attention to Hyundai.
But first, let’s quickly pause to think about “attitude.” It’s an increasingly rare thing in today’s car business. Most carmakers are racing to downplay the cars in their lineups that boast pure, unadulterated sex appeal – the kind of Steve McQueen-ish stuff straight out of 1969. We are in the era of responsible motoring; in-your-face fun need not apply. Grab your e-bike and off you go.
Yet here we are talking about cars which are the antithesis of e-bikes.
Take the slick, fast, unapologetic Elantra N ($37,399 base). It even has a six-speed manual gearbox to go along with the 2.0-litre turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder that’s rated at a whopping 276 hp/289 lb-ft of torque. It’s an engine that instantly puts power to the pavement – about 5.0 seconds from 0-100 km/hr. And I mean, power is right there, peaking at 2,100 rpm.
Elantra Sport Bucket Seats
With its N Light Sport bucket seats (suede and leather) dressed with the “N” logo; Bose premium sound with eight speakers; and an excellent 10.25” LCD instrument cluster, matched by a 10.25” high-resolution navigation system with a performance data-tracking app and, well… The cabin looks and feels like a place for serious drivers doing edgy things.
Which is the point. That engine is essentially identical to the one Hyundai uses in the likes of the World Rally Championship, TCR (touring car) Pirelli World Challenge, and TCR Michelin Pilot Challenge. It’s a modern, powerful little mill in an aggressive front-driver with actual performance cred.
And there’s more: an electronically controlled limited slip differential; electronically controlled suspension; driver-adjusted active exhaust; 19-inch alloy wheels shod with very aggressive P245/35R-19 high-performance Michelin Pilot Sport 4s rubber; big brakes; and, tight steering. The rear spoiler is functional, too. Did I mention the red rocker panels? Excellent. The exhaust tuned to “pop” like a race/rally car? Oh, my.
This brings us to the Sentra 2.0 SR Midnight edition. It’s a bit snarly to look at, though the 2.0-litre four, at 149 hp/146 lb-ft or torque, is downright mild compared to what’s in the Elantra N. The CVT (continuously variable transmission) is a gearbox (of sorts) for fuel misers, not rally drivers.
That said, and given the mission here, the Midnight is more entertaining that the spec sheet might suggest – and cheap at $25,598 plus the usual fees et al. The 18-inch black alloy wheels look bad and their shod with 215/45R-18 all-season that look more racetrack than they are in reality.
The independent front strut/multilink rear suspension layout isn’t nearly as well-controlled and delightful as the N-Line setup, but it’s not bad for a city car. Intelligent Ride Control and a Vehicle Dynamic Control system together smooth out the rough edges of handling, and give you a sense of comfort when you dial up your driving in wider-open spaces with excellent curves.
Elantra displays
The driver display, 7.0 inches, is not on par with the N-line, and neither is the 8.0-inch touchscreen display. They’re not bad, though, and perfectly functional in a compact sedan that is thousands and thousands less than the Hyundai. Heck, the Nissan even has a painted rear spoiler and rear diffuser and black badging of the “Midnight” variety.
Yeah, the Midnight is a poseur. But there’s enough on the features list to catch your eye for a second-take: sport
cloth interior with orange stitching; six-speaker (plus two tweeters) sound system; power glass moonroof; fold-down rear seats; Intelligent Cruise Control; Nissan’s Intelligent Key; and even remote start. Nissan has packed a bunch of goodies into an affordable package that looks lively and challenging.
Oh, and the Nissan gets a combined 7.1 litres/100 km, versus 9.4 for the Elantra N.
To sum up, the Hyundai is a dead-serious sports sedan, while the Nissan looks like one but costs some $12,000 less. Purists will know and appreciate the authentic package that is the Hyundai. The Nissan brings the attitude in its looks, but is aimed at enthusiastic drivers with budget constraints.
They’re not head-to-head rivals, except in the sense that both prey on the few remaining drivers with attitude.
