Should You Buy A Manual or Automatic Elantra N?

The great debate, asked almost daily in the Elantra N groups, is should I buy a Hyundai Elantra N with the 6 speed manual or with the 8 speed wet dual clutch automatic? Take a ride with me as I discuss the pros and cons of each and how you should make your decision between the two.

#elantran #hyundai #hyundaielantran #nperformance

[LeftenantMalachi]

20 years ago I would have gotten the 6 speed. Now that I'm older, with sciatica and drive in 95% stop and go traffic as a daily driver, I am very happy with the DCT in my EN.

[CreateR]

I’ve had both for about 6 months. I got my DCT intense blue Elantra N new. I liked it. I got my manual Cyber Gray Elantra N used with about 10k and some nice mods. Both are very good. No complaints about either one. The manual is definitely more fun

[BStudd]

Don’t care how great the DCT is, I’ll always pick a manual if it’s available all day, every day and twice on Sunday. I’ll get a DST only when they completely stop making manuals God forbid.

[holyfreakinguacamole]

I’m in shambles over this decision. 😂 I haven’t driven a manual in years and I miss it (I think?). But I also want to be as fast as possible, especially around our local track. 😅

[luisarreguin]

So much bang for your buck with the EN. . Im glad i made the switch. Im barely at 900 miles and already want to start moding it. But Hesitant at the moment. It took a year of having my CTR before i even dropped an intake in it.

[joeb]

Whenever the manual is an option, you always choose that. Put down your 1200 calorie latte, stop texting, and row your own gears.

[RJM]

I 100% prefer manual but I broke my clutch foot 2 years ago and it’s never been the same. DCT still lets me have much more fun than a traditional auto but still isn’t as satisfying as a manual for me. By the way, how are the rubbing issues after you pushed down the bracket for your intake?

[CloakAndDaggerPC]

I am loving this channel after researching for and purchasing a 2023 Elantra N with barely 7000km (about 5000 miles)

[trenellsmith]

Love the content, I'm going to give my input as an owner of an 2018 Elantra Sport, if you don't know about the car, just know this car started it all for the Veloster other N series vehicles. IMO, when it comes to the Manuel vs DCT/DSG talk, I think it all comes down to personal opinion and choice. I love my Elantra Sport, but the DCT was one of the first Hyundai used and was based off an Early DSG (Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche) model that Hyundai adapted for the Veloster and it's Turbo model. And Later Elantra Sport. Lucky with their later vehicles in the family even Kia, they were able to expand the speeds and add the "Wet" style DCT transmissions that made the German Market cars so popular. Such cars have made KDM and other cars using DCT/DSG cars so popular over Manuel's these days, of course IMO. I feel if you're getting any Hyundai / Kia product that's considered the sports model. The DCT in my opinion is definitely the better option over the manual. The dual clutch transmission isn't just an automatic, it's an automatic that behaves like a manual transmission. Even in the 7-speed dry DCT setups, it's great with proper maintenance, but the 8 speed and higher is amazing in Hyundai/Kia vehicles. And with Hyundai developing their DCTC with Volkswagen and Audi engineers in the Nurburgring racers this the "N" in the Hyundai sports branding, they have found a formula that works. Having personally driven a n-series Elantra, Veloster in Manuel setups and DCT setups I have liked them both. But the DCT won IMO because of a few things. 1. NGrin mode which is better on the DCT. 2. The DCT/DSG farts which seems to amplify when in sports mode, those that are fans of VW, Mercedes, BMW, Audi know what that sounds like, your car has it indeed. 3. The ease of driving if you live in a heavy traffic area during rush hour if your car is your daily. Me personally I love not having to clutch and inch and go, of course with an DCT it could still have it draw backs, but keep it in first gear in traffic you're good. All in all, it's personal choice. But if I were to upgrade my Elantra Sport, it would be the Elantra N or Genesis G70 TT both are great bangs for the buck and have great DCT's. But if I wanted a manual transmission....The Civic Type R would be my choice, although I wish Honda would of made a DCT model to compare the car with. But to name other notable car companies that are using DCT/DSG. Dodge, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Mitsubishi, Nissan among other brand, I could name models specifically but this will be an even longer posting. Dodge actually used the DCT before Hyundai in the Dart Rallie model for the US market, and of course you mentioned VW with the Golf GTI and Jetta GLI.

[Tifosi]

The dct is too good to give up, it’s very fast, but a stick makes sure you don’t get bored after driving for few months. Nowadays it’s easy to find a fast car, if you can use the left foot to drive, get a 6 speed before they disappear, they won’t be here much longer. That’s why I have a 6mt EN. Sometimes I regret when I see how fast and smooth the dct one is, but I can’t give up the manual because it encourage me to be a better driver

[jessicaphoenix]

The manual is so much more fun to drive. I have a 6-speed Elantra N. The DCT is actually faster. These days those transmissions just shift faster than humans. It depends on what you want, but if you want the experience over the tenth of a second faster...

[lilrider]

I assume that the manual transmission is cheaper to replace or fix then the DCT
$1000 or over $5000 in dct transmission

[FATmenDRIVEtrucks]

DCT so you can wreck Type R's on the streets. Make them regret that extra $20k with mark ups 😂

[markbader]

No one is talking about the issue im having. Got this car last month in the manuel and have spent weeks adjusting the seat, forward or backward i cannot get a comfortable driving position. I am 5'8" I believe if I was 6 foot there would not be an issue. I also have an 02 wrx in Manuel that I have no problem driving. Issue, on most stick shift cars you have to sit somewhat close to the stering whell to be able to depress the clutch all the way in, ok fine. On this car 23 Elantra N when pushing the clutch all the way in, your right foot is right on top of the accelerator and brake position forcing and uncomfortable bend in the right nee, but I cant go back with the seat becase then my left foot does not reach the clutch well and I stall the car, so have to push seat close to wheel whis brings up another issue. At being close to the whell so I can control the clutch properly there is no wher to rest my right arm except on the parking brake taht is too close to the shifter. My elbow in this position cannot rest on the arm rest becase the seat side bolster is too great pushing my elbow off the arm rest. Getting tired of hearing about the way the stick operates and no one talking about the ergonomics in this car. I got the car at carmax with 3k miles only owing half with my trade. Now back on there site looking for another 2023 with low miles in blue and there are none in an automatic. Went to the dealership to buy a 2025 Elantra N with the dct and it wont be available for another month. Plus hate the front end and wheels on the 2025 vs 2023 ughhh. Thining of doing a you tube video on the ergonomics of this car in Manuel to warn others. Other than this love the car, not giving up anb will find an Elantra N in performance blue with the automatic even if it is a 2025 model.

[CBRHondo]

I don’t have a EN but I do have a 2022 6MT VN (Came from a 21 Kia Forte GT 7 SP DCT btw). It’s a great platform
Lap3 ecu tuned and it’s hella fun, sure not as fast as a DCT but way more engaging IMO

[jonttran]

Thanks for review but did you did not drive the manual? Perhaps drive before post review? I drove both back to back and had both for over a day.. the DCT is cool with NGS.. I found that it hits second gear and sort of maintains the rpm for a while and then powers through… is it spinning? DCT is more consistent to launch but weird as it hits 2nd gear?? and I thought with NGS the pops and bangs louder.. the manual doesn’t seem as responsive but it’s because you tend to lug the manual more where the dct will downshift., but driven hard has plenty of pace. The manual is atrocious to launch and wheel hops bad. Motor mount is mandatory upgrade for manual. The dct also holds boost between gears where the manual dumps
Boost as you hit the clutch. I bought the manual for additional drivers engagement but often question if I should have bought DCT for outright pace.. I would say manual would be more reliable Long term.. both are great cars can’t go wrong..

[la.mi]

I got the 6MT on saturday coming from a tuned zf8 M240. I wanted a manual with something lower powered as I wanted to have fun.

[taemeister]

I see a 23 EN for 2k off msrp price, but i'm torn on which one to get: The black manual or the blue DCT. Both have their advantages. I don't know what to do!!!

[GenXisT]

There's no controversy at all, really.
A) it's personal preference
B) Yes, the auto is faster, but not sure why people would be street racing anyway... but whatever
C) The most important, I'm a grown up, and therefore, I know how to drive a manual... which is why I bought the manual, specifically because this car offers a manual where the K5 didn't.

[MIYayYo]

I’m thinking about trading in my 19 Elantra SE for either a 18-20 Sport or a 21-22 N-Line. Reason? I had to acquire a vehicle during the post covid era when every car was marketed way too high after hearing my old vehicle was totalled while I was away for tech school training. Now these vehicles cost about the same I paid but I get way more. I wish I could get the N but it’s alittle out of my range atm. As of now, Hyundai is what Honda was back then. They really stepped their game up.