Hyundai N Line Cars In India

Hyundai’s N Line story goes back a couple of years. As we know, the Korean giant  is responsible for some of the most feature laden cars in India. It comes as no surprise it is one of the most popular carmakers in India. The brand’s portfolio has multiplied over the years and they frequently take up a spot in the best-selling cars list. However, Hyundai was the last name you’d consider if you wanted a driver’s car. To fix this, Hyundai set up the N department in 2012 as a performance car wing with a research outfit at the famed Nurburgring racetrack in Germany. They also managed to rope in some venerable senior engineers from BMW’s M division. The N to Hyundai is what M is to BMW and AMG is to Mercedes. It’s strictly a performance division that focuses on outright driver’s cars. India is yet to get a full-blown Hyundai N car, but we do have the next best thing – N Line.

The N Line is like a cut-price version of the N with enough modifications to make it worthy of a sporty edition. Hyundai’s N Line story began with the i20 N Line which turned out to be a great success considering affordable sporty cars were a niche market. Hyundai roughly sold 700 units of the i20 N Line every month making for 10 percent of the overall sales. Following the i20 N Line’s positive reception, Hyundai has given us not one but two N line models – the Venue N Line and the Creta N Line. 

When carmakers like Ford have quit India and with no car makers offering affordable fun cars, Hyundai is soldiering on with a small yet effective portfolio which deserves all the love for being different. Buyers looking for a new car with some sporty underpinnings have three options from Hyundai, and let’s take a good look at what they offer:

Hyundai N Line Cars in India

Hyundai i20 N Line

The third-generation Hyundai i20 evolved from its predecessors in terms of performance and handling and introduced a new package that was comparable to peers from Europe. However, it was missing some extra zing which made it special to a certain type of buyers. With the introduction of the i20 N Line, Hyundai has filled that void and started a new chapter. The i20 N Line initially seemed like a cosmetic upgrade over the standard i20. But, there’s more to this little hatchback. In terms of styling, you get 16-inch alloy wheels, red accents around the car, red brake calipers, different bumper designs and some subtle N line badge. Step inside and the red treatment continues to the seats and cabin which is inherently all-black. The biggest talking point of the i20 N Line’s cabin is the sportier steering wheel that looks the part and gives it that much-needed distinction.

Things get serious under the hood as the N Line features a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that sends 120PS and 172Nm to the front wheels. Power is sent using either a 7-speed DCT or a 6-speed manual gearbox. 120PS makes it the most powerful hatchback in its class with the 0-100 kmph sprint coming up in just 9.9 seconds (DCT). The changes don’t end there as Hyundai also offers a stiffer suspension setup with revised steering geometry for better handling. Hyundai has also thrown in a throaty exhaust note. As a complete package, there’s nothing like the i20 N Line today, and that is a win for Hyundai and enthusiasts looking for something special. 

Hyundai i20 N Line Specifications

• Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol 
• Transmission: 7-speed DCT/6-speed MT
• Fuel Type: Petrol
• Airbags: 6
• Body Type: Hatchback

Hyundai i20 N Line Key Features

• Digital driver’s display
• Bose 7-speaker sound system
• 4-wheel disc brakes
• Sunroof

Hyundai Venue N Line

Following the i20 N Line’s success, Hyundai wanted to take a crack at the sub-4m SUV space with the Venue N Line. This time as well, Hyundai followed the same winning recipe with cosmetic and mechanical changes to justify the N badge. The N Line treatment on the Venue features 16-inch wheels, red accents on both front and rear bumpers, sides, roof rails and around the wheel arches. The story inside is also the same as the i20 N Line –  all-black cabin with red accents and piping for the seats with custom badge. It also borrows the tasteful three-spoke N steering wheel from the i20. Since the N-Line is the top-spec variant, it also gets all the features that you get in a standard Venue.

Under the hood, there’s only one choice – the same 1.0-litre turbo GDI Kappa engine as the i20 N Line. The output figures also remain the same at 120PS and 172 Nm. And just like the i20 N Line, the Venue is also offered with the 7-speed DCT or the 6-speed manual if you wish to row your own gear. Hyundai claims to have retuned the suspension to offer 34 percent more damping force. This means the SUV feels tighter around bends with the giveaway being a stiffer ride quality. There are also subtle changes to the steering geometry with a new exhaust note. A great addition over the standard Venue is the 4-wheel disc brakes which makes the difference as the N Line could use more stopping power.

Hyundai Venue N Line Specifications

• Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol 
• Transmission: 7-speed DCT/6-speed MT
• Fuel Type: Petrol
• Airbags: 6
• Body Type: SUV

Hyundai Venue N Line Key Features

• Connected car tech
• Alexa support
• 4-wheel disc brakes
• Dual dash cam

Hyundai Creta N Line

The latest to join Hyundai’s N Line portfolio is the popular Creta. Having sold over 22,000 units of both the i20 N Line and Venue N Line, Hyundai knew it was on a roll and the market appreciates sportier cars. Enter the Creta N Line, following more or less the same recipe as its siblings. The Creta N Line has a completely reworked front-end design with new grille and lower bumpers. It is evident Hyundai has tried to give the Creta N Line a fresh design aesthetic in contrast to the standard Creta. The N Line gets rid of all the chrome for gloss black finish with the usual red elements throughout the car. The alloys are the talking point as they are 18-inch and sport a striking design adding more character. At the rear, the changes are less drastic with similar layout but with a different bumper, a faux diffuser design, and the twin exhaust tips. 

The cabin features the quintessential all-black theme with red accents. You also get red ambient lighting along with the same three-spoke steering wheel and a N-specific gear knob. The features list remain the same – a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, dual zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, and a Bose sound system. Under the hood is the 1.5-litre T-GDi petrol engine pushing out a strong 160PS and 252 Nm of torque using either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT. Hyundai claims the DCT variant can sprint to 100 kmph in just 8.9 seconds. Hyundai also claims to have made changes to the suspension for a better handling package, but it does miss out on a sporty exhaust note like the other N Line models. That said, a 160PS SUV is indeed special and compact SUV buyers have something to look forward to with the Creta N Line.

Hyundai Creta N Line Specifications

• Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol 
• Transmission: 7-speed DCT/6-speed MT
• Fuel Type: Petrol
• Airbags: 6
• Body Type: SUV

Hyundai Creta N Line Features

• 360-degree camera
• Bose sound system
• Panoramic roof
• Full ADAS Suite
• 8-way powered driver’s seat

Hyundai N Line Cars In India Summary

Hyundai’s N Line cars come at a price, and the question is whether they justify the extra premium? If you want a car that stands out, provides more thrills and the occasional smile to lighten up your day, the Hyundai N Line models justify the ask. They are some of the most powerful cars in the segment and come with enough handling chops to keep the average driver happy. Think of it as a warm alternative rather than a hot one. The N Line success is testament to how India is open to fun cars on a budget. Although many entrants failed to make a mark, there is still a small market that appreciates fun cars. Maybe, India has finally warmed up to the idea of affordable fun cars. Hyundai is doing a great job with the N Line portfolio and as long as you don’t expect a serious performance car, all the three N Line cars are sure to make a mark.