Hyundai’s 2025 Rise

Hyundai’s Sales Surge

In a world where SUVs and trucks are hogging all the limelight, Hyundai is proving that there’s still plenty of room for a good ol’ sedan. No kidding, their Elantra is on quite the roll this year. So far, Hyundai has moved over 62,000 Elantras off lots across the United States—and that’s just in the first five months of 2025. That’s a cool 24% bump compared to last year when the Elantra was right up there in the ranks.

Why the Elantra?

The big news this year is the sporty Elantra N, which has seen an insane 141% spike in sales during May. Not bad for a variant clocking in at a starting price of $34,350. What makes this little beast appealing is its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that pumps out 276 horsepower. Buyers get to pick between a six-speed manual for the purists or a slick dual-clutch automatic for those who just want to enjoy a spunky drive without working a third pedal. Who says performance has to come with a hefty price tag, right?

Overall Performance

Hyundai’s sales in America are up 11% so far this year, tallying 369,578 units from January to May. They’ve even crossed a huge milestone by selling over 17 million vehicles in the U.S. since landing on these shores back in 1986. Among other models leading the charge is the ever-reliable Tucson, which remains the frontrunner with nearly 97,000 units sold—a healthy 23% increase from last year.

Model Performance

• Tucson: 96,932 sold, up 23%.
• Santa Fe: 54,848 sold, up 17%.
• Sonata: 27,891 sold, up 11%.
• Venue: 12,879 sold, up 19%.
• Santa Cruz: 12,173 sold, down 19%.
• Ioniq 6: 5,621 sold, down 6%.

Driving the Elantra N

As far as the driving experience goes, the Elantra N isn’t just about stats. It’s about feeling connected to the road in a way that some over-bloated SUVs just can’t match. With precise steering and a dynamic chassis, it has the kind of agility that makes tackling winding roads an absolute blast. It’s like Hyundai took a page out of the playbook of more expensive performance sedans but managed to keep the costs down. Sure, it might miss the all-wheel-drive party that some competitors are hosting, but who’s counting?

Overall, it seems Hyundai knows their game when it comes to packing value in a sedan. The Elantra keeps proving that rumors of the sedan’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. It’s shaping up to be a ride worth considering if a spirited driving experience is on the list.