It doesn't matter if it's sunny, raining, or even snowing at the end of April in Ontario, Canada because nothing can and should not stop a good old-fashioned drag race. This time, we're witnessing three 6-speed manual cars that are sporty enough when pushed to the limit, but they're also great for taking the in-laws on a shopping spree. The Volkswagen Golf R, Acura Integra Type S, and Hyundai Elantra N have style, grace, and power, so let's see which one's the fastest down the quarter-mile stretch.
The 2024 Golf R hot-hatch boasts a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that delivers 315 hp (319 ps) with 280 (380 Nm) lb-ft of torque. The tiny powerplant is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission that sends power to all four wheels (4MOTIONAWD).
There's also a version with a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission for those into that driving style, that produces a bit more torque at 295 lb-ft or 400 Nm. Volkswagen claims the auto version can hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds under the right circumstances. The current price for the manual Golf R 2.0-liter TSI in the United States starts at $45,665, excluding destination taxes, titles, and other nonsense.
Next, we have the Acura Integra Type S, which boasts a 2.0-liter turbo engine that produces 320 hp (324 ps) with 310 lb-ft or 420 Nm of torque. It has a 6-speed manual that directs power to its front-wheel drive system.
This model with 320 horsepower starts at around $52,000, but there are two cheaper options with a 1.5-liter engine that produces 200 horsepower (203 ps) beginning at $31,800 with a CVT transmission and a $36,800 6-speed manual for $36,800. Sam from the "Sam CarLegion" YouTube channel appointed the Integra Type S as "Car of the Year," so that's most likely why he's behind the wheel in this race.
Next, the Hyundai Elantra N, painted in Phantom Black, comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that outputs 276 hp (280 ps) with 289 lb-ft or 392 Nm of torque. Like in the Acura's case, the 6-speed gearbox from the Elantra N delivers power to its front wheels. This high-performance manual model costs almost $33,000, while the N 8-speed Wet Dual Clutch auto transmission version will cost you $1,500 more.
Photo: Sam CarLegion
Now let's see how they fare against one another in a quarter-mile duel in the snowy weather of the Canadian wilderness. First, the Acura went against the Hyundai in a roll race from 37 mph or 60 kph, where the Integra Type S won by at least half a car length. The second roll race from 50 mph (80 kph) went again to the Acura by an entire car length.
As for the drag races, the Type S was again two for two, smoking the Elantra N right out of the gates. After the final bell, the Acura won the 0 to 60 mph stretch with 5.3 seconds on the clock, while the Elantra did it in 6.0 seconds. For the entire 1/4-mile race, the Type S finished in 13.9 seconds, while the Hyundai did it in 14.5 seconds.
Then, it was time for the Volkswagen Golf R to test its mettle. It tried its best for the first couple of roll races, but the Acura hooked like there was no tomorrow and shamed the hot hatch by the time it was over.
The tables shifted during the drag race, where the Golf R's AWD system kicked in and propelled it from 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds, while the Type S did it in 5.3 seconds. The Golf won with 13.6 seconds on the clock, and the Acura finished just 0.2 seconds later, at 13.8. It's not an earth-shattering time difference, but it was enough to lose the race.
While not exactly fair, recently, a Golf R raced a 2024 Mustang GT with the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine that delivers 486 hp (493 ps) and 418 lb-ft (567 Nm) of torque. Of course, the Mustang demolished the Golf. The former scored a 13.64-second time at 111.7 mph (179.7 kph), while the German-made hot hatch did it in 14.63 seconds at 105 mph (169 kph).
Codrin just loves American classics, from the 1940s and ‘50s, all the way to the muscle cars of the '60s and '70s. In his perfect world, we'll still see Hudsons and Road Runners roaming the streets for years to come (even in EV form, if that's what it takes to keep the aesthetic alive). Full profile
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