When the dropped at the New York Auto Show in April, we declared ourselves extremely here for it, which is not something we normally say about a midsize sedan. We still are, but now our excitement has been slightly tempered with marketplace reality thanks to Wednesday’s confirmation that, while the Sonata will have an N Line variant, it won’t go full N.

You can probably figure this out on your own, but just in case: N is Hyundai’s peak performance line. So the is more like the AMG Sport or BMW M Sport models. The Hyundai Elantra GT is already sporting an N Line option, which added stiffer engine, transmission and transmission mounts, stiffer springs, and a whole host of other upgrades. So it’ll be kind of N, but not really.

The 2019 Hyundai Veloster N gave the sport compact scene something new to be stoked about at last…

That means we won’t get a full-force Hyundai Sonata N in the vein of the hot hatch, which we also love. Sad, but understandable.

The Sonata N Line will be dialed up a touch, with a 290 horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. It’ll also come with the same eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission as Hyundai puts into the Veloster N along with some aesthetic changes, like larger wheels and a quad exhaust layout, according to . It’s a step up from the current scrawny 180 HP 1.6-liter four-cylinder in the regular Sonata.

While disappointing to us gearheads, it’s a smart move on Hyundai’s business side. An N Sonata would have seen extremely limited sales, while the N Line Sonata has just enough spunk to make SUV-obsessed buyers look twice at a rumbly four-door sedan without being intimidated.

Plus, let’s be honest. Nobody was gonna track a Sonata anyway.

We’ll just tack the Hyundai Sonata N up on our Big Board Of What Could Have Been, and move on with our lives.