Compared: 2024 Hyundai Elantra vs. 2024 Kia Forte
Kia's compact sedan may be affordable, but Hyundai's compact sedan has more equipment and gets better mileage.
Kia | Hyundai
QuickTakes:
Compact sedans can be excellent choices for car buyers on a budget. They often have plenty of features and low starting prices. Korean automakers Kia and Hyundai have capitalized on this automotive-market niche with two solid choices for shoppers who want the most bang for their buck.
The 2024 Hyundai Elantra is one of the hottest-looking small cars while the Kia Forte offers one of the lowest asking prices in the industry.
Kia
Both Compacts Are Among the Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy
The 2024 Kia Forte in base LX trim can be yours for around $21,000. The roughly $24,000 GT-Line model includes more convenience and driver-assistance features. If you've got a need for speed, the Kia Forte GT comes with a more powerful engine for about $26,000. There's also the fully loaded GT Manual for around $27,000.
There are four Hyundai Elantra trim levels, starting at about $23,000 for the base SE. The mid-trim SEL model starts at about $25,000 and can be equipped with the optional $1,750 Convenience Package, which includes goodies such as heated front seats, wireless device charging, and a power moonroof. The fully loaded Elantra Limited starts at around $28,000, while the N Line — geared toward those interested in a sportier experience — starts just below $30,000.
The Hyundai Elantra is also available as a hybrid gasoline-electric model, which is not discussed in this comparison.
Hyundai
The Elantra Comes With More Standard Equipment
The entry-level Kia Forte LX is relatively basic, riding on 15-inch steel wheels and offering only single-zone climate control. There's an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while the GT-Line and higher trims get a 10.3-inch screen with built-in navigation and dual-zone climate control.
The Forte packs plenty of safety equipment and driver assists, even at the base level, with standard forward-collision warning and lane-keeping assist. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and parking sensors are all offered on higher trim levels.
Kia
The Elantra packs some highlight-worthy standard features, including wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity on the SE model and wired access on SEL and Limited. The entry-level SE also embraces standard safety gear such as a safe-exit warning, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic high-beams.
On the Limited models, Hyundai includes features such as adaptive cruise control, highway-driving assist, a surround-view camera, customizable ambient interior lighting, and a cool feature that lets you use your phone as a key.
Hyundai
The Elantra Offers Better Fuel Economy
The 2024 Kia Forte LX, LXS, and GT-Line use a 147-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The Forte nets up to 30/41/34 mpg in city/highway/combined driving.
The more powerful GT or GT Manual models use a 201-hp 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. When paired with the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the Forte GT is good for 27/35/30 mpg. The six-speed manual transmission version gets rated at 22/31/26 mpg.
The SE, SEL, and Limited Elantras use the same 147-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and CVT. The entry-level SE is rated to return 32/41/36 mpg, while the SEL and Limited get 31/40/34 mpg. The N Line in a manual transmission is estimated to get 21/29/24 mpg, and with an automatic transmission it's rated for 20/27/23 mpg.
Note: All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
