Compare the2023 Kia ForteVS 2023 Hyundai Elantra

The Forte has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Elantra doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Forte and the Elantra have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Forte is safer than the Hyundai Elantra:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Forte first among compact cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Elantra isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked third.

The Forte GT’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 54 more horsepower (201 vs. 147) and 63 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 132) than the Elantra’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Forte FE gets better fuel mileage than the Elantra (30 city/41 hwy vs. 30 city/40 hwy).

The Forte has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Elantra (14 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Forte GT Auto’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Elantra:

The Forte’s standard front disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The front discs on the Elantra are solid, not vented.

The Forte stops much shorter than the Elantra:

The Forte GT’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Elantra’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Forte GT has standard 18-inch wheels. The Elantra’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

For superior ride and handling, the Forte GT has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Hyundai Elantra has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Forte’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (59.1% to 40.9%) than the Elantra’s (61.2% to 38.8%). This gives the Forte more stable handling and braking.

The Forte GT handles at .93 G’s, while the Elantra Limited pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Forte’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Elantra’s (34.8 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

The Forte has .2 inches more rear headroom and .6 inches more rear hip room than the Elantra.

The Forte has a much larger trunk than the Elantra (15.3 vs. 14.2 cubic feet).

The Forte GT Line/GT has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Elantra doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Forte’s power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Elantra’s passenger power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Consumer Reports rated the Forte’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Elantra’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Forte GT Line/GT Auto keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Elantra doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Both the Forte and the Elantra offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Forte offers optional rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Elantra doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.