Compare the2023 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid VS 2023 Kia Forte

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Elantra Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Forte doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Elantra Hybrid Limited has standard Reverse Parking Collision Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Forte doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Elantra Hybrid has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Forte’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Elantra Hybrid has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Forte and isn't available on the not available.

Both the Elantra Hybrid and the Forte 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 and available rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is safer than the Kia Forte:

	Elantra Hybrid	Forte
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars

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

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 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is safer than the Kia Forte:

	Elantra Hybrid	Forte
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	83	153
Abdominal Force	239 lbs.	282 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	68 G’s	89 G’s
Hip Force	355 lbs.	735 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	12 inches
HIC	184	367

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Elantra Hybrid the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 164 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Forte has not been fully tested, yet.

The Elantra Hybrid’s corrosion warranty is 2 years and unlimited miles longer than the Forte’s (7/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Elantra Hybrid for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Forte.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Elantra Hybrid’s reliability 48 points higher than the Forte.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 9 places higher in reliability than Kia.

The Elantra Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 63 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 132) than the Forte’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Elantra Hybrid gets better mileage than the Forte:

			MPG
Elantra Hybrid
	Auto	Blue 1.6 4-cyl. Hybrid	53 city/56 hwy
		Limited 1.6 4-cyl. Hybrid	49 city/52 hwy
Forte
	Manual	1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/31 hwy
	Auto	FE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/41 hwy
		2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/39 hwy
		1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/35 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Elantra Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Forte doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Elantra Hybrid’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The Forte doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Kia Forte (5 to 7). This means the Elantra Hybrid produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Forte every 15,000 miles.

The Elantra Hybrid stops shorter than the Forte:

	Elantra Hybrid	Forte
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	131 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

For better traction, the Elantra Hybrid has larger standard tires than the Forte (205/55R16 vs. 195/65R15).

The Elantra Hybrid Blue Sedan’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Forte LX’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Elantra Hybrid Blue Sedan has standard 16-inch wheels. Smaller 15-inch wheels are standard on the Forte LX.

For superior ride and handling, the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid 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 Forte has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Elantra Hybrid has standard rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Forte’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Elantra Hybrid is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Forte.

The Elantra Hybrid Limited Sedan handles at .85 G’s, while the Forte pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Elantra Hybrid has 3.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Forte (99.4 vs. 96).

The Elantra Hybrid has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.3 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Forte.

When different drivers share the Elantra Hybrid Limited, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Forte doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Elantra Hybrid Limited’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Forte doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Elantra Hybrid’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Forte has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Elantra Hybrid’s driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Forte’s standard driver’s power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

The Elantra Hybrid’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Forte and aren’t offered on the Forte LX.

The Elantra Hybrid has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Forte GT Line/GT.

Insurance will cost less for the Elantra Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Elantra Hybrid will cost $430 less than the Forte over a five-year period.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Kia Forte isn't recommended.

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the Kia Forte by 7% during 2021.