Compare the2024 Hyundai Elantra HybridVS 2024 Kia Forte

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2024/05/19

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 for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Forte doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Elantra Hybrid has a standard blind spot warning system that 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 standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Kia charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning on the Forte and its not available on the LX.

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
HIC	142	245
Neck Injury Risk	21%	24.2%
Leg Forces (l/r)	66/48 lbs.	74/132 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	314	325
Chest Compression	.6 inches	1.1 inches
Neck Injury Risk	42%	49.1%
Neck Compression	6 lbs.	99 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	135/61 lbs.	173/101 lbs.

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.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Sedan is much safer than the Forte:

	Elantra Hybrid	Forte
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	MARGINAL
Head Injury Criterion	189	812
Head Peak Forces	no contact	104 G’s
Neck Tension	312 lbs.	379 lbs.
Neck Compression	-134 lbs.	22 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Shoulder Deflection	1.1 in	2.4 in
Shoulder Force	424 lbs.	759 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.26 in	2.4 in
Torso Deflection Rate	10 MPH	13 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Pelvis Force	1093 lbs.	1762 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	167	398
Neck Tension	112 lbs.	156 lbs.
Neck Compression	-156 lbs.	134 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.18 in	1.85 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	424 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.5 in	1.81 in
Torso Deflection Rate	10 MPH	11 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	558 lbs.	982 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Elantra Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 67 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Forte last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

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, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Forte.

Engine

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.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Elantra Hybrid
	Auto	Blue 1.6 4-cyl. Hybrid	51 city/58 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.

Environmental Friendliness

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.

Brakes and Stopping

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

Tires and Wheels

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.

Suspension and Handling

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.

The Elantra Hybrid has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Elantra Hybrid flat and controlled during cornering. The Forte base model’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

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.

Passenger Space

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.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Elantra Hybrid Limited, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. 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 Seat Easy Access 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 LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Forte’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Elantra Hybrid’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Forte’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

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.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Elantra Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Elantra Hybrid will cost $830 less than the Forte over a five-year period.

Recommendations

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

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Elantra as the 2021 North American Car of the Year. The Forte has never been chosen.

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the Kia Forte by 8% during 2022.