2018 Kia Forte vs. 2018 Hyundai Elantra: Which is Best?

2018 Kia Forte vs Hyundai Elantra ・ Photo by Kia / Hyundai

The 2018 Kia Forte and 2018 Hyundai Elantra are affordable compact sedans designed to appeal to those on a budget. That doesn’t mean either is down-market. While base trims are lean on features to keep pricing down, as you move up toward the top trims, there are features aplenty.

These two cars are similar, but there are differences between the two that make one the better choice. Let’s take a closer look at the 2018 Kia Forte and 2018 Hyundai Elantra to see which of these compact sedans offers the features you need at a price you can afford.

Pricing and Trims

The Kia Forte is available in three trims starting with the base LX priced at $16,800. The midrange S is priced at $19,400 and the top EX comes in at $21,700. That’s great pricing, but a narrow trim range that doesn’t offer a lot of choice.

The Hyundai Elantra is available in six trims starting with the base SE at $16,950 and moving to the SEL at $18,850. In the middle of the lineup are the Value Edition at $19,850 and Eco at $20,550. Sitting at the top are the Sport at $21,800 and Limited at $22,100. Pricing starts and ends slightly higher than the Elantra, but there’s more choice from features to engines.

Winner: 2018 Hyundai Elantra

Photo by Hyundai

Hatchback Option

Both the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte are compact sedans, but there are hatchback versions of both available as the Kia Forte5 and Hyundai Elantra GT. Both are treated as entirely different models and with good reason. They offer different engine options and features than their sedan counterparts.

The biggest differentiator, however, is their ability to carry cargo. While sedans have trunks that offer limited flexibility for cargo, a hatchback can handle larger and more awkwardly shaped items. The Hyundai Elantra GT has up to 55.1 cubic feet for cargo, while the Kia Forte5 has 56.4 cubic feet. The Forte5 also has three trims versus only two for the Elantra GT, which gives you more choice.

Winner: 2018 Kia Forte

Photo by Kia

Safety

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte its top rating of Good in all crash tests except for small overlap front, passenger side, which received an Acceptable rating. Both cars also earned a Superior for available front crash prevention technologies and were named a 2018 Top Safety Pick+.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Forte an overall 5-star rating with individual 4-star ratings in the frontal crash test and rollover risk. The Elantra received an overall 4-star rating with 4-star ratings in all individual crash tests. It also was noted the side barrier test showed passenger-side rear intrusion with the potential for injury.

Winner: 2018 Kia Forte

Photo by Kia

Performance

The Hyundai Elantra lineup starts with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque paired to a 6-speed automatic (or 6-speed manual available in the base trim only). The Eco has a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 128 hp and 156 lb-ft of torque paired to a 7-speed automatic. The Sport has a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque paired to a 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic.

The Kia Forte has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque paired to a 6-speed automatic (or optional 6-speed manual on the base only). The EX gets a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 164 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque.

Winner: 2018 Hyundai Elantra

Photo by Hyundai

Fuel Efficiency

The Kia Forte gets an EPA-estimated 29 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway and 32 mpg combined. Numbers dip for the manual transmission and then dip further for the more powerful engine.

The Elantra offers its best fuel economy with the Eco at 32 mpg in the city, 40 mpg on the highway and 35 mpg combined. The Sport offers the poorest fuel economy of the lineup, and the 2.0-liter four-cylinder gets 28 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway and 32 mpg combined. The efficiency of the Eco gives the Elantra the win.

Winner: 2018 Hyundai Elantra

Photo by Hyundai

Cargo Capacity

It might not be the priority when you buy a compact sedan, but there’s still a need to carry a certain amount of cargo. Whether it’s shopping bags from a day’s errands, stuff for the kids, or luggage for a family getaway, you need the flexibility to carry cargo in a sedan.

Both the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte offer 60/40 split-folding rear seats for accommodating longer items that can pass through into the passenger area. When it comes to trunk space alone, the Forte has 14.9 cubic feet while the Elantra has 14.1 cubic feet, which gives the Forte a slight edge.

Winner: 2018 Kia Forte

Photo by Kia

Interior

The base Forte has standard features including a tilt and telescopic steering column, door scuff plates and 6-way adjustable driver’s seat with fabric trims. The top EX adds features including heated leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control and optional 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat.

The Hyundai Elantra is comparable in the base model, but its wider range of trims offers expanded features earlier in the lineup. The Value Edition sits in the middle of the range with heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control and a power tilt-and-slide sunroof. Leather seating and door inserts make an appearance starting with the Sport. The top Limited gets a standard power driver’s seat along with optional heated rear seats.

Winner: 2018 Hyundai Elantra

Photo by Hyundai

Seating

Both the Elantra and Forte seat five passengers, but neither of these vehicles is spacious. Although there’s room for three in back, it’s best reserved for two adults on longer trips. Rear seat passengers have 37.3 inches of headroom and 35.9 inches of legroom in the Kia Forte. The Elantra comes in slightly smaller with 37.3 inches of headroom and 35.7 inches of legroom.

Where there’s a bigger difference is hip room. The Forte offers 53.1 inches in the rear seats while the Elantra offers only 51.9, which makes the squeeze tighter for three adults. The Forte also offers more headroom up front with 39.1 inches, versus 38.8 inches in the Elantra.

Winner: 2018 Kia Forte

Photo by Kia

Infotainment

Standard features on the Forte include AM/FM/CD, 4-speaker audio and Bluetooth connectivity. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available as options on the base model and become standard features on the rest of the lineup. Navigation is available as an option only on the top EX.

The Hyundai Elantra also starts it simple with AM/FM/CD, 4-speaker audio and Bluetooth connectivity. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are not available on the base model, but standard on the rest of the lineup. Again, its range of trims offers more options, with a 7-inch audio display and 6-speaker audio on mid-range trims and an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and 8-speaker audio available on the top Limited.

Winner: 2018 Hyundai Elantra

Photo by Hyundai

Verdict

It’s a close contest on this one with two well-matched sedans, but the 2018 Hyundai Elantra comes out as the winner. Its range of trims makes it a stronger offering with a wider variety of engine choices and options. The exceptional fuel economy available with the Eco trim helps make it more affordable not just in the dealership, but also in the long run as gas prices rise.

The Forte has its strengths with greater cargo capacity, more room for passengers and more consistent safety ratings. But that’s not enough to give it the edge over the Hyundai Elantra, which is a more well-rounded offering.

Winner: 2018 Hyundai Elantra

Photo by Hyundai