There are plenty of sedans in 2025, with the Hyundai Elantra vs. Kia Forte being an often-debated pairing. In this post, we want to compare the two vehicles in major categories: interior, exterior, pricing, tech, and safety. If you are ready to learn everything there is to know about the 2025 Hyundai Elantra vs. Kia Forte, keep reading!
2025 Hyundai Elantra vs. Kia Forte: Which to Buy?
If you want an affordable five-seater sedan that doesn't skimp on high-end materials and features, the 2025 Hyundai Elantra usually trumps the competition. The Hyundai Elantra vs. Kia Forte is night and day for most drivers, with the Elantra feeling upscale compared to the Forte.
Note: The 2025 Kia Forte has been replaced by the Kia K4 in the North American market.
Pricing and Trims
Below, we will get into the pricing and trim levels you can choose between a 2025 Kia Forte (K4) and a 2025 Hyundai Elantra. Starting prices for the Elantra are around $1,000 higher than those for the Forte.
Hyundai Elantra Pricing
The all-new Hyundai Elantra starts at $22,125 for a base model, going up to $28,975 in its highest-performance trim.
Here is a breakdown by trim:
- SE - $22,125
- SEL Sport - $23,250
- SEL Convenience - $25,825
- Limited - $26,775
- N Line - $28,975
Kia Forte Pricing
The Kia Forte, replaced by the Kia K4, starts at $21,990, just below the Elantra. However, its top trim costs $28,090, placing it right around the price of the N Line.
Here is the breakdown:
- LX - $21,990
- LXS - $22,990
- EX - $23,990
- GT-Line - $25,190
- GT-Line Turbo - $28,090
Performance and Engine Options
The performance and engine options of the 2025 Hyundai Elantra vs. Kia Forte (K4) are a close call. That said, we will get into this per trim so you can see the differences between the sedans.
Hyundai Elantra Performance
The 2025 Hyundai Elantra has a standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT), making 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque.
If you upgrade to the turbocharged engine (N Line), you get a 1.6-liter turbo-four, producing 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet. This comes with a 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission w/ SHIFTRONIC®.
Kia Forte Performance
The Kia Forte offers a nearly identical engine option to the Elantra, with your base being a 147-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). If you upgrade to the GT-Line Turbo, your engine is a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder, making 190 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. This engine comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Verdict: The 2025 Hyundai Elantra has a more impressive performance.
Interior Features and Comfort
The interior of the 2025 Hyundai Elantra vs. Kia Forte differs in many ways, with most people preferring the Elantra's luxury-looking seats and trim.
Elantra Interior
The inside of a 2025 Hyundai Elantra feels upscale, focusing on technology and space for your legs, shoulders, head, and hips. In recent years, we have seen upgrades to infotainment and general interior quality, which is a perk when shopping through Hyundai.
Highlights: Solar glass, Dual USB charging, Cloth seating, 6-way adjustable driver seat including height adjustment, 4-way adjustable passenger seat, 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with Voice Recognition.
Forte Interior
The Kia Forte, or newly named K4, is a bit more basic on the inside than the Hyundai Elantra. Even with the redesign, you will see standard options improve but they do not feel quite as fancy as the Elantra.
Highlights: Dual USB charging, Cloth seating, Solar glass, 6-way manual driver's seat, 6-way manual passenger's seat, 12.3-inch touchscreen display, LED interior lighting
Exterior Design and Style
Both the 2025 Hyundai Elantra and the Kia Forte have modern exterior designs. The Elantra has a more rounded, striking grille and LED accents, while the redesigned K4 has a bulky grille and sharp angles.
Elantra Design
The 2025 Elantra is designed to catch the eye. You have a "shark nose" design, thinner LED daytime running lights, and a new two-piece grille with a body-colored center element. It has a lower profile than the K4, which many people associate with luxury sedans. Your standard wheels will be 15 inches.
Forte Design
The Kia Forte looks better this year with its refresh, focusing on a fastback-inspired design, sharp details, and a new grille. Like the Elantra, the Forte/K4 has LED front lighting, which looks nice, and has 16-inch wheels standard.
Technology and Infotainment
The technology and infotainment in the Hyundai Elantra vs. Kia Forte are competitive, with the newest redesign from Kia providing a larger touchscreen standard.
Hyundai Elantra Technology
With the 2025 Hyundai Elantra, you have endless technology standard/available in higher trims. For entry-level models, you get features like an 8-inch color touchscreen display audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a suite of safety features as part of SmartSense.
Kia Forte Technology
The 2025 Kia Forte (K4) has a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a comprehensive set of driver-assistance technologies.
Safety Features and Ratings
Safety is a priority inside the Hyundai Elantra and the Kia Forte, with both offering standard safety suites across all trim levels.
Hyundai Elantra Safety
The 2025 Hyundai Elantra receives a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS and a five-star NHTSA safety rating. You get everything from Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, to Adaptive Cruise Control, all a part of SmartSense.
Kia Forte Safety
The Kia Forte also has a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS and has not yet received a safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety features include automatic emergency brakes with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control.
Fuel Economy and Efficiency
The fuel economy for the 2025 Hyundai Elantra vs. Kia Forte is close because of their similar engines. We'll break this down further below:
Hyundai Elantra Fuel Economy
The Hyundai Elantra has impressive EPA fuel ratings, with the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder getting up to 36 combined and 32 city/41 highway. The turbo engine has decreased ratings of 31 combined MPG and 28 city/35 highway.
Kia Forte Fuel Economy
The Kia Forte has similar EPA ratings as the Elantra, with the standard engine getting as high as 34 combined MPG and 30 city/40 highway. The turbo engine gets fewer miles per gallon at 29 combined and 26 city/36 highway.
Verdict: The Hyundai Elantra has better MPG ratings and fuel economy.
Warranty and Reliability
Both the Kia Forte and the Hyundai Elantra have impressive warranties in 2025. You see better overall reliability scores for Hyundai and fuller coverage warranties between the brands.
Hyundai Elantra Warranty
The Hyundai Elantra comes with industry-leading warranty protection. Here are your warranty options for a new car purchased this year:
- 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty
- 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty
- 7-year/unlimited-mile anti-perforation warranty
- 5-year/unlimited-mile 24-hour roadside assistance
Kia Forte Warranty
The Kia Forte has good warranty coverage, including competitive powertrain coverage for up to ten years. Here's what that looks like for the Forte/K4:
- 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty
- 5-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty
- 5-year/100,000-mile limited anti-perforation warranty
- 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan
Final Thoughts: Choosing Between the Elantra vs. Forte
When choosing between the 2025 Hyundai Elantra vs. Kia Forte/K4, you are met with different sedans inside and out. Engine and performance are similar at a base level, but you have better horsepower and perkiness in the N Line from Hyundai. You also see a better, more cohesive design with the Elantra and five-star safety ratings across the board. Price-wise, the extra money you spend on the Elantra is well worth it for most people, and with warranty protection so good, you get fantastic value.
Get Your Hyundai Elantra at Granite Hyundai
Here at Granite Hyundai in Somersworth, NH, we have all you need to compare the Hyundai Elantra vs. Kia Forte and find the car of your dreams. You can come to see us whenever you want to test drive the 2025 Elantra, and we are here to answer questions. Let's get you a new set of wheels today!
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