Kia K4 vs. Hyundai Elantra

A 2.0L engine adds a little pep to your step. This standard engine is found under the hood of either the Kia K4 or the Hyundai Elantra and turns up the excitement of your morning commute with 147 horsepower (HP) and 132 lb-ft of torque. If you want more oomph with your coffee, an available 1.6L turbocharged engine churns out 195 lb-ft of torque and at least 190 HP.

The similarities continue when you study the fuel efficiency of the K4 and the Elantra. Each sedan houses a 12.4-gallon fuel tank and has a standard EPA-estimated MPG rating of at least 30 city/40 highway, making both sedans incredibly efficient.^*

Since no two days are the same, each sedan comes with a 3-mode Drive Mode Select system. The K4 and the Elantra feature a Normal and a Sport mode for a balanced or performance-tuned experience, but only the K4 features My Drive. This customizable feature lets you adjust numerous engineering benchmarks to build a drive unique to your preferences.

Busy days call for a little extra peace of mind on the road. The Kia K4 and the Hyundai Elantra help keep you focused with advanced driver-assist systems designed to enhance your drive. Active safety features use cameras and sensors to monitor your vehicle’s surroundings and alert you to potential hazards you may have missed. When conditions are met, these features may assist with braking or steering to avoid a collision.

The K4 and the Elantra come standard with their brand-specific version of features like Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Driver Attention Warning, and Lane Keeping Assist; however, with up to 20 active safety features, the K4 offers exclusive features, including:

• Rear Occupant Warning
• Blind-Spot View Monitor
• Park Distance Warning Front, Rear, and Side
• Oncoming Lane Change Side and Evasive Steering Assist Detection
• Blind-Spot Collision Warning Parallel Exit

Only the K4 includes the available Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA2) system, which enhances the capabilities of each sedan's standard system. With HDA2, your Kia K4 provides mild autonomous support by adjusting speed and can perform lane-change assist functions.

Speaking of growing families, your sedan must consider your current and future needs to ensure long-term comfort. Sharing similar vehicle dimensions, it makes sense that this transfers to passenger dimensions. Only 0.7 cubic feet of passenger space separates the two, which is seen with their 38-inch second-row legroom and 56.4-inch first-row shoulder room dimensions.

Either sedan will provide the space you need; however, at 51.9 inches, the Kia K4 offers extra second-row hip room. This additional space may make loading your little ones in their car seats easier now, and in the future, it’ll give your kids extra room for personal items.

There’s no shortage of mood-boosting features inside the Kia K4 and the Hyundai Elantra. Available heated front seats help you warm up quicker on chilly mornings and can help relax tense muscles during your evening commute home. The integration of solar control glass helps keep the cabin cool by blocking UV rays without affecting how much light enters the cabin.

Sadly, this is where the similarities between the Kia K4 and the Hyundai Elantra end. Only with the K4 will you have access to these standard and available amenities:

• Ventilated front seats: Helps keep you cool when the weather gets warm.
• Sound-absorbing windshield glass: Blocks unwanted travel sounds to keep the cabin peaceful.
• SynTex upholstery: Delivers a synthetic alternative to leather that may be easier to maintain and more durable than the genuine material.

Additionally, every Kia K4 trim has a stylish two-tone interior, adding depth and character to the cabin. The Elantra offers a touch of contrast on one trim, but it’s limited to accent stitching rather than a full two-tone design.

Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ let you bring your smartphone’s capabilities while on the go. Once paired, you can navigate your phone through the central display to access compatible apps, browse your music library, and more. You can also use your voice to send text messages or make calls. This way, you’ll always be in the loop and never have to look at your phone while behind the wheel.

An optional wireless phone charger helps keep your device charged to 100%, even on the longest trips, and an optional 8-speaker premium audio system through Harman Kardon® or Bose® provides crystal-clear audio to all passengers.

Despite these similarities, it’s the Kia K4 that better embraces tomorrow’s technology with the available integration of Kia AI Assist. Generative AI (artificial intelligence) encourages you and your young passengers to have a more inquisitive mindset. It can answer thousands of questions, help you find a new location, and much more.

Your vehicle is the first thing others see when you arrive. Make sure you’re conveying the right message by choosing a sedan that reflects your sense of personal style. Will that choice come from the aerodynamic Kia K4 or the aggressive Hyundai Elantra?

While each sedan will undoubtedly stand out in the parking lot, key style differences give the K4 the upper hand:

• Exterior lighting: Every Kia K4 trim level has LED headlights that cut through the night and illuminate your path. Only the highest Hyundai Elantra trim level features full LED lighting.
• Color options: While the K4 and the Elantra have several exterior colors, the Elantra only has two bold options, whereas the K4 offers a painter’s palette of possibilities, including Currant Red, Morning Haze, and Deep Sea Blue.

With its fastback design, the K4 provides the best of both worlds. The extended roofline mirrors a coupe's sleekness combined with a sedan's practicality. While the Hyundai Elantra is worthy of a round of applause, its muscular, aggressive stance doesn’t reflect the smooth, flowing silhouette of the K4.