2018 Hyundai ELANTRA vs. 2018 Kia Forte

iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the 2018 Hyundai ELANTRA and 2018 Kia Forte contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the 2018 Hyundai ELANTRA and the 2018 Kia Forte.

When we compare the 2018 Hyundai ELANTRA's and the 2018 Kia Forte's specifications and ratings, the 2018 Hyundai ELANTRA has the advantage in the areas of fuel efficiency, reliability and overall quality score. The 2018 Kia Forte has the advantage in the areas of typical lower range of pricing for used cars, resale value and interior volume. The 2018 Hyundai ELANTRA and 2018 Kia Forte have the same base engine power. Based on this comparison of the 2018 Hyundai ELANTRA's and the 2018 Kia Forte's specifications and ratings, the two cars are fairly comparable.

Pricing: A used 2018 Hyundai ELANTRA ranges from $9,368 to $18,247 while a used 2018 Kia Forte is priced between $8,785 to $17,395.

Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the 2018 Hyundai ELANTRA loses 33.4 percent of its value and the 2018 Kia Forte loses 33 percent of its value. This means the 2018 Kia Forte retains 0.4 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the 2018 Hyundai ELANTRA.

Quality Rating: The iSeeCars Overall Quality rating for the Hyundai ELANTRA is 8.3 out of 10 while the Kia Forte's quality rating is 8.0 out of 10. This results in the Hyundai ELANTRA being ranked 21 out of 43 Best Small Cars and the Kia Forte being ranked 27 out of 43.

Reliability Rating: iSeeCars’ Reliability Rating for the Hyundai ELANTRA is 7.8 out of 10. For the Kia Forte the reliability rating is 7.6 out of 10. This gives the Hyundai ELANTRA a slight advantage in reliability compared to the Kia Forte.

Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the base engine of both the 2018 Hyundai ELANTRA and the 2018 Kia Forte makes 147 horsepower. The ELANTRA is rated to deliver an average of 29 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 504 miles. The Forte is rated to deliver an average of 28 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 449 miles. This gives the 2018 Hyundai ELANTRA the fuel efficiency and maximum range advantage over the 2018 Kia Forte. Both models use regular unleaded.

Passenger Space Comparison: While both models are compact cars, the 2018 Kia Forte has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, rear leg room, and cargo space. The 2018 Hyundai ELANTRA has the advantage in the areas of front shoulder room and rear shoulder room. The 2018 Hyundai ELANTRA and 2018 Kia Forte are comparable in regards to front leg room and rear head room.

Safety Ratings: When comparing crash test ratings from NHTSA, the 2018 Hyundai ELANTRA has higher safety ratings than the 2018 Kia Forte, with an average rating of 4.64 out of 5 Stars compared to 4 out of 5 Stars.