2025 Hyundai Elantra vs 2025 Kia K4
The Kia K4 edges it, 92.1 to 89.8, on tech & comfort, safety, space & cargo. The Hyundai Elantra is ahead on fuel & range and performance. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.2 and it flips.
2025 Hyundai Elantra
The 2025 Hyundai Elantra is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize sedan with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Elantra Hybrid B…
2025 Kia K4
The 2025 Kia K4 is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the K4, is EPA-rated at 34 mpg combined.…
2025 Kia K4
Slight edgeThe Kia K4 edges it, 92.1 to 89.8, on tech & comfort, safety, space & cargo. The Hyundai Elantra is ahead on fuel & range and performance. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.2 and it flips.
| Category · weight | 2025 Hyundai Elantraoverall 89.8 | 2025 Kia K4overall 92.1 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 99.4 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 63.7 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 88.9 | 92.7 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 97.3 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 98.3 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 56.3 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 89.8 | 92.1 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Hyundai Elantra: base trim SE FWD · Kia K4: base trim LX FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.2 and the answer flips.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2025 Kia K4 wins
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (40 points against 22.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It lists 26 standard driver-assist features against 20.
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 89 against 78).
Where the 2025 Hyundai Elantra answers
- It is rated 54 combined against 34 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $700 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,250 against $1,950).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- 147 hp.
- 132 lb-ft.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
49 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $22,125 | $21,990 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 1,999 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.0L MPI Atkinson DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder | 2.0L I-4, Multi Point Injection (MPI), Atkinson |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 147 hp | 147 hp |
| Torque | 132 lb-ft | 132 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 32 mpg | 30 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 36 mpg | 34 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 41 mpg | 40 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 4.892 | 5.149:1 |
| Transmission type | Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) | Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.3 in | — |
| Overall height | 55.7 in | 55.9 in |
| Overall length | 185 in | 185 in |
| Overall width | 71.9 in | 72.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 107 in | 107 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 14.2 cu-ft | 14.6 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 114 cu-ft | 98.7 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 40.6 in | 39 in |
| Second-row headroom | 37.3 in | — |
| Third-row headroom | — | 37.3 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 42.3 in | 42.3 in |
| Second-row legroom | 38 in | — |
| Third-row legroom | — | 38 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 2,868 lbs | 2,956 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 2,725 lbs | 2,932 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 3,858 lbs | 3,924 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson strut |
| Rear suspension type | Coupled Torsion Beam Axle | Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (CTBA) |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | Column Mounted-Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 17.7 ft | 17.6 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 279 mm | 381 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | Mechanical Cable | epb |
| Rear brake diameter | 262 mm | 356 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 15 in | 16 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | steel |
| Wheel width | 6 in | 6.5 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 195/65R15 | 205/55R16 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 12.4 gal | 12.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 92 |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 56.5 in | 56.5 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 55.6 in | — |
| Third-row shoulder room | — | 54.7 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
132 features · differences first, then sharedSafety18 differ · 32 listed
| Feature | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with Stop and Go, steering remote control | — | std |
| Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA), Car/Pedestrian/Cyclist/Junction-Turning | — | std |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance (RCCA) | std | — |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) & Lane Following Assist (LFA) | std | — |
| Dual rear seat-mounted side airbags | — | std |
| Safe Exit Warning (SEW) | std | — |
| Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA) Driving-Warning, with Parallel Exit | std | — |
| Child Anchor (ISO FIX) | — | std |
| Front and rear 3-point seat belts | — | std |
| Front and rear seat-belt pretensioners and load limiter | — | std |
| Front seatbelt buckle sensor | — | std |
| Front seatbelt Driver's reminder | — | std |
| Haptic Steering Wheel warning | — | std |
| Height-adjustable front seat-belt anchors | — | std |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | std | — |
| Lane Following Assist (LFA) | — | std |
| Rear Child Safety Door Locks | — | std |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Electronic Stability Control System (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS) and Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) | std | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA), Car/Pedestrian/Cyclist/Junction-Turning | std | std |
| Dual front advanced airbags | std | std |
| Dual front seat-mounted side airbags | std | std |
| Full-length side curtain airbags | std | std |
| Rear View Monitor (RVM) with Parking guidelines | std | std |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) | std | std |
| Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) | std | std |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | std | std |
| High Beam Assist (HBA) | std | std |
| Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) | std | std |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) | std | std |
| Immobilizer | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) High line | std | std |
Infotainment10 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3-inch Touch screen, ccNC Lite Radio, SXM and HD Radio | — | std |
| 4 speakers | — | std |
| 8-inch Display Audio system with 6 speakers, High Resolution Touchscreen, AM/FM/HD, Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto | std | — |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with Voice Recognition | std | — |
| CarPlay/Android Auto Wired and Wireless | — | std |
| Dual USB ports (1 USB charge + data, 1 USB-C charge) | std | — |
| In-glass AM/FM antenna | std | — |
| Speed-sensitive automatic volume control | std | — |
| USB-C charger Front (2 ports, front center console) | — | std |
| USB-C charger Rear (2 ports, rear center console) | — | std |
| Audio and Bluetooth Hands-free with Steering remote control | std | std |
| Audio and Bluetooth Hands-free with Steering remote control | std | std |
Convenience11 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Key with Remote/Push-button Start Smart Trunk | — | std |
| 12-volt Outlet (below HVAC controls) | std | — |
| Auto door lock system with Speed Sensing/Shift Lever Auto Lock, and Impact Sensing Unlock | — | std |
| Front and rear power windows | — | std |
| Inside Handle Override All Doors | — | std |
| Power outlet (x1) | — | std |
| Power Windows with Driver's auto-down, illuminated power window switches | std | — |
| Remote Trunk Lid Release Cable operated | — | std |
| Two-turn driver door unlock | — | std |
| Central door lock switch | — | std |
| Power driver window with auto-up/down | — | std |
Climate2 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Air Conditioner Manual | — | std |
| Manual Air Conditioning | std | — |
| PTC Heater | std | std |
Seating7 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 6-way Driver's adjustable Bucket | std | — |
| 1-piece bench folding rear seatback with fixed center headrest and outer headrests | std | — |
| Bench fixed seatback folding | — | std |
| Driver's seat Height Adjustable - Pumping type | — | std |
| Passenger side Height Adjustable - Pumping type | — | std |
| Seat folding release in trunk | std | — |
| Seating capacity: 5 | std | — |
| Cloth seat trim | std | std |
Interior17 differ · 21 listed
| Feature | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| C/Pad interior trim with Technical Embossing | — | std |
| Deluxe SynTex Inside Door Armrest | — | std |
| Door scuff: Step Plate (plastic) | std | — |
| Floor console Armrest with SynTex material | — | std |
| Front/Rear Door Center Plastic Trim | — | std |
| Front/Rear Door Upper Plastic Trim | — | std |
| Glove Box with Damper | — | std |
| LED Map and Room Lamp | — | std |
| Luggage Lamp | — | std |
| Metal Paint Inside Door Handle | — | std |
| Parking Brake Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Hold | — | std |
| Soft PVC Transmission Gear Shift Knob | — | std |
| Steering wheel: Urethane | std | — |
| Sunvisor Vanity mirror with cover and Driver's Ticket Holder | — | std |
| Two-spoke design, Polyurethane Steering Wheel | — | std |
| Carpeted Floor Mats | opt | — |
| Front/Rear Inside Door Map Pocket and Bottle Holder | — | std |
| 4-inch TFT Cluster | std | std |
| Inside Rear-view Mirror Day and Night | std | std |
| Manual tilt and telescopic steering column | std | std |
| Trip Computer | std | std |
Exterior27 differ · 30 listed
| Feature | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| LED Projector-Type Headlights (Low: Thin projector, High: Small cube projector) with integrated LED Fog Lights | std | — |
| 15 x 6.0J Alloy wheels | std | — |
| 16-inch steel wheels (Dark Gray cover) | — | std |
| Black Belt-line molding | — | std |
| Black bumper | — | std |
| Black Radiator Grille with Metal Paint trim | — | std |
| Black Side Sill | — | std |
| Black Side Window Trim | — | std |
| Bulb Rear Tail Lights | std | — |
| Bulb type High Mounted Stop Lamp | — | std |
| Conventional Wiper Blade type | — | std |
| Dual Power, Two-Tone outside mirrors (Body color top + Black bottom) | std | — |
| Escort headlights | — | std |
| Grille: Black | std | — |
| Heated Back-lite | — | std |
| K4 emblem (left side of trunk) | — | std |
| LED and Bulb type Rear Combination Lamps | — | std |
| LED Multi-Focus Reflector (MFR) Headlights | — | std |
| Outside Mirror with Black Mirror Arm and Body Color Mirror Cap | — | std |
| Outside Rear-view Mirror Electric adjustable and Heated | — | std |
| Trunk Lid Trim Inner cover with inside handle | — | std |
| UV Cut Glass and Solar Glass Windshield with Backlite, Front and Rear door | — | std |
| Window Belt Moldings: Black | std | — |
| Rear Seat Heater Ducts and Rear Window Defroster | std | — |
| Solar Glass | std | — |
| Single Muffler Hidden type | — | std |
| Low Washer Fluid Warning | — | std |
| LED Amber Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | std | std |
| Auto Light Control System | std | std |
| Temporary spare tire | std | std |
Powertrain6 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L MPI Atkinson DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder (147 HP @ 6200, 132 lb-ft @ 4500) | std | — |
| 2.0L Multi Port Injection (MPI) engine | — | std |
| Drive Mode Select: Normal / Sport / Smart | std | — |
| Idle, Stop & Go | std | — |
| Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) | — | std |
| Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) | std | — |
| Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) | std | std |
Chassis7 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Kia K4LX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Front brakes: Ventilated Disc 11.0" | std | — |
| Front McPherson strut with Coil spring | — | std |
| Front suspension: MacPherson Strut | std | — |
| Parking Brake Type: Hand lever / Mechanical Cable | std | — |
| Rear Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (CTBA) | — | std |
| Rear suspension: Coupled Torsion Beam Axle | std | — |
| Shock Absorber Type Gas | — | std |
| Column Mounted-Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | std | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPHyundai Elantra
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V308000 · 54,337 vehicles
- high Air Bags 26V254000 · 2,931 vehicles
Kia K4
Top recalls
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 25V548000 · 30 vehicles
- minor Electrical System 26V046000 · 42,677 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Kia K4LX FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $22,125 (base trim) | $21,990 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $22,125 – $35,850 10 trims | $21,990 – $28,090 5 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Elantra Hybrid Blue | K4 |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 54 | 34 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,250 | $1,950 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2025 Hyundai Elantra or the 2025 Kia K4?
The Kia K4 edges it, 92.1 to 89.8, on tech & comfort, safety, space & cargo. The Hyundai Elantra is ahead on fuel & range and performance. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.2 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2025 Kia K4 scores 92.1 and the 2025 Hyundai Elantra 89.8. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2025 Hyundai Elantra or the 2025 Kia K4?
The 2025 Kia K4 starts lower — $21,990 against $22,125, a gap of $135 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2025 Hyundai Elantra or the 2025 Kia K4?
2025 Hyundai Elantra: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 2 recalls. 2025 Kia K4: 5 NHTSA stars, grade B, 2 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2025 Hyundai Elantra and the 2025 Kia K4?
Where the 2025 Kia K4 wins: it lists more comfort and tech equipment (40 points against 22.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), lists 26 standard driver-assist features against 20, and has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 89 against 78). Where the 2025 Hyundai Elantra answers: it is rated 54 combined against 34 (EPA mpg or MPGe) and costs $700 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,250 against $1,950). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars, 147 hp, and 132 lb-ft.