Head-to-head
2026 Hyundai Elantra vs 2026 Kia K4
The Hyundai Elantra edges it, 92.7 to 90.7, on fuel & range, performance. The Kia K4 is ahead on tech & comfort and safety. Raise the tech & comfort weight from 3 to 4.8 and it flips.
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2026 Hyundai Elantra
The 2026 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…
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A2026 Kia K4
The 2026 Kia K4 is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the K4 4DR w/ DMS, is EPA-rated at 33 mp…
Verdict · default weights
2026 Hyundai Elantra
Slight edgeThe Hyundai Elantra edges it, 92.7 to 90.7, on fuel & range, performance. The Kia K4 is ahead on tech & comfort and safety. Raise the tech & comfort weight from 3 to 4.8 and it flips.
Fuel & range 2026 Hyundai Elantra leads by 39
Tech & comfort 2026 Kia K4 leads by 19.7
Safety 2026 Kia K4 leads by 3.5
| Category · weight | 2026 Kia K4overall 90.7 | 2026 Hyundai Elantraoverall 92.7 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 97.7 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 61 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 88.4 | 84.9 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 100 | 98.2 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 98.3 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 80.3 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 90.7 | 92.7 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Kia K4: base trim LX FWD · Hyundai Elantra: base trim SE FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the tech & comfort weight from 3 to 4.8 and the answer flips.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Hyundai Elantra wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (4 against 13 filed with NHTSA).
- It costs $800 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,250 against $2,050).
- It is rated 54 combined against 33 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
Where the 2026 Kia K4 answers
- It lists 28 standard driver-assist features against 21.
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 92 against 68).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- 38 in of rear legroom.
- 147 hp.
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
46 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Kia K4LX FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $22,290 | $22,825 |
| 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 I-4, Multi Point Injection (MPI), Atkinson | 2.0L MPI Atkinson DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder |
| 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) | 29 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 33 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 39 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 5.149:1 | 4.892 |
| Transmission type | Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) | Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 5.3 in |
| Overall height | 55.9 in | 55.7 in |
| Overall length | 185 in | 185 in |
| Overall width | 72.8 in | 71.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 107 in | 107 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 14.6 cu-ft | 14.2 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 114 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 39 in | 40.6 in |
| Third-row headroom | — | 37.3 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 42.3 in | 42.3 in |
| Third-row legroom | 38 in | 38 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 2,956 lbs | 2,868 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 2,932 lbs | 2,725 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 3,924 lbs | 3,858 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear suspension type | Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (CTBA) | Coupled Torsion Beam Axle |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Column Mounted-Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | Column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 17.6 ft | 17.7 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 280 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | epb | Mechanical Cable (Hand lever) |
| Rear brake diameter | 262 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 16 in | 15 in |
| Wheel material | steel | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | 6.5 in | 6 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 205/55R16 | 195/65R15 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 12.4 gal | 12.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 92 | 87 |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 56.5 in | 56.5 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 54.7 in | 55.6 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
145 features · differences first, then sharedSafety21 differ · 35 listed
| Feature | Kia K4LX FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Cruise Control w/ Stop & Go (SCC & S&G) | std | — |
| Blind-Spot Collision-Warning (BCW) w/ Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCA) | — | std |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist w/ Pedestrian, Cyclist and Junction-Turning Detection (sensor fusion type) | std | — |
| Lane Following Assist (LFA) | std | — |
| Dual rear seat-mounted side airbags | std | — |
| Safe Exit Warning (SEW) | — | std |
| Brake Assist | — | std |
| Child Anchor (ISO FIX) | std | — |
| Cruise control | — | 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 | — |
| Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) | std | — |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | — | std |
| Parking Brake Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Hold | std | — |
| Rear Child Safety Door Locks | std | — |
| Smart Pedal | — | std |
| Traction Control System (TCS) | — | std |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA - camera only) w/ Pedestrian Detection | std | std |
| Advanced dual front airbags w/ Occupant Classification System (OCS) | std | std |
| Driver and Front Passenger Side-impact (2) | std | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) & Lane Following Assist (LFA) | std | std |
| Rearview camera with Dynamic Guidance | std | std |
| Side Air Curtains (front and rear passengers) (2) | std | std |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) & High Beam Assist (HBA) | std | std |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) w/ Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) | std | std |
| Automatic High Beam Assist | std | std |
| Safe Exit Warning & Rear Occupant Alert | std | std |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) | std | std |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Electronic Stability Control System (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS) and Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Anti-theft System integrated with Remote Keyless Entry and Panic | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) | std | std |
Infotainment14 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | Kia K4LX FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 8-inch Display Audio system with 6 speakers, High Resolution Touchscreen with rearview camera with Dynamic Guidance, AM/FM / HD/ AM/FM/HD/ Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto | — | std |
| Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System with Voice Recognition | — | std |
| 12.3-inch Touch screen, ccNC Lite Radio, SXM and HD Radio | std | — |
| 2 Rear USB-C charge | — | std |
| 4 speakers | std | — |
| Audio and Bluetooth Hands-free with Steering remote control | std | — |
| Audio Controls (Volume up/down, Seek up/down, Mode) | — | 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 | — |
Convenience12 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Kia K4LX FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Proximity key entry with push button start | 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 Door Locks (ignition key reminder, 2-turn unlocking, inside handle override) | — | 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 | — |
Climate3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Kia K4LX FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Air Conditioner Manual | std | — |
| Manual Air Conditioning | — | std |
| PTC Heater | std | — |
Seating8 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Kia K4LX FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 6-way Driver's adjustable Bucket | — | std |
| 1-piece bench folding rear seatback with fixed center headrest and outer headrests | — | std |
| 4-way Passenger's adjustable Bucket | — | std |
| Bench fixed seatback folding | std | — |
| Driver's seat Height Adjustable - Pumping type | std | — |
| Front Passenger slide/recline | — | std |
| Passenger side Height Adjustable - Pumping type | std | — |
| Seat folding release in trunk | — | std |
| Premium cloth seating surfaces | std | std |
Interior26 differ · 28 listed
| Feature | Kia K4LX FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2-inch color (TFT-LCD) | — | std |
| 4-inch TFT Cluster | std | — |
| Auto Dimming Mirror with Homelink | — | opt |
| C/Pad interior trim with Technical Embossing | std | — |
| Cargo Area Light | — | std |
| Central Dome Light (with Delay) | — | std |
| Deluxe SynTex Inside Door Armrest | std | — |
| Door scuff - Step Plate (plastic) | — | std |
| Floor console Armrest with SynTex material | std | — |
| Front Map Lights | — | 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 | — |
| Shift Knob - Urethane | — | std |
| Soft PVC Transmission Gear Shift Knob | std | — |
| Sunvisor Vanity mirror with cover and Driver's Ticket Holder | std | — |
| Tilt and Telescopic steering wheel | — | std |
| Two-spoke design, Polyurethane Steering Wheel | std | — |
| Urethane steering wheel | — | std |
| Manual tilt and telescopic steering column | std | — |
| Carpeted Floor Mats | — | std |
| Sunvisors w/ illumination & extension | — | std |
| Front/Rear Inside Door Map Pocket and Bottle Holder | std | — |
| Inside Rearview Mirror - Manual Day/Night | std | std |
| Trip Computer (Distance to Empty, Average Fuel Consumption, Average Vehicle Speed, Elapsed time) | std | std |
Exterior27 differ · 30 listed
| Feature | Kia K4LX FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual LED Projector Headlights | — | 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 Taillights | — | 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 | — |
| Front Windshield 2-speed intermittent, mist function wipers | — | std |
| Grille - Black | — | std |
| Heated Back-lite | std | — |
| Heated outside mirrors | 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 | — |
| Single Muffler Hidden Exhaust tips | 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 |
| Low Washer Fluid Warning | std | — |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | std | std |
| Automatic Headlamp Control | std | std |
| Compact Spar Tire T125/80D15×4T | std | std |
Powertrain5 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Kia K4LX FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Drive Configuration: FWD | std | std |
Chassis7 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Kia K4LX FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Coupled Torsion Beam Axle rear suspension | — | std |
| Front McPherson strut with Coil spring | std | — |
| MacPherson Strut front suspension | — | std |
| Mechanical Cable Parking Brake | — | std |
| Rear Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (CTBA) | std | — |
| Shock Absorber Type Gas | std | — |
| Unibody construction with High Tensile Steel | — | 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, NCAPKia K4
Safety Signal 92 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls 1
Owner complaints 13 · 6 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Steering (5), Lane Departure (5), Unspecified (5)
Top recalls
- high Seat Belts 26V135000 · 14,870 vehicles
Hyundai Elantra
Safety Signal 68 D
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls 4 · 1 critical
Owner complaints 4 · 0 crashes · 1 fires
Most complained about Wheels (1), Air Bags (1), Unspecified (1)
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V308000 · 54,337 vehicles
- high Suspension 26V692000 · 24 vehicles
- high Wheels 26V693000 · 17 vehicles
- high Air Bags 26V254000 · 2,931 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Kia K4LX FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $22,290 (base trim) | $22,825 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $22,290 – $28,890 8 trims | $22,825 – $40,950 14 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | K4 4DR w/ DMS | Elantra Hybrid Blue |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 33 | 54 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,050 | $1,250 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Kia K4 or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
The Hyundai Elantra edges it, 92.7 to 90.7, on fuel & range, performance. The Kia K4 is ahead on tech & comfort and safety. Raise the tech & comfort weight from 3 to 4.8 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Hyundai Elantra scores 92.7 and the 2026 Kia K4 90.7. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Kia K4 or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
The 2026 Kia K4 starts lower — $22,290 against $22,825, a gap of $535 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Kia K4 or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
2026 Kia K4: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. 2026 Hyundai Elantra: 5 NHTSA stars, grade D, 4 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 2026 Kia K4 and the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
Where the 2026 Hyundai Elantra wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (4 against 13 filed with NHTSA), costs $800 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,250 against $2,050), and is rated 54 combined against 33 (EPA mpg or MPGe). Where the 2026 Kia K4 answers: it lists 28 standard driver-assist features against 21 and has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 92 against 68). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars, 38 in of rear legroom, and 147 hp.