2022 Hyundai Elantra vs 2021 Kia K5

The 2021 Kia K5 represented a fresh identity for Kia, moving away from the drab and unattractive sedans of its past. With its fastback form and GT-Line trim, the K5 resembled an Audi A5 Sportback, thanks to the design influence of Peter Schreyer. The K5 featured a sleek, sporty exterior with unique taillights, a honeycomb grille, and Z-shaped LED running lights. Despite some fake air vents and exhaust tips, the K5's proportions and design details made it a standout in its segment.

Inside, the K5's interior was equally impressive, with a driver-focused dash, red seats with black accents, and a flat-bottom steering wheel. The materials used throughout the cabin felt upscale, with polished black trim and quality finishes. The K5's interior exuded sportiness and quality, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a stylish and well-appointed sedan.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra underwent a dramatic transformation with its seventh-generation redesign. The new Elantra featured a longer wheelbase, wider stance, and lower roofline, resulting in a striking four-door-coupe silhouette. The exterior styling was unique, with creases and folds on the doors creating a distinctive "Z" shape. The Elantra's design was more eye-catching and memorable compared to its previous iterations.

Inside, the Elantra's interior saw significant improvements in material quality and design. While some hard plastics were present, the overall look and feel were above average for the compact car class. The Elantra offered a comfortable and spacious cabin, with plenty of storage options and excellent outward visibility. The N Line trim added sporty elements like N Line brand sport seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals, enhancing the car's sporty appeal.

The 2021 Kia K5's performance didn't quite match its aggressive styling. The GT-Line model, with its 1.6-liter turbo-four engine producing 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, offered decent acceleration but lacked the verve of a true sports sedan. The suspension was softer, and the Pirelli P Zero All-Season tires protested during tight turns. The ride was balanced and isolated, but the GT-Line was more of an appearance package than a performance one.

The K5's GT trim promised better performance with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 290 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. However, this power was fed through the front wheels, which could spell disaster without a limited-slip differential. The K5's fuel economy was commendable, with an EPA-estimated 27 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined for FWD models with the base engine. The AWD version saw a slight drop in fuel economy.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered multiple powertrain options. The standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produced 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT. While adequate for most buyers, it lacked power during hard acceleration. The Elantra Hybrid featured a 1.6-liter Atkinson-cycle engine combined with an electric motor, producing 139 horsepower and up to 195 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid's six-speed DCT provided a more engaging driving experience.

The N Line trim catered to driving enthusiasts with a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine delivering 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. The N Line's DCT was a bit clunky at low rpm but delivered crisp shifts at higher speeds. The N Line also featured sport-tuned suspension, steering, and revised powertrain mounts, enhancing its ride and handling dynamics. The multi-link independent rear suspension provided smoother and more confident handling compared to the torsion-beam rear axle on lower trims.

The 2021 Kia K5 offered a comfortable interior for both front and rear passengers. Despite its raked profile, the K5 provided ample headroom and legroom for six-footers in the back seat. The front seats were supportive and firm, ideal for long drives. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with an optional 10-inch display. Trunk space was generous at 16 cubic feet, with the rear seats folding down for additional cargo capacity.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra excelled in practicality and comfort. Its compact size made it easy to navigate tight spaces, and the controls were clearly marked and easy to use. The Elantra's rear seat could accommodate three children comfortably, though taller adults might find the headroom lacking due to the sloped roof. Cargo space was adequate at 14.2 cubic feet, and the trunk could hold a surprising amount of gear with some careful packing. However, the trunk lid support arms could crush items in their path.

The 2021 Kia K5 came with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, making it easy to set up. The LX trim included LED headlights, auto high beams, dual-zone climate control, and lane-keep assist. The GT-Line added 18-inch wheels, fog lights, rear USB ports, and a power driver's seat. The EX trim offered heated and ventilated seats, rear air vents, a Bose stereo system, and a 10-inch infotainment display. The GT trim included paddle shifters, 19-inch wheels, and additional performance hardware.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra impressed with its technology offerings. The base SE trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and dual USB ports. Higher trims added satellite radio, Blue Link connected services, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation. The Limited trim included an eight-speaker Bose audio system, a fully digital instrument cluster, and wireless device charging. The N Line and Limited trims also offered Hyundai Digital Key for Android users.

The 2021 Kia K5 was equipped with a robust suite of safety features, including forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. Blind-spot monitoring with Safe Exit Assist was standard on LXS and above trims. The GT-Line Premium package added cyclist detection and Junction Turning. Higher trims included rear emergency braking and parking sensors. The K5 had not yet been rated by NHTSA or IIHS, but top scores were anticipated.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra came with Hyundai's SmartSense suite of driver-assist technologies, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, lane-keeping assistance, and lane-centering assistance. Additional features like intersection turn assistance, adaptive cruise control, and rear automatic braking were available on higher trims. The Elantra received five stars from NHTSA for overall crash protection and top "Good" ratings from IIHS in all crash tests.