2022 Hyundai Elantra vs 2022 Kia Forte

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra underwent a significant transformation with its seventh-generation redesign, shedding its previous unremarkable appearance for a bold and distinctive look. The new design featured a longer wheelbase, wider stance, and lower roofline, creating a striking four-door-coupe silhouette. The Elantra's exterior styling, while reminiscent of the midsize Sonata sedan, had its own unique personality, with a "Z" shape formed by the creases and folds on the doors, adding character and setting it apart from its competitors. Inside, the Elantra's interior saw improvements in material quality, offering a slightly above-average feel for the compact car class, despite some hard plastics. The Elantra was available in four trim levels: SE, SEL, N Line, and Limited, with the N Line featuring sporty styling elements like N Line design front and rear fascias, chrome twin-tip exhaust, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered four trim levels: FE, LXS, GT-Line, and GT, with the GT trim providing the most engaging driving experience. The Forte GT featured a Steel Gray paint, GT2 Package, and a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $26,900. The 2022 Forte models received updates, including a new grille, headlights, and bumpers, with the GT-Line and GT trims getting new fog lights and taillights. The Forte GT stood out with red-accent detailing, a gloss black lip spoiler, and larger 18-inch wheels. Inside, the Forte GT's interior had a sporty look with traditional analog gauges, round outer air vents, and a thick-rimmed steering wheel. The seats featured a Germanic appearance with polished metal interior accents, adding a touch of sophistication to the cabin.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered multiple powertrain options, with the SE, SEL, and Limited trims featuring a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD). The Elantra Hybrid combined a 1.6-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine with a 32-kilowatt electric motor, delivering 139 hp and up to 195 lb-ft of torque, with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The N Line trim boasted a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, available with either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed DCT. The N Line's sport-tuned suspension, steering, and multi-link independent rear suspension enhanced its ride and handling dynamics, making it a compelling choice for driving enthusiasts.

The 2022 Kia Forte GT offered a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed DCT. The Forte GT featured Smart, Normal, and Sport driving modes, adjusting throttle response, transmission behavior, and steering feel. The GT trim also included a sport-tuned suspension with an independent rear design, sport-tuned exhaust, and larger 18-inch alloy wheels. While the Forte GT provided a spirited driving experience, it fell short of being an outright performance sedan. The brakes struggled during demanding mountain descents, and the engine noise at highway speeds was noticeable. Despite these drawbacks, the Forte GT excelled as a zippy commuter and comfortable road tripper.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered a compact size that made it easy to navigate tight spaces, with clearly marked instrumentation and controls. The Elantra's interior provided comfortable seating, though the N Line's low seating position required extra effort to get in and out. The Elantra excelled in rear seat comfort, accommodating three children on long journeys with minimal complaints. However, taller adults would find more comfort in the front seats due to the sloped roofline affecting rear headroom. The Elantra's trunk offered 14.2 cubic feet of cargo space, adequate for a compact car, though the narrow trunk opening posed a challenge for accessing the rear area. The power tilt-and-slide moonroof produced a noticeable droning noise when fully open, and the lack of rear USB ports and air conditioning vents were minor inconveniences.

The 2022 Kia Forte GT, equipped with the GT2 option package, offered a comfortable and feature-rich interior. The package included a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, a power sunroof, and upgraded LED interior lighting. The Forte GT's height-adjustable front passenger seat ensured proper leg support, and the ventilated front seats were a welcome addition for warm climates. The Forte GT's rear seat room was impressive for a compact car, with a large and supportive bottom seat cushion. The trunk provided 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space, the largest in its segment, with the ability to fold down the rear seats for additional capacity.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra impressed with its technology offerings, including an 8-inch display audio touchscreen with a rearview camera, HD Radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Bluetooth hands-free phone system. Higher trims added features like a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system, and Hyundai Digital Key for Android-compatible smartphones. The Elantra's infotainment system was user-friendly, with seamless Apple CarPlay integration, though the six-speaker audio system's performance was average.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered new Technology option packages, enhancing infotainment and safety systems. The Forte GT-Line and GT trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen display with SiriusXM satellite radio, voice recognition, and Kia Connect services. The GT trim included wireless smartphone charging and an available eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system. The Forte's infotainment system was intuitive, with easy-to-use menu structures and knobs for stereo and navigation control. However, the voice recognition system had mixed results, leading to reliance on wired Apple CarPlay for navigation and music streaming.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra came equipped with the 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 adaptive cruise control and Highway Drive Assist were available on higher trims. The Elantra received a five-star overall crash protection rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings from the IIHS, with the Limited trim's LED headlights earning a "Good" rating.

The 2022 Kia Forte featured standard safety equipment like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The GT-Line and GT trims added active blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Warning. Kia's Highway Driving Assist system provided semi-autonomous driving capabilities. The Forte received a four-star overall crash protection rating from the NHTSA, with a three-star frontal impact rating for the front passenger and concerns about rear passenger injury in side impacts. The IIHS gave the Forte high marks for crashworthiness and driving assist systems.