2021 Kia K5 vs 2020 Hyundai Elantra

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra retained its bold geometric styling from the previous year, which was a departure from its earlier Genesis Jr. design cues. This restyle was a precursor to the more angular 2021 Elantra. Available in five trims—Essential, Preferred, Luxury, Ultimate, and Sport—the Elantra's price ranged from $17,099 to $27,549, excluding a $1,825 destination charge. The Elantra Ultimate, with its black paint, highlighted the car's angular design elements, contrasting with chrome detailing for a stylish, albeit divisive, appearance. Inside, the Elantra's interior was updated with silver trim accents, giving it a more upscale look, though it still featured some hard plastics typical of a mainstream compact car.

In contrast, the 2021 Kia K5 marked a new identity for Kia, moving away from its past with a fresh, fastback sedan design reminiscent of the Kia Stinger. Styled in GT-Line trim, the K5 featured flat Wolf Gray paint and red seats, drawing comparisons to the Audi A5 Sportback. The K5's design was characterized by a long rear window, unique taillights, and a sleek front with Z-shaped LED running lights. Despite some fake design elements, the K5's proportions and styling were sporty and appealing. Inside, the K5's interior was driver-focused, with a split dash and quality materials, exuding a sense of sportiness and quality often missing from other brands.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra offered a base 147-horsepower, 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a new continuously variable transmission (CVT), replacing the previous six-speed automatic. The CVT, dubbed the "Intelligent Variable Transmission," featured a chain belt and wide-ratio pulley system for improved efficiency and responsiveness. However, real-world testing showed an average fuel consumption of 8.0 L/100 km, falling short of the expected 6.8 L/100 km. The Elantra Sport trim offered a more engaging drive with a 1.6-litre turbo engine producing 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, along with an independent rear suspension for better handling. Overall, the Elantra was more of a practical commuter car than a thrilling drive.

The 2021 Kia K5, while visually sporty, didn't quite match its aggressive styling in performance. The GT-Line lacked paddle shifters and had softer suspension damping, making it more of an appearance package. The standard engine was a 1.6-litre turbo-four with 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The K5's fuel efficiency was impressive, averaging 6.5 L/100 km on the highway. The GT trim promised a more powerful 2.5-litre turbo engine with 290 horsepower, but its front-wheel-drive setup without a limited-slip differential raised concerns about handling. Overall, the K5 was a comfortable family sedan with good fuel efficiency but lacked the sporty performance its design suggested.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra was among the roomier compact cars, comfortably accommodating four adults, with a fifth person fitting for short trips. The test car featured power driver’s seat adjustment, leather upholstery, and a sliding centre console armrest for added comfort. Upper trims included dual-zone automatic climate control, though rear passengers lacked air conditioning vents. The Elantra offered 407 litres of trunk space, nearly matching some midsize sedans, and included a convenient interior grab handle for the trunk lid.

The 2021 Kia K5, despite its raked profile, provided comfortable seating for two adults in the back, with ample headroom and legroom. The front seats were supportive and firm, ideal for long drives. The K5's interior featured easy-to-use hard buttons for climate and stereo controls, and a well-placed wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with an optional 10.25-inch display. The K5 offered 434 litres of trunk space, with rear seats that folded down for additional storage.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra came with a standard touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, and a USB port. The base Essential trim had a 5-inch screen, while the Preferred trim offered a 7-inch display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM. The Ultimate trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless charging, and a premium Infinity sound system. The infotainment system was well-executed, with easy-to-use shortcut buttons and a responsive voice recognition system.

The 2021 Kia K5 was equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, though it occasionally had connectivity issues. Standard features included LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, and lane-keep assist. The GT-Line trim added 18-inch wheels, LED taillights, a panoramic sunroof, and adaptive cruise control. The GT-Line also featured ventilated seats and a 10.25-inch infotainment system with Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and UVO link. The K5's adaptive cruise control worked well, even without navigation.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra offered advanced driving assistance systems on the Preferred trim, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The Ultimate grade added full LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, and pedestrian detection. The Elantra earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a four-star rating from the NHTSA, though there was a concern about rear-door intrusion in side-impact tests.

The 2021 Kia K5 received top marks from both the NHTSA and IIHS, earning a Top Safety Pick+ designation. Standard safety features included rear side airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, forward collision avoidance assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The K5 EX trim and above included Junction Turning, which warned of potential collisions in intersections.