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 striking new look. This redesign gave the Elantra a longer wheelbase, wider stance, and lower roofline, resulting in a dramatic four-door-coupe silhouette that set it apart from its predecessors. The exterior styling, while reminiscent of the midsize Sonata sedan, had its own unique personality, with distinctive creases and folds on the doors creating a "Z" shape. Inside, the Elantra's interior was much improved, offering material quality slightly above the norm for the compact car class, despite some hard plastic elements. The Elantra was available in four trim levels in Canada, with the N Line trim adding 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 a range of six trim levels, with the GT Limited trim providing the most fun and features. The Forte GT Limited came with Steel Grey paint, carpeted floor mats, and a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $32,084, including a destination charge. The Forte received updates for 2022, including a new grille, headlights, and bumpers, as well as fresh wheel designs for the GT-Line and GT Limited trims. The GT Limited trim featured sportier styling with red-accent detailing, a gloss black lip spoiler, and larger 18-inch wheels. Inside, the Forte GT Limited's interior had a sporty look with traditional analog gauges, round outer air vents, and a thick-rimmed steering wheel. The seats featured Germanic-style perforations, patterns, piping, and stitching, while polished metal interior accents added a touch of sophistication.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered multiple powertrain options, starting with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, available on the Essential, Preferred, and Ultimate trims. This engine was paired with a six-speed manual transmission on the Essential trim, while a continuously variable transmission (CVT) was optional on the Essential and standard on other grades. The Elantra Hybrid featured a 1.6-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine combined with a 32-kilowatt electric motor, delivering a total system output of 139 hp and up to 195 lb-ft of torque. The N Line trim offered a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) in Canada. The N Line also featured sport-tuned suspension, steering, and revised powertrain mounts, enhancing its ride and handling dynamics.

The 2022 Kia Forte retained most of its mechanical components from the previous year, with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque available on all trims except the GT Limited. The GT Limited trim featured a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed DCT. The Forte GT Limited offered Smart, Normal, and Sport driving modes, along with a sport-tuned suspension and larger 18-inch alloy wheels. While the Forte GT Limited provided a fun driving experience, it was not as performance-oriented as the Hyundai Elantra N. The Forte's brakes struggled during demanding driving, and the engine noise at highway speeds was noticeable. Despite these drawbacks, the Forte GT Limited was a comfortable and enjoyable daily driver.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra was designed with practicality in mind, offering a compact size that made it easy to navigate tight spaces. The interior featured clear instrumentation and controls, along with ample storage options. The Elantra's seats were comfortable, though the N Line's low seating position required extra effort to get in and out. The car provided excellent outward visibility and sufficient rear seat space for children, though taller adults might find the sloped roof limiting headroom. The Elantra's trunk offered 402 litres of cargo space, accommodating a variety of items despite a narrow trunk opening. However, 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 was a minor inconvenience.

The 2022 Kia Forte GT Limited came equipped with a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a power sunroof. The Forte's interior was comfortable for long journeys, with a height-adjustable front passenger seat and ventilated front seats. The GT Limited trim featured a dual-zone automatic climate control system and rear air conditioning vents. Rear seat headroom and legroom were impressive for a compact car, and the trunk offered 433 litres of cargo space, making it one of the largest in the segment. The rear seats could also be folded down to expand cargo capacity.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra impressed with its technology offerings, including an 8-inch display audio touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity on the base Essential trim. Higher trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system, and a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster. The N Line trim in Canada came with the 8-inch display audio system and six-speaker setup, which provided adequate audio performance. The Elantra's infotainment system was user-friendly, with seamless Apple CarPlay integration.

The 2022 Kia Forte introduced new technology features, including a rear-seat USB port and remote engine starting capability on upper trims. The EX Premium trim and lower offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity with an 8-inch touchscreen. The GT-Line and GT Limited trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with SiriusXM satellite radio, voice recognition, and Kia Connect connected services. The Forte's infotainment system was intuitive, with easy-to-use menu structures and physical knobs for volume and tuning. However, the voice recognition system had mixed performance, leading to reliance on wired Apple CarPlay for navigation and music streaming.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, with automatic emergency braking standard across all trims. Other driver-assist technologies, such as forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot warning, were standard on most trims. The Elantra received a five-star overall crash protection rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings from the IIHS in all crash tests, with some variations based on headlight type.

The 2022 Kia Forte provided a range of safety features, including forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and blind spot monitoring on most trims. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control with Highway Driving Assist, which performed well in various driving conditions. The Forte received a four-star overall crash protection rating from the NHTSA, with some concerns about rear passenger safety in side impacts. The IIHS gave the Forte high marks for crashworthiness, though headlight testing was incomplete.