Hyundai Elantra vs KIA Cerato comparison

Typically, two divisions within one automotive group try to give their products significant differences, so as not to create destructive internal competition for sales. However, looking at the Hyundai Elantra or KIA Serato, you understand that in this case there is no question of targeting various consumer audiences. Both the Hyundai Elantra and the KIA Cerato have sleek sedan-style bodies, as well as similar headlights, radiator grilles, rear lighting, and even side stamping. The differences lie only in the fact that KIA is more angular and impetuous, and when creating Hyundai, the designers used natural motives as a source of inspiration, setting them up for calm and slowness. Maybe inside Cerato and Elantra are also the same - this is what we have to find out during the tests.

Salon - up and down

The front of

If you choose the Hyundai Elantra as the first evaluated car, then you may not immediately find differences from the larger cars in the company's model range. The center console is framed by a triangular frame that surrounds a large multimedia monitor and control buttons for various functions. Hyundai stylists clearly relied on the luxury of the car's equipment - the black lacquered plastic, which decorates the upper part of the console, goes down, flowing around not only the climate control unit, but also the gear knob. Its sparkling surface makes it possible to draw parallels between the Hyundai Elantra and expensive grand pianos from world-renowned masters, which certainly speaks in favor of the car. The most interesting design solution in Elantra is the use of two central deflectors made in the form of petals - they follow the contours of the opening between the spokes on the steering wheel, creating a sense of harmony and completeness of the image.

It is far from always possible to find the differences between KIA Cerato or Hyundai Elantra, for example, the instruments of both cars contain two large scales, separated by the display of the trip computer, and are sunk into deep "wells" that protect them from glare of sunlight. But in Hyundai Elantra they look more harmonious due to the fact that each dial is surrounded by a closed circle of silvery plastic. Hyundai's front seats are worth a separate mention - in the American rating of available cars, they were named the second in terms of provided convenience. Indeed, the Elantra is so comfortable that you want to take this chair with you when you leave the car in front of the office - the optimal tilt of the moderately hard pillow allows you to feel no unpleasant sensations, and the excellent backrest profile contributes to the relaxation of all muscles. In addition, the Hyundai Elantra also has good lateral support, and it even slightly exceeds the dynamic capabilities of the car.

Compared to Hyundai, the KIA Cerato looks much simpler - not least due to the narrow, vertically installed airflow deflectors. The center console of the KIA is not as presentable, but it is more convenient to use due to the rotation towards the driver. Cerato devices have already been mentioned above - they are less convenient than on Hyundai Elantra due to the lack of separation between the dials, which does not allow you to focus on reading the necessary information at a quick glance. The KIA Cerato three-spoke steering wheel also does not evoke a sense of modernity and solidity - it looks much simpler and cheaper than on the base models of vehicles from other manufacturers.

But to determine who is better in terms of the quality of the seats - Cerato or Elantra, it is rather difficult to determine. On the one hand, the KIA Cerato surpasses its competitor in overhead space due to the lower cushion, and on the other hand, it has a not so well-chosen backrest profile, which forces the muscles of the back and neck to be strained on long trips. But even Elantra does not provide the possibility of ordering such a unique option as the three-zone seat heating adjustment available for KIA.

Passengers and cargo

At first glance, it is impossible to determine which is better - Elantra or Serato, based on the rear of the cabin. Sitting in Hyundai, you immediately notice the considerable width of the available space, which allows you to accommodate three adults without problems without unpleasant contact with elbows and shoulders. Otherwise, the Elantra is clearly not going to be a role model. In particular, the distance to the front seats is clearly not enough for a car of this value, and the roof hangs so low that you involuntarily want to bend your head to protect it from impact. In addition, the center armrest of the Hyundai Elantra is far from optimal, which can be folded out instead of the middle seat - it rests directly on the pillow, which does not allow tall people to lean on it.

The boot capacity of the KIA Cerato and Hyundai Elantra is almost the same - the second mentioned car has 420 liters. On the plus side, the seats are easy to fold, the backs of which can be lowered in a matter of seconds. But a significant drawback for many will be the uneven shape of the walls of the cargo compartment, forcing them to think before putting a plasma TV or other large items here.

After Hyundai from KIA Cerato, you also do not expect exemplary comfort on the back sofa. However, miracles do happen - it is much more comfortable to sit here. The main difference is the increased distance between the two rows of Cerato seats, so that there will be enough legroom for any passenger, regardless of his height and build. The high-positioned roof is also good news - no, it is not raised compared to the Hyundai Elantra, but is simply located further from the thin seat cushion lowered down. Also, the KIA Cerato uses a normal armrest lowering mechanism, which allows it to be fixed at a distance of 20-25 cm from the bottom point of the sofa.

KIA's cargo transportation capabilities are almost identical - the trunk volume is only 6 liters more than that of the Elantra. But it is much more convenient to use it due to the smooth walls and the absence of seriously protruding wheel arches. In addition, only Cerato offers an internal boot close handle to keep your palms from getting dirty in bad weather.

In different directions

Who quickly

Comparing the exterior design of incredibly similar cars is useless - so we'll jump straight to the dynamics. And here, in comparing KIA Cerato vs Hyundai Elantra, it is very difficult to determine the winner - with a working volume of 1.6 liters, the power units have a capacity of 130-132 horsepower. In addition, both cars are equipped with identical six-speed manual transmissions. According to passport data, Hyundai Elantra accelerates to 200 km / h and accelerates a little faster than its rival - however, in real life, this is quite difficult to achieve. It is felt that the transmission ratios were selected based on a leisurely and economical ride on the highway, therefore, for maneuvers, it is necessary to select the optimal stage in advance.

Test drive of the KIA Cerato car:

If we talk about the KIA Cerato, then everything is exactly the opposite.A small change in gear ratios reduced the top speed, but increased the convenience of traction control. In city traffic, KIA feels like in its native element - only you have to work with your right hand quite often. In general, both Hyundai Elantra and KIA Cerato do not have to expect much drive - in order to achieve active acceleration, you have to constantly maintain the engine speed at the level of 3000–3500.

Chassis

It seems that Korean car manufacturers have resorted to fine-tuning the suspension parameters again, since Elantra and Serato have fundamentally different characters. When driving through small irregularities, the Hyundai Elantra does not allow small vibrations and even quite serious shocks to enter the passenger compartment. But many owners of such cars complain about the lack of feedback on the steering wheel in the center position.

Test drive the car Hyundai Elantra:

But the KIA Cerato does not cause such pleasant sensations - the passage of "speed bumps" is especially well felt, which cause quite sensitive jumps in the rear end. It is also unpleasant to drive through paving stones, on which the KIA steering wheel begins to shake finely, forcing the driver to slow down. At the same time, the stiffness of the Cerato is hardly justified - among the positive differences from the Hyundai Elantra control, only slightly more acute reactions to small steering angles can be called.

Almost the same

Despite the fact that the cars are built on a common platform and hardly differ in technical terms, they still have some individual characteristics. In particular, the KIA Cerato does not have such a stylish interior, but it is much more convenient for rear passengers and, if necessary, for transporting goods. In addition, KIA makes it easy to control dynamics due to a very good selection of transmission ratios. Hyundai Elantra does not cause any unpleasant sensations even when driving over rather large irregularities, and is more comfortable in front. Therefore, in many ways, the choice between these vehicles remains a matter of taste and personal preference.