Hyundai Elantra SEL Sport Plus vs Kia K4 EX

Hyundai Elantra SEL Sport Plus vs Kia K4 EX

Which vehicles are we comparing?

vs
Elantra SEL Sport Plus — $24,450 · 147 hp · 34 mpgK4 EX — $24,490 · 147 hp · 33 mpg

Before you compare

What this matchup really means

SEL Sport Plus vs EX, compared on verified specifications and price.

MatchupMixed Matchup
K4 EXLeather-trimmed seats

K4 EX

  • Leather-trimmed seats
Read the full breakdown

The SEL Sport Plus and EX are closely matched on price: $24,450 vs $24,490.

Because these two trims sit at different points in their lineups, the category winners below reflect trim level as much as brand. Read them as evidence, and weigh them against the equipment you will actually use.

At a glance

The quick decision

Best overall

Elantra SEL Sport Plus

If you're shopping the Elantra, the Elantra SEL Sport Plus is the fit this site recommends — the two are closely matched on fuel economy, price & value, performance and cargo & daily use; the K4 EX leads on cabin & comfort, so choose it if those matter most.

Best value

Elantra SEL Sport Plus

Close call — closely matched on price: $24,450 vs $24,490.

Best performance

Elantra SEL Sport Plus

Close call — closely matched on power: 147 hp vs 147 hp.

Best efficiency

Elantra SEL Sport Plus

Close call — closely matched on efficiency: 34 mpg vs 33 mpg combined.

Head to head

Who wins what

The verified differences most likely to decide it — each shown side by side, with the winner called out.

Cabin & Comfort

WinnerK4 EX

A more comfortable, upscale place to spend your drive, supported by leather seats.

Fuel Economy

Close callElantra SEL Sport Plus
34 mpgvs33 mpg

Closely matched: 34 mpg vs 33 mpg.

Price & Value

Close callElantra SEL Sport Plus
$24,450vs$24,490

Closely matched: $24,450 vs $24,490.

Cargo & Daily Use

Close callElantra SEL Sport Plus
14.2 cu ftvs14.6 cu ft

Closely matched: 14.2 cu ft vs 14.6 cu ft.

Performance

Close callElantra SEL Sport Plus
147 hpvs147 hp

Closely matched: 147 hp vs 147 hp.

Read the full breakdown

The SEL Sport Plus and EX are closely matched on price: $24,450 vs $24,490.

Visual comparison

See them side by side

Exterior

Elantra SEL Sport Plus
Elantra SEL Sport Plus
K4 EX
K4 EX

Standout features

Elantra SEL Sport Plus

  • Leatherette seats
  • Moonroof

K4 EX

  • Leather-trimmed seats
  • 12.3-inch touchscreen

Interior

Elantra SEL Sport Plus
Elantra SEL Sport Plus

Available colors

Elantra SEL Sport Plus

Elantra SEL Sport Plus — Abyss Black
Abyss Black
Elantra SEL Sport Plus — Amazon Gray
Amazon Gray
Elantra SEL Sport Plus — Kodiak Blue
Kodiak Blue
Elantra SEL Sport Plus — Fluid Metal
Fluid Metal
Elantra SEL Sport Plus — Ecotronic Gray
Ecotronic Gray
Elantra SEL Sport Plus — Quantum Gray
Quantum Gray
Elantra SEL Sport Plus — Ultimate Red
Ultimate Red
Elantra SEL Sport Plus — Volcanic Red
Volcanic Red

K4 EX

K4 EX — Aurora Black Pearl
Aurora Black Pearl
K4 EX — Interstellar Gray
Interstellar Gray
K4 EX — Deep Sea Blue
Deep Sea Blue
K4 EX — Morning Haze
Morning Haze
K4 EX — Steel Gray
Steel Gray
K4 EX — Currant Red
Currant Red
K4 EX — Snow White Pearl
Snow White Pearl

The bottom line

The verdict

Editor's pick

Elantra SEL Sport Plus

If you're shopping the Elantra, the Elantra SEL Sport Plus is the fit this site recommends — the two are closely matched on fuel economy, price & value, performance and cargo & daily use; the K4 EX leads on cabin & comfort, so choose it if those matter most.

Why we landed here

  • Closely matched on fuel economy: 34 mpg vs 33 mpg.
  • Closely matched on price & value: $24,450 vs $24,490.
  • Closely matched on performance: 147 hp vs 147 hp.
  • Closely matched on cargo & daily use: 14.2 cu ft vs 14.6 cu ft.
  • The K4 EX leads on cabin & comfort.

What could change this: If a better-equipped cabin matters most, the K4 EX is the better fit.

The full picture

What to know before you decide

Living with the Elantra SEL Sport Plus

  • Leather-trimmed seats

Living with the K4 EX

  • Leather-trimmed seats

By the numbers

Specs that matter

These are the figures most shoppers weigh first — price, power, efficiency, and room — with the full specification table below.

Starting price
Elantra SEL Sport Plus$24,450
K4 EX$24,490
Horsepower
Elantra SEL Sport Plus147 hp
K4 EX147 hp
Combined MPG
Elantra SEL Sport Plus34 mpg
K4 EX33 mpg
Trunk volume
Elantra SEL Sport Plus14.2 cu ft
K4 EX14.6 cu ft
AWD availability
Elantra SEL Sport PlusFront-wheel drive · AWD available: No
K4 EXFront-wheel drive · AWD available: No
Full specifications
SpecificationElantra SEL Sport PlusK4 EX
Starting MSRP$24,450$24,490
Horsepower147 hp147 hp
Torque132 lb-ft132 lb-ft
Combined MPG34 mpg33 mpg
City MPG30 mpg29 mpg
Highway MPG40 mpg39 mpg
Trunk volume14.2 cu ft14.6 cu ft
Seating55
DrivetrainFront Wheel DriveFront Wheel Drive
TransmissionIntelligent Variable (IVT)Intelligent Variable (IVT)
advertisement
Sponsored

Get Invoice Price on a new Elantra

See what the Dealer Paid and get the BEST Price

Get Invoice Price
Sponsored

Get Invoice Price on a new Elantra

See what the Dealer Paid and get the BEST Price

Get Invoice Price

Make the call

Which one is right for you?

Elantra SEL Sport Plus buyer

Best for:

  • Fuel Economy: close call
  • Performance: close call
  • Cargo & Daily Use: close call
  • Price & Value: close call
K4 EX buyer

Best for:

  • A better-equipped cabin

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

The questions shoppers ask most when weighing these two — answered with the verified facts.

Value comes down to the details. The SEL Sport Plus and EX are closely matched on price: $24,450 vs $24,490. Weigh the standard equipment each includes, their fuel economy, and the features you'll genuinely use. Cross-shop comparably equipped trims and let local incentives settle it.

"Nicer every day" is about the things you touch on every drive — the seats, the controls, and the screen. Comfort is personal, though: seat shape, driving position, and how intuitive the controls feel to you matter more than any feature list. Spend ten minutes in each on a route like your real commute — that test drive will tell you more about daily livability than any spec comparison.

We don't publish a feature-by-feature equipment comparison for this exact pairing, so we won't claim either way. Use the verified specifications and the verdict above — those come from confirmed data — and check each manufacturer's build-and-price tool for the equipment on the exact SEL Sport Plus and EX you're considering. Equipment also moves with option packages and model year, so the trim you drive may not match a general list. A back-to-back test drive of the two specific cars you're shopping is the reliable way to see what one offers that the other doesn't.

High annual mileage puts the spotlight on running costs, and that's mostly about fuel. Beyond fuel, a high-mileage driver should weigh seat comfort for all those hours and each model's reliability record — worth checking current ratings for the specific trims, since it matters most when you're piling on miles. If your year is mostly highway commuting, lean toward the more efficient, more comfortable choice; the small differences compound over 15,000 miles in a way they wouldn't for a light-use second car.

Interior preference is partly personal — dashboard layout, seat shape, and where the controls fall all factor in — so the best test is to sit in both. If a richer, more feature-laden cabin matters to you, compare the specific trims' option packages directly; if you mainly want a comfortable, sensibly-arranged space, either will serve you well day to day.

For most shoppers, the right pick follows your priorities rather than a single score. Use the verdict above as the starting recommendation, then confirm it with a back-to-back test drive of the exact trims you're considering.

Ready to shop the elantra?

Find local inventory, pricing, incentives, and available trims near you.

Browse elantra inventory

Updated inventory from local dealers.

elantra vs K4 View Inventory