K-pop Chart Toppers

These two popular and evenly matched Korean saloons go head-to-head in a bid to win over family men.

byBen Chia January 2017

These two popular and evenly matched Korean saloons go head-to-head in a bid to win over family men.

BOTH Kia and Hyundai are hoping to capture a big slice of the family saloon segment with their recently updated Cerato Forte K3 and allnew Elantra respectively.

Kia and Hyundai are sister companies, so these models are closely related “cousins”. Both cars’ wheelbases, for instance, are 2700mm long.

The Cerato and Elantra also use the same 1.6-litre 4-cylinder engines, with nearly identical outputs that deliver similar levels of performance and efficiency.

Both models, however, look nothing alike. The Elantra, with its imposing chrome grille and sharply raked headlights, is sleeker and more aggressive. The Cerato seems more conservative, despite its fierce-sounding “Tiger Nose” grille and wider headlights.

The Elantra has a classier interior, with a sharp, cliff-like dashboard featuring plenty of high-quality plastics, along with matte black and “frosted” metal applique trimmings.

The Cerato, on the other hand, boasts a sportier ambience, with carbon fibrelike trims and a curvier dash. Although both cockpits are well-designed with intuitive controls and touchscreen displays, it’s the Elantra that has the edge in terms of overall quality.

Given that both cars have identical wheelbase lengths, their cabins are equally roomy. Each one accommodates five adults reasonably comfortably, with adequate legroom and headroom for all.

Korean cars are known for being well-equipped, and the Cerato and Elantra are no exceptions.

These range-topping SX and Elite variants have amenities such as ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, rear air-con vents and a smart trunk feature, which automatically Upon approval opens the boot lid if you stand behind it for three seconds with the key in your pocket.

However, there are still a few significant differences in specifications between the two.

The Elantra has six airbags, compared to just two in the Cerato, which makes the Hyundai a better choice for those who place greater emphasis on safety.

Meanwhile, the Cerato scores points by offering a sportier drive, courtesy of its paddleshifters and 17-inch rims.

Even in Elite spec, the Elantra has no paddle-shifters and makes do with 16-inch wheels.

In terms of ride quality, both models are neck-and-neck, as their setups are comfort- biased instead of sporty.

That said, the more powerful Cerato does come across as more engaging, since its acceleration seems more urgent – a sensation brought about by its more vocal engine soundtrack.

The Elantra has quieter and smoother power delivery. Furthermore, it’s actually quicker and has a century sprint time of 11.6 seconds, or half a second ahead of the Kia.

What really separates these two cars, then, is their pricing. At the time of writing, the Cerato Forte K3 SX is priced at $102,999, while the Elantra Elite is priced at $109,999.

It’s a tough decision, given how closely matched these Korean saloons are.

But you’ll be glad to know that whether you opt for the sportier and more affordable Kia, or the better equipped and more refined Hyundai, you’ll definitely be behind the wheel of a K-pop chart topper.

THE CERATO FORTE IS SPORTIER AND MORE ENGAGING, WHILE THE ELANTRA IS SAFER AND MORE REFINED.

Cerato’s cockpit boasts a sportier ambience with its faux carbon fibre trimmings, while the Elantra’s feels classier thanks to its higherquality plastics.