Source snapshot 2026-10-05. Matching cohort: Midsize Cars · Regular Gasoline · Front-Wheel Drive · . All configurations in this shared cohort are included; other configurations on the source pages are excluded. This is a comparison of this cohort, not the entire nameplates or retail trims.
| Vehicle | EPA combined consumption | Cost / mile | 12,000 mi / year | 5 years / 60,000 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Elantra | 31–36 US MPG | $0.10–$0.11 | $1,166.67–$1,354.84 | $5,833.33–$6,774.19 |
| Kia Forte | 26–34 US MPG | $0.10–$0.13 | $1,235.29–$1,615.38 | $6,176.47–$8,076.92 |
How large is the energy-cost difference?
A minus B ranges from $-448.72 to $119.54 per year, or $-2,243.59 to $597.72 over five years. Positive means A costs more; negative means A costs less. If the range spans zero, the result depends on configuration. These bounds compare every included pairing, without declaring a winner from a best-case trim.
Method and limitations
Annual cost = miles ÷ combined US MPG × fuel price, or miles × kWh/100 mi ÷ 100 × electricity price. Regular/diesel $3.50/gal; premium $4.00/gal; electricity $0.17/kWh. Prices are illustrative, held fixed for five years, not current national averages. EPA wall-energy ratings include charging losses. EPA standardized ratings do not guarantee actual consumption. Costs exclude purchase price, financing, depreciation, insurance, maintenance, taxes and incentives.
Included source records
- 2024 Hyundai Elantra · Automatic (AV-S1) · EPA 47074 · EPA #47074
- 2024 Hyundai Elantra · Automatic (AV-S1) · EPA 47075 · EPA #47075
- 2024 Hyundai Elantra · Automatic (AM-S7) · EPA 47570 · EPA #47570
- 2024 Kia Forte · Manual 6-spd · EPA 47077 · EPA #47077
- 2024 Kia Forte · Automatic (AM-S7) · EPA 47078 · EPA #47078
- 2024 Kia Forte · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · EPA 47080 · EPA #47080
- 2024 Kia Forte FE · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · EPA 47079 · EPA #47079
Compare exact configurations interactively · Source methodology