Difference between Hyundai and Kia cars in India

Hyundai and Kia are two popular Korean automobile brands in India. Hyundai has successfully placed itself as one of the largest carmakers in the country alongside other big names like Tata and Maruti Suzuki. On the other hand, Kia is the emerging underdog and has made quite a name for itself.

But did you know that these two brands are owned by the same automobile group? Yes, both Hyundai and Kia are owned by Hyundai Motor Group. Despite that, both these brands have almost the same portfolio and compete with each other (Sibling rivalry) at similar segments and price points. They even offer similar features and all of these confuse buyers who are trying to decide which brand to go with and the question often arises as to whether they are the same brand or not. Let’s explore some differences and similarities between these 2 brands.

Hyundai and Kia – A dive into the past

Before we go any further with the present, let’s explore the past of these Korean brands in short.

Hyundai started its journey in 1967 from South Korea and is now the world’s 5th largest carmaker by sales and 2nd in India. Hyundai is an important part of the Hyundai Motor Group, popular for its wide range of vehicles, starting from hatchbacks to luxury SUVs. Hyundai cars are known for being value for money with cutting-edge design and technology along with good performance and reliability. Well, Hyundai’s global history is huge and in case you want to check its journey in India, be sure to check our article on that.

KIA is a relatively new player in the market compared to Hyundai but what if I tell you it’s actually older than its parent company and older sibling? That’s right, Kia was established back in 1944 and produced a wide variety of cars worldwide such as sedans, SUVs and EVs, although in India we only have SUVs for now. Unlike Hyundai’s elegant and futuristic design, Kia offers a more sporty and unique styling along with other tricks and good stuff that Hyundai offers.

Hyundai and Kia – Are they the same?

No, they are not the same company. However, they are related since they are both owned by Hyundai Motor Group. Hyundai bought a portion of the financially struggling Kia many years ago so they don’t go out of business. This is similar to the VW and Skoda relationship and that’s why Hyundai and Kia share some of their internals and platform. Despite their connection, both Korean companies operate independently with their own different visions and mottos alongside separate factories, R&D, Dealerships and Service centres.

Market Share and Lineup of Hyundai and Kia

As of Jan 2024, Hyundai holds 14.5% of the market share making it the 2nd largest manufacturer in India with a 14% year-on-year growth while Kia holds a 6% market share although there’s a 17% year-on-year decrease. Still, Kia remains a strong player in the Indian market.

As for the lineup of models in both brands, here is a segment-wise list of models available in India:

Segment	Mileage (Average)	Hyundai	KIA
Hatchback	16.5-25.35 kmpl	Grand i10 Nios, i20, i20 N Line	–
Sedan	18-27 kmpl	Aura, Verna	–
Compact SUV	17-23 kmpl	Exter, Venue, Venue N Line	Sonet
Mid-size SUV	18-24 kmpl	Creta, Creta N Line, Alcazar, Tucson	Seltos
MUV		–	Carens
EV	120-255 km/charge	Ioniq 5	EV6

Similarities and Differences between Hyundai and Kia

Aspect	Hyundai	Kia
Design	Elegant and aerodynamic design with a futuristic touch and smooth curves	Aggressive and Sporty Styling compared to Hyundai, making their road presence better
Target Audience	Mass market including budget-conscious buyers	Younger population and middle-class buyers
Features	Android Auto & Apple CarPlay support, Bose premium 8-speaker sound system with sub-woofer, 10.25-inch screens.	Android Auto & Apple CarPlay support, Bose premium 8-speaker sound system, 10.25-inch screens.
App Used	Hyundai Bluelink	Kia Connect
Safety Features	6 airbags (standard), ADAS, ESC, ESP, Blind-spot collision warning, Tyre pressure monitor, and Adaptive Cruise Control	6 airbags, ADAS, ESC, ESP, Blind-spot detection (Same as Hyundai), Tyre Pressure Monitor and Adaptive Cruise Control
Variant Names	E, EX, S, EX, S(O), S, SX, SX Tech, SX(O), S Plus (For midrange and entry-level cars) Era, Magna, Corporate, Sportz Executive, Sportz, Asta (Hatchbacks) Platinum, Signature (Premium Cars)	HTE, HT(O), HTK, HTK(O), HTE, HTE(O), HTK Plus, HTX, HTX Plus, GTX, GTX Plus, X-Line (SUVs) Premium, Prestige (MUV)
No of Service Centres	1226+	142+
No of Dealerships	1473	284
Popular Models	Creta, Venue, i20	Seltos, Sonet

Both Hyundai and Kia offer good value-for-money cars in India that are a well-rounded package of reliability, quality, design and features. Also, Hyundai and Kia models share their parts and platform but both brands tune in their vehicles differently. While Hyundai provides a more straightforward and smooth driving experience, Kia provides an engaging one.

(Fun Fact: Hyundai and Kia have a 3rd sibling called Genesis Motors, which is a luxury car brand).

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