Category: Name Decoder

2027 Hyundai Avante vs Elantra: What Korea Gets First

A new generation of the Avante, the compact sedan sold in the US as the Elantra, is on sale in Korea. Hyundai calls it the all-new Avante (디 올 뉴 아반떼), and contracts opened on August 5, 2026. In the US, Hyundai’s site still lists the 2026 Elantra, which carries over the outgoing generation.

So for now, the Avante and the Elantra aren’t just one car with two names. They’re two different generations. We compared Hyundai Korea’s catalog and price lists with Hyundai USA’s 2026 Elantra specs on October 21, 2026. Here’s what Korea has and what Hyundai hasn’t announced yet.

How we compared

All specs and prices below come from Hyundai’s official sources: Hyundai Korea’s Avante catalog and price lists, Hyundai Motor Group’s Korean press release, Hyundai USA’s Elantra spec page and Hyundai’s owner’s manual portal. We didn’t use figures from news reports.

Figures in parentheses (hp, lb-ft, inches, gallons and mpg) and the size differences are our own conversions and subtractions.

Same name, two generations right now

Hyundai calls the new car the eighth-generation Avante, a full redesign six years after the previous one. The owner’s manual portal shows the split through model codes.

Korea, 2027 Avante: CN8
Korea, 2027 Avante Hybrid: CN8KH
Korea, 2026 Avante N: CN7N
US, newest gas Elantra manual on the portal: 2023 (CN7a)

CN7 is the code for the outgoing generation. The portal has no newer gas Elantra manual, but the 2026 Elantra’s listed engine and dimensions match the outgoing car, and Hyundai hasn’t announced a new US generation. So we treat the 2026 Elantra as CN7. As we explain further down, the Avante N hasn’t moved to the new generation either.

What’s on sale in Korea

The all-new Avante comes with two powertrains, a 2.0 gas engine and a 1.6 hybrid, and three trims: Modern, Premium and Inspiration. In its August launch release, Hyundai scheduled gas deliveries to start in the third quarter of 2026. Hybrid deliveries start after the car appears in the government’s eco-friendly vehicle notice, when Hyundai will also publish its tax-reduced price.

These are Hyundai Korea’s list prices, including VAT, from the price lists for the model released August 5, 2026. Options are extra.

Trim	2.0 gas (KRW)	1.6 hybrid (KRW)
Modern	23,980,000	30,420,000
Premium	27,710,000	33,610,000
Inspiration	31,520,000	36,990,000

The hybrid prices are before tax benefits. The hybrid price list leaves the after-benefit price blank and says it will be announced after the official eco-friendly vehicle notice.

Every trim gets Hyundai’s new Pleos Connect infotainment with a 12.9-inch or 14.6-inch screen. The base Modern trim also has 10 airbags, smart cruise control with stop-and-go and Lane Following Assist 2. The Gleo AI voice assistant is standard from the Premium up and comes in an option package on the Modern.

New Avante vs the 2026 US Elantra

This table puts the Korean 2.0 gas car next to the gas Elantra on Hyundai USA’s spec page. The US figures are for the SE. The SEL Sport and SEL Sport Plus columns on the same page list the same engine and dimensions.

	Korea: all-new Avante 2.0	US: 2026 Elantra
Generation	8th (CN8)	Outgoing (CN7, see above)
Engine	2.0 gas, 1,999 cc	2.0 gas, inline 4-cylinder
Power	149 PS (147 hp) at 6,200 rpm	147 hp at 6,200 rpm
Torque	18.3 kgf·m (132 lb-ft) at 4,500 rpm	132 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm
Transmission	IVT	IVT
Length	4,765 mm (187.6 in)	185.4 in
Width	1,855 mm (73.0 in)	71.9 in
Height	1,425 mm (56.1 in)	55.7 in
Wheelbase	2,750 mm (108.3 in)	107.1 in
Fuel tank	47 L (12.4 gal)	12.4 gal
Base screen	12.9-inch Pleos Connect	8-inch touchscreen (SE)
Starting price	23,980,000 won	$22,825 MSRP

Hyundai Korea calls the 2.0 more powerful than the engine in the previous Korean Avante, but against the US car the listed output is the same once you convert the units. What grew is the body. By our subtraction, the new gas Avante is about 56 mm (2.2 in) longer, 29 mm wider, 10 mm taller and has a 30 mm longer wheelbase than the 2026 Elantra.

We haven’t converted the prices. Korean list prices include VAT, while US MSRPs exclude freight, taxes and fees, so an exchange-rate comparison would mislead more than it helps.

The official Korean combined rating for the gas car is 14.3 km/L on 16-inch wheels, or about 33.6 mpg US. The US EPA figure for the SE is 35 mpg combined, but the two tests are run differently, so the gap doesn’t tell you which car is thriftier. Our Kia K8 guide has a converter if you want to turn other Korean km/L ratings into mpg.

The hybrid

The Avante Hybrid pairs a 1.6 gas engine (105 PS) with a 45 kW motor, for a system output of 157 PS (155 hp), through a 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It stands 1,430 mm tall, 5 mm more than the gas car. Its official Korean combined rating is 21.2 km/L on 17-inch wheels, about 49.9 mpg US, and 19.9 km/L on 18-inch wheels.

Hyundai also lists a stay mode, which runs the climate and infotainment on battery power while the car is stopped and the engine is off. We didn’t check the US Elantra Hybrid’s spec page for this guide, so we haven’t compared the two hybrids.

What Hyundai hasn’t said yet

US timing and specs. On October 21, 2026, Hyundai USA’s site listed only the 2026 Elantra. We didn’t find US specs, prices or a launch date for the new generation on Hyundai’s official pages. Until Hyundai publishes one, treat any date you see as a guess.

The Avante N. Hyundai Korea still sells the Avante N on its own page, from 33,560,000 won. Its newest manual is the 2026 model with the CN7N code, so it’s still based on the previous generation. We found no official announcement of an N version of the new car.

Reading Korean Avante listings

Korean dealers and used-car sites write the name as 아반떼. “디 올 뉴 아반떼” (The All-New Avante) is Hyundai’s name for the eighth generation. Older Avantes carry other prefixes, and our Hyundai and Kia name lookup table explains how those prefixes work.

The quickest check on a used listing is the date. Contracts for the new car opened on August 5, 2026, so an Avante first registered before then is the previous generation. One registered after that date could be either, since the Avante N, still on the previous generation, is sold alongside it. In that case, look at the car itself. The new one has Hyundai’s Art of Steel design and what Hyundai calls H-edge lighting at the front.

The Avante isn’t the only Hyundai sedan known by another name abroad. Our Grandeur vs Azera guide covers the larger sedan that Hyundai’s global site lists as the Azera.

Where to check the current specs

Hyundai updates its price lists, so check these pages before relying on a figure:

Korea: Hyundai all-new Avante (in Korean, with the price list and catalog linked from the page)
Korea: Hyundai Avante N (in Korean)
Korea: Hyundai Motor Group press release on the Avante launch (in Korean)
US: Hyundai USA 2026 Elantra specs
Model codes: Hyundai owner’s manual portal

Last checked: October 21, 2026. Sources: Hyundai Korea all-new Avante catalog and price lists for the gas and hybrid models (model released August 5, 2026), Hyundai Korea Avante N page, Hyundai Motor Group press release of August 5, 2026, Hyundai USA 2026 Elantra specifications, Hyundai owner’s manual portal (Korea and US).

October 21, 2026

Kia Picanto vs Morning: How the Korean Version Differs

In Korea, the car Kia sells as the Picanto in the UK and Australia is called the Morning (모닝). The name is only the first difference. On Kia’s own pages, the Korean car has a different power figure from the UK car, a smaller engine than the Australian car and no manual gearbox. It also comes as a van.

We compared Kia Korea’s 2027 Morning pages with Kia UK’s Picanto pages and Kia Australia’s 2027 Picanto page on October 20, 2026. Here’s what each one lists.

How we compared

We used Kia’s official pages: Kia Korea’s Morning spec and price pages, Kia UK’s Picanto overview and specification pages, Kia Australia’s Picanto features page and Kia’s US vehicle lineup. A dash in the tables means the page we checked didn’t show that figure. It doesn’t mean the figure doesn’t exist.

Figures in parentheses (hp, Nm and inches), the PS equivalent of the UK power figure and the mpg figure are our own conversions.

Morning vs Picanto at a glance

	Korea: Morning	UK: Picanto	Australia: Picanto
Engine	1.0 gas, 998 cc	1.0 GDI gas, 998 cc	1.2 MPI gas
Power	76 PS (75 hp) at 6,200 rpm	68 bhp at 6,000 rpm	–
Torque	9.7 kgf·m (95 Nm) at 3,750 rpm	96 Nm at 4,000 rpm	–
Gearbox	4-speed automatic only	5-speed manual or 5-speed automated manual (AMT)	5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic
Length	3,595 mm (141.5 in)	3,605 mm (141.9 in), from the GT-Line dimension drawing	–
Body	Passenger car and 2-seat van	5-seat passenger car	5-seat passenger car
Trims	Trendy, Prestige, Signature, GT-Line (van: Trendy, Prestige)	Pure, GT-Line, GT-Line S	Sport, GT-Line

Kia UK labels its engine “1.0 GDI (67bhp)”, but its drivetrain table gives 68 bhp. We’ve used the table figure. Width (1,595 mm), height (1,485 mm) and wheelbase (2,400 mm) match between the Korean spec page and the UK drawing.

Korea’s official combined fuel economy for the Morning is 14.7 km/L, about 34.6 mpg US. Kia Korea notes that this is a standard-test figure and that real-world economy varies. Test methods differ by country, so we haven’t set it against UK or Australian figures.

Three spec differences

1. Power from the same displacement

Both the Korean and UK cars use a 998 cc engine. Korea lists 76 PS, while the UK lists 68 bhp, which is about 69 PS. Torque is almost the same, at about 95 Nm in Korea and 96 Nm in the UK.

Kia doesn’t explain the gap on either page, so we haven’t guessed at a reason. Australia goes a different way altogether, with a 1.2-liter MPI engine. Kia Australia also says the car was tuned for Australian roads.

2. No manual in Korea

Kia Korea’s spec page lists one gearbox, a 4-speed automatic, and the price list shows no manual option. The UK offers a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT, and Australia offers a 5-speed manual on the Sport grade, with a 4-speed automatic available on both grades.

If you drive a manual Picanto at home, expect an automatic if you buy a new Morning in Korea.

3. Ten millimeters of length

Kia Korea lists the Morning at 3,595 mm. The dimension drawing on Kia UK’s spec page, shown on a GT-Line, gives 3,605 mm.

The gap is small, but it falls on either side of a Korean limit. The light-car class (경형) caps length at 3.6 meters, and Kia Korea lists the Morning in that class. By our own subtraction, the Korean figure is 5 mm under the cap and the UK figure is 5 mm over. Kia doesn’t say why the figures differ. Our Kia Ray guide sets out the full light-car limits and how the Ray, Morning and Casper fit them.

The Morning van

Kia Korea’s price list has a separate tab for the Morning van, labeled 1.0 가솔린(밴) (1.0 gas van), and the spec page lists it as a 2-seat version. It comes in two trims, Trendy and Prestige.

Neither the UK nor the Australian page we checked shows a van version of the Picanto.

Morning prices in Korea

These are Kia Korea’s list prices by trim, dated October 1, 2026. Options are priced separately on the same page.

Version	Trim	Price (KRW)
Passenger car	Trendy	14,210,000
Passenger car	Prestige	16,010,000
Passenger car	Signature	18,160,000
Passenger car	GT-Line	19,110,000
Van	Trendy	13,860,000
Van	Prestige	14,510,000

On the Prestige passenger trim and the trims above it, the price list includes a Hi-Pass toll payment unit. Kia notes that the unit doesn’t apply toll discounts on its own, and that discounts need a separate registration. Our guide to Korean highway tolls and Hi-Pass explains how the system works.

Is the Picanto sold in the US?

Neither the Picanto nor the Morning was listed on Kia’s US vehicle lineup on October 20, 2026. That doesn’t mean the car can’t be found there, and the page doesn’t say why it’s missing.

Our list of Hyundai and Kia models missing from the US, UK and Australia covers Korean-market cars you won’t find on any of those three lineups.

Searching for a Morning in Korean

Korean listings and reviews use 모닝, not Picanto. Some add a prefix such as 더 뉴 (The New), which usually marks a facelift rather than a different car.

The Hyundai and Kia name lookup table pairs current Korean model names with their US and UK names where they exist, and its search box accepts Hangul.

Where to check the current specs

Kia’s figures can change between model years, so check these pages before relying on one:

Korea: Kia Morning specifications and prices (in Korean)
UK: Kia Picanto specification
Australia: Kia Picanto features
US: Kia US vehicle lineup

Last checked: October 20, 2026. Sources: Kia Korea Morning specification and price pages (prices as of October 1, 2026), Kia UK Picanto overview and specification pages, Kia Australia 2027 Picanto features page, Kia US vehicle lineup. Light-car limits from the Enforcement Rules of the Motor Vehicle Management Act, Annex 1 (checked October 9, 2026, for our Kia Ray guide).

October 20, 2026

What Happened to the Hyundai Azera? It’s Still Sold in Korea as the Grandeur

If you remember the Hyundai Azera from US showrooms, you may have assumed it was discontinued. It isn’t gone. Hyundai still lists it in its global lineup, and in Korea the same car sells as the Grandeur (그랜저).

This guide sorts out the two names using Hyundai’s own websites: its global vehicle history, its global model pages, its Korean price lists, and its current US and UK lineups.

The short answer

Same car, two names. Hyundai’s global site says the Azera is badged as the Grandeur in some markets, including Korea.
Still current. Hyundai’s global lineup lists the Azera among its sedans and the Azera Hybrid among its hybrids.
Not in the US or UK. Neither name appears on Hyundai’s US or UK model pages as of October 11, 2026.
In Korea, it’s the Grandeur. Hyundai Korea sells it with gasoline, LPG and hybrid powertrains.

One model line since 1986

Hyundai’s global vehicle history page lists the car as AZERA, 1986 onward, and notes it is also known as the Grandeur in selected countries. The Korean-language version of the page calls it 그랜저, with the same 1986 start date.

So Hyundai treats the Grandeur and the Azera as one continuous model line. Its history page picks out a few milestones:

Third generation: Hyundai calls it the first full-size sedan to be sold in the US market.
Fifth generation (2011): combined Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture design with a “Grand Glide” concept.
Seventh generation: the latest, which Hyundai says further elevates the car’s standing as a flagship sedan.

The page doesn’t give a year for every generation.

Where the Azera name went

The name is missing from the US, not from Hyundai. On October 11, 2026, Hyundai’s US vehicle page didn’t list the Azera or the Grandeur, and neither did Hyundai’s UK model page.

Hyundai’s global site still presents the current generation as “the all-new AZERA.” We didn’t find a market-by-market list on the Hyundai pages we checked, so we can’t say which countries outside Korea sell it today. If you’re checking a particular country, that country’s own Hyundai website is the place to look.

None of those pages explains why Hyundai uses two names, and we haven’t guessed at a reason.

The Grandeur in Korea today

Hyundai Korea currently sells it as 더 뉴 그랜저 (The New Grandeur). In Korean model names, “The New” usually marks a facelift. The hybrid has its own model page, 더 뉴 그랜저 Hybrid.

Here is how Hyundai’s Korean price lists (dated October 1, 2026, private-use versions) compare with its global Azera pages:

Powertrain	Korea (Grandeur price list)	Global (Azera pages)
2.5 gasoline	Smartstream 2.5 gasoline, 8-speed automatic	Smartstream G2.5 GDi
3.5 gasoline	Smartstream 3.5 gasoline, listed as an option	Smartstream G3.5 GDi
3.5 LPG	Smartstream LPG 3.5 (LPi), 8-speed automatic	Not shown
Hybrid	Smartstream 1.6 turbo hybrid, 47.7 kW motor, 6-speed automatic	Smartstream G1.6 T-GDi HEV

“Not shown” means the global pages don’t mention an LPG version. It doesn’t rule one out in other markets. We’ve left prices out, because they change with each price list and trim.

Why the Korean name matters if you’re in Korea

Hyundai Korea’s site names the car 그랜저, so that’s the name to search with in Korean, not “Azera.”

The marketing prefix can change between updates, too. You may see 디 올 뉴 그랜저 (The All-New Grandeur) for a new generation and 더 뉴 그랜저 for a facelift, but the model is the same. Our lookup table of Hyundai and Kia model names in Korea and abroad covers the rest of the lineup the same way.

When comparing a Korean Grandeur with an Azera you know from elsewhere, check that specific car’s engine and equipment rather than relying on the badge.

Last checked: October 11, 2026. Sources: Hyundai Worldwide vehicle history: AZERA; Hyundai Worldwide: the all-new AZERA and its performance and hybrid pages; Hyundai Korea price lists for The New Grandeur and The New Grandeur Hybrid (in Korean); Hyundai USA vehicles; Hyundai UK models.

October 11, 2026

Hyundai Inster vs Casper Electric: How the Korean Version Differs

In Korea, the Hyundai Inster goes by another name: Casper Electric (캐스퍼 일렉트릭). Hyundai sells it through its Casper online store, and that’s the name you’ll see in Korean reviews and listings.

Our Korean vs international Hyundai and Kia model name lookup table shows how to confirm the two are the same car using owner’s manual codes. Here, we look at how the versions differ from market to market.

All figures below come from Hyundai’s official pages in Korea, the UK and Australia, checked in October 2026. Where a page doesn’t say something, we’ve left it out.

The short answer

The batteries, motor outputs and body dimensions line up across all three markets. What differs is the trim names, which versions each market spells out in detail, and the official range numbers.

Korea’s range figures are noticeably lower than the UK and Australian ones for the same battery and wheels. They’re certified under a different system, so the two sets of numbers shouldn’t be compared directly.

Size: practically identical

Hyundai UK’s model page doesn’t list dimensions, so this table compares Korea and Australia only.

	Korea (Casper Electric)	Australia (Inster)
Length	3,825 mm (Cross: 3,845 mm)	3,825 mm (Cross: 3,845 mm)
Width	1,610 mm	1,610 mm
Height	1,575 mm (1,610 mm with roof rack)	1,610 mm (including roof rails)
Wheelbase	2,580 mm	2,580 mm

The only difference is how height is quoted. Korea gives the figure without a roof rack first, while the Australian spec sheet includes the roof rails.

Batteries and power by market

All three markets list the same two batteries, 42 kWh and 49 kWh, with matching motor outputs. Torque is 147 Nm wherever it’s listed.

Battery	Power	Korea trims	UK (as listed)	Australia (spec sheet)
42 kWh	71.1 kW (UK: 71 kW / 97 PS)	Standard, 15″ wheels	Standard range, 15″ wheels	INSTER
49 kWh	84.5 kW (UK: 85 kW / 115 PS)	Long-range (15″ or 17″) and Cross (17″)	Long range, 15″ or 17″ wheels	INSTER and INSTER Cross

Korea is the most explicit. Its spec page names a trim for each battery and wheel combination and gives a range figure for each one.

Australia’s spec sheet marks both batteries as available on the regular INSTER and only the 49 kWh battery on the Cross. Its detailed figures, though, cover just two versions: the 42 kWh Standard Range on 15″ wheels and the 49 kWh Cross on 17″ wheels.

Why the range numbers don’t match

The UK and Australia quote WLTP figures. Korea quotes its own government-certified figures, the ones on the Casper Electric spec page.

Battery / wheels	Korea (Korean certification)	UK (WLTP)	Australia (WLTP)
42 kWh, 15″	278 km (173 mi)	203 mi (327 km)	327 km (203 mi)
49 kWh, 15″	315 km (196 mi)	229 mi (369 km)	—
49 kWh, 17″	295 km (183 mi)	223 mi (359 km)	—
49 kWh Cross, 17″	285 km (177 mi)	—	360 km (224 mi), with sunroof
49 kWh Cross with roof basket	248 km (154 mi)	—	—

Figures in brackets are our own conversions (1 mile = 1.609344 km), rounded to the nearest whole number. A dash means that market’s page doesn’t give a separate figure for that setup.

The two WLTP markets agree. The 42 kWh car is rated at 203 miles in the UK and 327 km in Australia, the same figure once converted. Korea rates the same battery and wheels at 278 km, 49 km lower by our subtraction.

Hyundai’s pages don’t explain the gap. Hyundai Australia’s own disclaimer notes that WLTP figures are only meant for comparing cars tested under the same procedure. The practical rule: compare Korean figures with Korean figures, and WLTP with WLTP.

Both the Korean and Australian pages also warn that real-world range varies. Korea singles out cold weather, while Australia lists driving style, climate control and conditions.

Trim names in each market

Trim ladders don’t map one-to-one, so match cars across markets by battery and wheel size, not trim name.

Korea: 기본형 (Standard), 항속형 (Long-range) and 크로스 (Cross), with our translations in brackets. The Cross also gets a separate range figure with its roof basket fitted.
UK: INSTER 01, INSTER 02 and INSTER Cross. The 02 adds 17″ wheels, and the Cross adds the Cross design package and a glass sunroof, among other features.
Australia: INSTER and INSTER Cross.

The Inster wasn’t on Hyundai’s US lineup when we checked in October 2026, so there’s no US version to compare.

Checking prices

We haven’t listed prices because they change often, and Korean EV prices also depend on subsidies that vary by region and year. Each market’s official page is the place to check:

Korea: Hyundai Casper online store (Korean only). The spec page has a price list download.
UK: Hyundai UK Inster page, which shows starting prices by trim.
Australia: Hyundai Australia Inster page, through its Build & Price tool.

Looking for this car in Korea

If you live in Korea or read Korean owner forums, search for 캐스퍼 일렉트릭 or “Casper Electric”. Searching “Inster” is far less useful in Korean results.

One more trap: plain 캐스퍼 (Casper) is the gas-powered model, a separate car with its own spec tab on the Korean site. Check for “일렉트릭” (Electric) in the name before you trust a review or listing.

Last checked: October 8, 2026. Sources: Hyundai Casper online store spec page (Korea), Hyundai UK Inster page, Hyundai Australia Inster page and MY26 Inster specification sheet (August 2026).

October 8, 2026

Hyundai and Kia Model Names in Korea vs Abroad: The Full Lookup Table

If you’ve watched a Korean car review or scrolled through a Seoul dealer listing, you’ve probably hit names like Avante, Morning or Casper Electric and had no idea what they are back home. Most of the Hyundai and Kia lineup keeps the same name in the US and UK, but a few popular models change names at the border, and several never show up there at all.

This guide covers every passenger model in Hyundai’s and Kia’s current Korean lineups. We checked each one against the brands’ official Korean, US and UK websites and their owner’s manual portals in October 2026. Genesis is a separate brand, so it isn’t included. Neither are taxis, trucks, buses or commercial models like the Porter, Bongo, ST1 and PV5.

Hyundai and Kia don’t publish an official reason for each regional name, so we only list what the official sites show.

Why it helps to know the Korean name

Korean reviews, owner forums and used-car listings only use the Korean name. If you’re looking for an Avante review or a Morning owner’s thread, searching the export name won’t get you far.

It also works the other way. If you live in Korea and drive a car you know as an Elantra, the Korean dealer and the repair shop will know it as an Avante.

A quick note on Korean model names

Korean listings often put a marketing prefix in front of the model name. On Hyundai’s Korean site you’ll see “디 올 뉴 아반떼” (The All-New Avante) and “더 뉴 그랜저” (The New Grandeur).

“The All-New” usually marks a new generation and “The New” a facelift. Drop those words and you’re left with the actual model name, which is what the tables below use.

Find a model by its Korean, US or UK name

Searches both lookup tables below. Hangul works too, and marketing prefixes like “The All-New” or “디 올 뉴” are ignored.

Results come straight from the Hyundai and Kia tables in this guide, last checked October 6, 2026.

Hyundai lookup table

“Not listed” means the model doesn’t appear on that country’s official Hyundai lineup page. It may still be sold in other markets.

Korea	Korean spelling	US	UK
Avante	아반떼	Elantra	Not listed
Avante N	아반떼 N	Elantra N	Not listed
Sonata	쏘나타	Sonata	Not listed
Grandeur	그랜저	Not listed	Not listed
Casper	캐스퍼	Not listed	Not listed
Casper Electric	캐스퍼 일렉트릭	Not listed	Inster
Venue	베뉴	Venue	Not listed
Kona	코나	Kona	Kona
Tucson	투싼	Tucson	Tucson
Santa Fe	싼타페	Santa Fe	Santa Fe
Palisade	팰리세이드	Palisade	Not listed
Staria	스타리아	Not listed	Coming soon
IONIQ 5	아이오닉 5	IONIQ 5	IONIQ 5
IONIQ 6	아이오닉 6	IONIQ 6	IONIQ 6
IONIQ 9	아이오닉 9	IONIQ 9	IONIQ 9
Nexo	넥쏘	Not listed	Nexo

Kia lookup table

Korea	Korean spelling	US	UK
Morning	모닝	Not listed	Picanto
Ray / Ray EV	레이	Not listed	Not listed
K5	K5	K5	Not listed
K8	K8	Not listed	Not listed
K9	K9	Not listed	Not listed
Seltos	셀토스	Seltos	Not listed
Niro	니로	Niro	Niro
Sportage	스포티지	Sportage	Sportage
Sorento	쏘렌토	Sorento	Sorento
Carnival	카니발	Carnival	Not listed
Tasman	타스만	Not listed	Not listed
EV3	EV3	EV3	EV3
EV4	EV4	Not listed	EV4
EV5	EV5	Not listed	EV5
EV6	EV6	EV6	EV6
EV9	EV9	EV9	EV9

Hyundai Avante vs Elantra, Casper Electric vs Inster

Four Korean passenger models change their names in these markets, shown in bold in the tables above. To make sure the renamed pairs are really the same car, we compared their model codes on the owner’s manual sites.

Avante and Elantra: up to the 2025 model year, the Korean Avante shares the code CN7 with the US Elantra. Hyundai’s Australian manual site lists the same car as the i30 Sedan, also CN7. Korea’s 2027 Avante has moved to a new code, CN8, while the newest Elantra manuals we found on the US site (the 2026 Elantra Hybrid and Elantra N) are still CN7-based.

Casper Electric and Inster: both are listed under the code AXEV, in Korea and on Hyundai’s Australian manual site. The gas-powered Casper has no counterpart on the US or UK sites.

Kia Morning vs Picanto

Kia’s list is short. The Morning is the only current Kia passenger model in this check that’s sold under a different name. Kia’s owner’s manual site lists both the 2027 Morning in Korea and the 2027 Picanto in the UK under the code JA.

Sold abroad but not in Korea

It works the other way too. These models are on the US or UK sites but missing from Hyundai’s and Kia’s current Korean lineups.

Hyundai: Santa Cruz (US), i20 and Bayon (UK), IONIQ 3 (UK)
Kia: Telluride (US), K4 (US and UK), Stonic, XCeed and EV2 (UK)

How to find a car’s Korean twin yourself

The quickest check is the model code. Both the Hyundai owner’s manual site and the Kia owner’s manual site show a short code next to the model name, such as “PALISADE LX3 2027”.

Choose a country, find the model, and note its code. Then do the same with Korea selected and the Korean name. If the base codes match, it’s the same car underneath.

Two things to watch for. First, extra letters often follow the base code: the US site lists the 2023 Elantra as CN7a, the Elantra Hybrid as CN7HEV and the Elantra N as CN7N, so compare the CN7 part. Second, a shared code doesn’t guarantee an identical spec. Engines, trims and equipment can still differ from market to market.

Keeping this table current

The Avante’s switch to CN8 shows how quickly this changes. While the US still lists the 2026 Elantra, the new Avante is already on sale here, and our 2027 Avante vs Elantra comparison has its Korean prices and specs. We’ll recheck the official sites when new model years appear.

Last checked: October 6, 2026. Sources: Hyundai and Kia official websites for Korea, the US and the UK, and the Hyundai and Kia owner’s manual portals (Korea, US, UK and Australia).

October 6, 2026