How Good Is the Kia Forte? Yes, the Kia Forte is an excellent small car. Its rear seats and trunk are surprisingly spacious. Both the cabin and the entertainment system are well-built and simple to use.
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Is a Kia Forte a hatchback or a sedan?
In addition to the hatchback (Forte5), the 2018 Kia Forte is also offered as a sedan in LX, S, and EX trim levels. The EX trim comes with more features than the standard LX trim, which is moderately equipped.
What kind of space does a Kia Forte have?
Front/Rear Shoulder Room: 56.1/55.3 inches. 53.0/51.1 inches of hip room in the front and back. Front/rear legroom is 42.2/35.7 inches. 96.0 cubic feet of interior space.
A Kia Forte is a sporty car, right?
In recent years, the average price of a new automobile transaction has increased more than ever, making it more difficult than ever to purchase a brand-new vehicle that is also enjoyable to drive. Fortunately, Kia disproves that idea with the Forte GT, the company’s high-performance version of the tiny sedan.
The Forte GT is a member of Kia’s lineup of GT vehicles, which are the company’s sportiest automobiles. With 18-inch alloy wheels, a firmer sport suspension, a performance exhaust system, and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 201 and 195 lb-ft of torque, Kia equips the Forte GT. When cold started, the dual-exit arrangement is shockingly loud, which we predict will appeal to buyers searching for a compact with more personality than the standard Forte. The vehicle we drove had a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, but for $1,000 more, Kia also sells a GT Manual grade that includes a six-speed manual gearbox as standard equipment and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer tires.
How Does It Drive?
The Forte GT feels feisty off the line when you gun the pedal because there is a lot of torque steer available. It will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds, which is precisely the time required for its segment. Even when every seat is occupied by grownups on the motorway, there is still an abundance of power available when needed. The transmission offers crisp, quick shifts when the power is applied steadily. The dual clutch gearbox’s flaws are, however, exposed in slow moving traffic or on streets with frequent stop signs. Following an acceleration, it has a propensity to buck under braking and has a tendency to hesitate in reverse.
The transmission was at its best when we tested the Forte GT in the canyons. It revs out to redline with smooth throttle inputs and makes sharp upshifts. Under braking, it switches down anticipatorily. By using the paddle shifters, the driver is more actively involved and has more influence over the dual-clutch transmission’s operation.
The Forte GT is able to play well when cornering enthusiastically. The small vehicle maintains its grip in the corners despite having all-season tires. This was corroborated by our instrumented testing, which showed that the Forte GT performed better than average for compact cars fitted with equivalent tires, pulling an average of 0.87 g on our skidpad.
Three drive mode options are available for the Forte GT: Comfort, Smart, and Sport. While switching to Sport increases steering weight and awakens the motor, Comfort provides the most comfortable steering feel and throttle responsiveness. The Forte GT, according to Road Test Editor Chris Walton, offers “talkative handling and good balance on the skidpad.” The transmission isn’t nearly sophisticated enough to downshift and retain a gear on the skidpad even in Sport mode, he added in a separate comment.
The Kia Forte GT stopped steadily from 60 to 0 mph in 122 feet during our instrumented testing. It provides a good bite and feel to the brake pedal, enabling the driver to modulate the brake pedal smoothly. The Kia Forte GT’s tail end showed a tendency to skid out under severe braking into a corner at the track, but this adds to its eagerness and liveliness on twisting roads. Because of the sedan’s open communication style, it’s simple to get into a routine and navigate tricky terrain with confidence.
The Forte GT performs well on winding roads and poorly in heavy traffic. In stop-and-go traffic, the dual-clutch transmission struggles, and the harsh suspension shakes passengers as the vehicle crosses bumpy or uneven terrain. When purchasing a Forte GT, prospective purchasers should keep this in mind because most people probably won’t want to put up with its non-adaptive sport-tuned suspension arrangement.
Are Features the Forte’s Forte?
Metal pedal covers, contrast stitching, and a comfortable-to-hold leather-wrapped steering wheel are all advantages of the Forte GT. Even though the current generation of the Forte GT was introduced for the 2018 model year, its inside has already begun to seem obsolete. The majority of the surfaces are made of hard plastic, however the door cards and armrests have soft padding. With cleaner, more attractive cabins, a large portion of the competitors has surpassed the Forte’s interior design.
The GT2 package from Kia costs $2,200 and adds a number of practical, aesthetically pleasing, and comfortable improvements that significantly improve the cabin’s appearance. In addition to having an electric parking brake, auto-hold brakes, heated and ventilated front seats, LED interior lighting, rear parking sensors, a power sunroof, a premium Harman Kardon eight-speaker audio system, synthetic leather seats with GT logos, highway driving assistance, and forward collision avoidance assist with cyclist detection, our GT2-equipped test car also had these features. It’s important to note that this item cannot be added to the Forte GT Manual model.
A 10.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, keyless entry and push-button ignition, dual climate control, and fully LED exterior lighting are standard on every Forte GT. We particularly liked using the remote start function on the Forte GT to hear the exhaust start up from the outside. It has a lot of features, especially when compared to its compact sedan class rivals with less sporty starting prices of $24,515.
Is the Forte GT Right for Me?
The 2022 Kia Forte GT’s base price is $26,870, which is around $1,500 less than its closest competition, the 2022 Honda Civic Si (manual only). As a result, the Kia presents a compelling case for itself with a wealth of feature options and enough sportiness to excite on winding roads. However, paying more for the Honda might be worthwhile for those who intend to use their vehicle primarily for recreational purposes, particularly since the Civic Si makes use of a standard limited-slip front differential.
The Forte GT isn’t the most extreme sports sedan, but it can be fun to drive enthusiastically and is loaded with enough technology to function as a well-equipped daily driver. However, given its cheap beginning price and continued affordability even after adding the GT2 package with its wealth of features, car lovers with a desire for more are free to purchase their own summer tires if they wish to make their vehicle even more capable. Kudos to Kia for preserving the dream of an inexpensive sport sedan.
Better: Elantra or Forte?
Although the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte are known for being affordable small sedans, they have more to offer than simply affordability. The 2022 Hyundai Elantra has recently undergone a facelift and sports striking looks and new engines. With the aid of an upgrade for this model year, the 2022 Kia Forte perseveres and gains a sharp new appearance and improved driver assistance technologies. Which should you purchase, then? Learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of each car by continuing to read.
Hyundai Elantra Advantage: Fuel Economy
The 2022 Elantra has good fuel efficiency. With the original 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, it achieves 31-33/41-43 mpg in the city and highway, while the improved 1.6-liter turbo-four achieves 25-28/34-36 mpg. The Elantra Hybrid, which was introduced for 2021, would likely be your choice if you tend to be a little bit of a fuel miser. Depending on the trim, this car gets 49-53/52-56 mpg on the city/highway.
The Kia Forte’s numbers are significantly lower. Depending on the model, the base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine achieves 29-31/39-41 mpg. If you choose the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, your mileage will increase to 22-27/31-35 mpg. There isn’t a hybrid option offered.
Hyundai Elantra Advantage: Technology
The interior of the Forte is stylish and practical, and has recently undergone improvement. It has new optional SynTex faux leather seats, standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a standard 8.0-inch touchscreen. A 10.3-inch touchscreen is an optional feature on both variants. However, the Elantra’s interior appears fresher and more modern. Hyundai also offers a small sedan with a digital key function that enables Android smartphones or NFC key cards to be used to unlock the car.
Hyundai Elantra Advantage: CVT Tuning
We have criticized the Forte’s optional CVT transmission in previous evaluations. The CVT “sucks the vitality out of the powerplant,” to put it frankly. Thankfully, the CVT in the Elantra avoids the same fate. As we highlighted in our First Drive review, it is quiet and responsive.
Kia Forte Advantage: Starting Price
Choose the Forte over the Elantra if you want a compact sedan at the lowest feasible price. The base Kia is less expensive than the base Elantra, which costs $20,875, starting at little over $20,085. When fitted with a dual-clutch automatic transmission, the sporty Forte GT is also significantly less expensive than the Elantra equivalent. In comparison to the Elantra N Line, which costs $26,375, prices for the 201-hp Forte GT start at $24,485.
Hyundai Elantra: Manual Transmission Availability
Both the Kia Forte GT and the Hyundai Elantra N Line grades come with a six-speed manual transmission. Except for when both vehicles are in their sporty 201-hp configurations, the Forte is more cheap than the Elantra in practically every trim level. Compared to the somewhat more cheap six-speed Elantra N Line, which costs $25,275, the Forte GT is more expensive with a manual transmission ($25,485). Due to the regular six-speed gearbox’s discontinuation after the 2021 model year, buyers who choose the base Forte FE trim are no longer able to manually shift the vehicle’s gears.
Kia Forte Advantage: Cargo Space
With 15.3 feet of cubic space as opposed to 14.2 feet for the Elantra, the Forte provides a little bit more cargo area. The Elantra, though, has the edge when it comes to back legroom, another important factor. In comparison to the Forte’s 35.7 inches, the rear passengers have 38.0 inches to spread out.
The Verdict
The smoother ride and more contemporary interior offered by the Hyundai Elantra, in our opinion, will appeal to the majority of purchasers. However, the Forte is a good option if you’re seeking for a new car that’s reasonably priced and equipped with a wide range of safety technology.
Is the Kia Forte a bad car?
The Kia Forte’s overall reliability score is 55.8, which is not very reliable. The exact rankings of this car in relation to various other cars are shown in the chart below, however as a point of reference, the average overall rating is 57.
This information is based on a combination of looking at the cost and frequency of maintenance, warranty coverage, and long-term reliability by looking at how long these vehicles are normally kept on the road. Remember that not just compact or subcompact vehicles in the same class as the Kia Forte are included in this comparison; all automobiles are.
You may notice that these numbers differ significantly from those in J.D. Power or Consumer Reports. Most publications look at complaints made to the dealership within the first few months of ownership (like JD Power) or solicit biased feedback from owners regarding longer-term cycles of their new cars. Instead, this study examines data from wholesale auctions and repair businesses on actual repair prices and frequency.
Is the Kia Forte going out of production?
A bigger infotainment touch screen, improved safety features, and edgy appearance are all standard on the 2022 Forte.
Contrary to popular assumption, the 2022 compact vehicle market is still very much active. This is the rationale behind the introduction of the 2022 Honda Civic, the updated 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, and the current midlife update of the 2022 Forte by Kia. The Forte offers numerous of safety and technological elements that are now standard together with a modified cabin, in addition to increasing the design factor.
The EX model has been retired by the Korean manufacturer, who currently offers it in four trim levels: FE, LXS, GT-Line, and GT. Based on the tech and ADAS system, Kia has added more packages including the GT-Line Sport Premium, LXS Technology, GT-Line Technology, and GT Technology2.
Which issues might a Kia Forte have?
What Issues Are Related to Owning a 2020 Kia Forte? Owners complain of broken door locks, failing airbags on the driver’s side, and gearbox issues like shift slippage and difficulty accelerating. The anti-theft system in the Kia Forte has received a lot of flak for its shortcomings.
Toyota Corolla versus Kia Forte: which is superior?
With a reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5, the Kia Forte is ranked sixth among 36 compact automobiles. Its great ownership costs are reflected in the $451 average yearly repair cost. The Forte is one of the more dependable automobiles on the road since repair needs are both more severe and less frequent than with other vehicles.
The Toyota Corolla has a 4.5 out of 5.0 reliability rating, which places it first among 36 compact automobiles. Its great ownership costs are reflected in the $362 average yearly repair cost. Major problems are rare for the Corolla because to the low severity of repairs and average frequency of those problems.
Honda Civic versus Kia Forte: Which vehicle is superior?
Both the Honda Civic and the Kia Forte are small automobiles. All of them have front-wheel drive. The Civic is offered as a four-door sedan, a two-door coupe, and a five-door hatchback, whereas the Forte is only offered as a four-door sedan.
The Forte’s standard 147-horsepower engine is less powerful than the Civic’s standard 158-horsepower engine. However, the Civic’s top 180-horsepower option is outclassed by the 201-horsepower engine that is an option on the Forte.
In terms of interior space, the Kia Forte and Honda Civic rank extremely closely. The interior volume of the Forte sedan is 96.2 cubic feet, however the Civic sedan has 97.8 cubic feet more. The Civic’s trunk offers 15.1 cubic feet of space, narrowly beating out the Forte’s 14.9 cubic feet. Not much of a difference. Consider the Civic hatchback if you require the most load carrying ability; when the rear seats are folded, there is 46.2 cubic feet of room available.
The Civic provides universal availability of the most recent driver assistance systems, which the Forte does not. On every Civic with an automatic transmission, lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, collision mitigation braking, and road departure mitigation are available as options. Top trims also come standard with these features.