The Kia Forte has been the automaker’s entry into the market for small, mainstream sedans since its 2008 launch. Although it didn’t take off until the second-gen Civic debuted in 2012, it was ruled mainly by the adored Civic from Honda, the acclaimed Corolla from Toyota, and the alluring three sedans from Mazda. Kia and its Hyundai Elantra cousin improved the Forte in 2018 to rank among the most affordable cars.
This year, there are no new additions since the Forte doesn’t need many updates. It has already shown to be a fantastic small car throughout the years. It just had a mid-cycle update in 2022, which included new designs for the wheels, headlights, taillights, an upgraded, upgradeable infotainment system, and other minor changes. The LX, which costs $100 less than last year’s LX, replaces the FE basic model. The remainder of the lineup, though, costs an additional $400. The LXS, GT-Line, and GT models maintain excellent formulas and extensive feature sets.
Even when fully equipped, its low entry cost undercuts all its steadfast competitors without sacrificing any of the experience. For much less money than the Honda, one may even receive performance from the GT that is comparable to that of the Honda Civic Si with a six-speed manual gearbox. However, the Mazda3, our favorite, is more costly, particularly with the turbo engine. Given that the Corolla, Elantra, Hyundai Sonata, and even the Prius all have hybrid powertrains, those concerned with fuel efficiency may not consider Forte’s average, but still quite economical, consumption.
Contrarily, the Forte retains its 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder and continuously variable gearbox for all trims up to the GT-Line and a more powerful 1.6-liter turbocharged four with an option of either a seven-speed dual-clutch auto or a six-speed manual for the top GT. Without destination charges, the new basic LX begins at $19,490, while the top-of-the-line manual GT tops at $24,190.
Although the Forte is six, it has all of today’s driver assistance, safety, and entertainment systems and enjoyably mature on-road qualities, making it suitable for today’s driving responsibilities even in primary and mid-range GT-Line forms.
The Forte is a reliable all-arounder with an excellent price/performance ratio while looking more premium than many competitors.
It’s supported by one of the most outstanding warranties in the business, a 5-year 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, in addition to being current and even providing an experience you’d find on some more expensive cars. The Forte is a value offer that is important to consider in addition to JD Power’s excellent ratings for dependability and long-term reliability.
Performance: Kia Forte
The 2.0-liter four-cylinder with naturally aspirated combustion and the GT’s powerful 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engines still power the front wheels. The sedan accelerates to 60 mph in an average of around 8 seconds thanks to the basic 2.0L’s 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. It lacks a little personality but is smooth, elegant, and rev-happy enough to finish the job.
The GT’s forced-induced 1.6-liter engine excites us and other car enthusiasts. The Forte GT cheerfully keeps up with the turbocharged Mazda3, Honda Civic Si, and its cousin, the Hyundai Elantra N, taking just over 6 seconds to reach 60 mph with 201 horsepower, 195 lb-ft of torque, and a choice of either a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic or a six-speed manual transmission (woohoo!).
The Forte GT will give you a fantastic time in the twisties while being slower and more muted than the latter. The Forte fits the description of a moderately powered vehicle entertaining to fling about even in basic form with the base engine because of its outstanding body control, precise steering, and well-sorted chassis.
The manual clutch has a high catch point and light actuation, if not lifeless, feel. However, the shifter’s tactile slotting makes it simple to use. The CVT automatic transmission is used with the 2.0L as standard. Kia’s developers, however, did a fantastic job of making it shift and operate like a typical dual-clutch automatic. It doesn’t fully exhibit CVT-like traits until full power.
Fuel efficiency: Kia Forte
Most, if not all, of the competitors in this field, provide economical cars that get plenty of miles and smiles per gallon. The fuel economy figures for the Forte are unchanged from the previous year. The LXS and GT-Line begin by sharing the 29 mpg city, 39 highway, and 33 mpg combined ratings since the most fuel-efficient FE is no longer available. The more potent GT uses more gas, with the six-speed manual rated at 26 mpg and the DCT up to 30 mpg integrated.
The Volkswagen Jetta, which has a rating of up to 29 cities and 43 highways, is the group’s gas-only champion. The Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla are hybrid vehicles, even though fuel efficiency is the name of the game. Toyota also raised the bar with the Prius, turning it into a genuine rival.
Safety and driver support technology:
Since its second generation, the Forte has contributed to the brand’s popularity by demonstrating value, especially with the number of standard features that come with all its variants. Today’s extensive feature set includes automated emergency braking, lane-keep assist and departure warning, automatic high lights, and driver attentiveness alert. It also includes forward collision assistance with pedestrian and bicycle recognition.
Blind-spot recognition and collision prevention, rear-cross traffic alert with automated braking, and safe exit warning for when opening doors when parked parallel on streets are the additional options on the LXS but standard on the GT-Line and GT. The GT also has highway driving assistance and radar-guided cruise control.
Despite receiving a “poor” score in the revised side-impact test for 2022, the Forte maintains its overall “Good” rating from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. Similar conclusions were made by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, which gave it a four-star overall rating and made similar remarks regarding the side-impact test.
Comfort and Space
The Forte is our favorite because it makes the most of its compact body. The Honda Civic without a sunroof has the segment’s highest front headroom, which it just narrowly edges out. However, it wins the prize for having the most excellent headroom after that. The back gives 35.7 inches of legroom, which is only surpassed by the Civic’s 37.4 inches and the Elantra’s 38 inches, while the front compartment offers 42.2 inches of legroom, which is class-competitive.
In any case, it provides enough for four grown people and comfy seats for a short trip to supper or the in-laws for the holidays. Even with the bigger wheels on the GT-Line, the ride is outstanding in all non-turbo grades. The GT’s limited suspension travel and firmer, sport-tuned suspension are to be anticipated. Although this causes a twitchy ride on city streets and rough roads, it is not intolerable.
The Forte seems more premium than its budget would imply, thanks to low noise, vibration, and harshness levels for a car in this class. Even if the materials used on the inside aren’t fancy, they are comfortable and robust enough to give the sense that the machine is well-made and of good quality.
Infotainment: Kia Forte
The GT-Line and GT have a 10.3-inch touchscreen with included sat-nav, while the entry-level LX and LXS maintain an 8-inch touchscreen in the middle. The bigger model needs a fixed USB connection, whereas Kia has only been able to provide wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the 8-inch team thus far. Bluetooth is a universal standard.
One of the first vehicles to use Kia’s modern infotainment system, which is now available in upgraded versions throughout the entire range, was the Forte. So, it is no surprise that it is simple to use, with menus that make sense and images and icons that are simple to understand.
Even though the 8-inch device is a little older, certain loading speeds could seem a little behind those of Forte’s bigger siblings that have received updates. However, it is hardly perceptible, and the 10.3-inch system is as current as possible with the newest graphics.
Storage & Cargo Space:
These compact sedans may not have the same cargo room as their bigger crossover SUV cousins. With 15.3 cubic feet, the Forte’s rear trunk consumes the most in the class. All other trims have a 60/40 split back seat, whereas the LX features a foldable bench. There is enough room in the Forte’s glove boxes and door card storage cups for more miniature goods.
Only the Civic falls short with 14.8 cubic feet, followed by the Sentra with 14.3, the Elantra with 14.2, and the Jetta with 14.1. For comparison, the Mazda3’s 13.2 cubes and the Corolla’s 13.1 cubes have the smallest trunks. However, the Civic and Mazda3 have five-door hatchback versions (at least in North America), whereas the Civic has 24.5 cubic feet and the Mazda3 has 20.1.
Design: Kia Forte
Since its introduction, the Forte has had an excellent aesthetic. Its design is sophisticated, striking a balance between being memorable and not appearing like a young racer. A mid-cycle upgrade in 2022 included new wheel, headlamp, and taillight designs, among other minor adjustments.
Although none of the sedans in this group are incredibly obnoxious, the Mazda3 or the Forte would win our pick for the most attractive exterior styling. But now that the new Prius has improved its looks, the competition is fiercer than ever.
The interior maintains a mature vibe with premium materials and segment-appropriate construction quality. The number of buttons and knobs is minimal, and the inside panels have pleasant-to-touch surfaces with more abrasive ones cleverly hidden away.
The Kia Forte 2023: Is It Worth It?
Starting at $19,490 with the LX, which takes the place of the FE, it is $100 less expensive than the LXS from the previous year, without counting the $1,095 shipping and handling fee. However, the prices of all other trims—all without destination—increase by $400 to $19,990 for the LXS, $21,690 for the GT-Line, $24,190 for the GT with a DCT, and $24,890 for the manual GT.
In any case, the Forte offers much, particularly compared to some of its competitors. A turbocharged Mazda3 begins at $22,550 and may cost more than $34,000 when fully spiced, all without shipping costs, but the Corolla ($21,550) starts for as much as a GT-Line and can cost more than $27,000 when loaded to the brim. The base price of the Civic sedan is $25,050, but a GT is available for that price and still delivers Civic Si performance.
If money were no object, we’d choose the GT with either gearbox for everything it offers. Living with the harsher sport-tuned suspension provides a ton of vehicle and performance for the money with little effort. If you don’t want so much performance, the GT-Line remains ideal.
The final price, including destination, is $25,790, making it a fantastic car for the money. Add the $1,700 GT-Line Premium Package and the $1,000 Sport Premium Package, both of which add the upgraded automatic braking system, the premium Harman Kardon sound system, sat-nav, sunroof, an electronic parking brake, and heated and cooled front seats.
How Much Will Insurance for a 2023 Kia Forte Cost?
The 2023 Kia Forte is comparable to most of its competitors regarding insurance cost. Although this average covers all 50 states, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record should anticipate a yearly premium of around $2,149. The average annual cost of a Hyundai Elantra is $2,138, compared to a Honda Civic’s $2,028 and a Mazda3’s $2,009 starting price.
Verdict
As 2023 begins, the Kia Forte will have reached its sixth birthday without undergoing any substantial changes. That’s because, except for its mid-cycle update in 2020, it hasn’t required any change. Despite its antiquity, it nevertheless stands the test of time by demonstrating that considerable value can still be obtained in modest sizes without making too many sacrifices and for a fair price, particularly in light of the persistent supply chain problems and high inflation. The top GT is one of the few sedans with a third pedal and can perform (for a more than reasonable $25,000).
