Comparing the 2023 Kia Forte to Other Compact Cars
The New Kia Forte
The 2023 Kia Forte has so many features that make it stand out from its competitors. It has a sleek exterior design with an available turbocharged engine option, giving it a powerful presence on the road. The interior seating features classy and comfortable design and has an upscale feel that truly makes it stand out. With numerous driver-assistive features and a body designed to absorb impact in the event of an accident, the Forte gives you the peace of mind you deserve. A surprisingly affordable price tag compared to Corolla, Sentra, and Civic, makes it a great value and a better bang for your buck. With all these benefits, the 2023 Kia Forte is a great choice for anyone looking for a safe and reliable vehicle that still delivers superior performance and sleek style.
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| Sedan |
Kia Forte |
Hyundai Elantra |
Honda Civic |
Nissan Sentra |
Toyota Corolla |
| Photo |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Trims |
LX, LXS, GT-Line, GT-Line, GT, GT Manual |
SE, SEL, SEL Plus, N Line, Limited, |
Sport, EX, Touring |
S, SV, SR, SR Midnight |
LE, SE, SXE |
| Color Options |
9 |
6 |
8 |
12 |
15 |
| Engine |
1.6L 4-Cylinder Turbocharged |
1.6L Turbo GDI 4-Cylinder |
1.5L Turbo Inline 4 |
2.oL DIG Inline 4 |
2.0L 4-cyl DOHCÂ VVT-i |
| Horsepower |
201 hp |
201 hp |
180 hp |
149 hp |
169 hp |
| Torque |
195 lb-ft |
195 lb-ft |
177 lb-ft |
146 lb-ft |
151 lb-ft |
| Transmission |
7-Speed Dual-Clutch Auto Transmission w/ Paddle Shifters |
7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission w/ SHIFTRONIC® |
LL-CVT |
Xtronic CVT® |
Dynamic-Shift CVT |
| DriveTrain |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
| Fuel Economy (Hwy/City) |
31/41/35* |
33/42/37* |
33/42/36* |
29/39/33 |
32/41/35* |
| Fuel Tank Capacity |
14 gal. |
12.4 gal. |
12.4 gal. |
12.4 gal. |
13.2 gal. |
| 0-60 |
6.4 sec. |
5.1 sec. |
5.8 sec. |
4.6 sec |
5.4 sec. |
| Cargo Volume (cu.ft.) |
15.3 cu. ft. |
14.2 cu. ft. |
14.4 cu. ft. |
14.3 cu. ft. |
13.1 cu. ft. |
| Headroom (Front/Rear) |
38.8/37.5 in. |
40.6/37.3 |
37.6/37.1 |
38.9/36.7 |
38.3/37.1 |
| Legroom (Front/Rear) |
42.2/35.7 in. |
42.3/38.0 |
42.3/37.4 |
44/34.7 |
42.0/34.8 |
| Ground Clearance |
5.3 in. |
5.5 in. |
5.7 in. |
5.3 in. |
5.3 in. |
| Infotainment |
Kia Connect 10.25-in Color Touchscreen Display |
10.25-in Color Touchscreen Display |
9-in. touchscreen |
NissanConnect® 8″ color touchscreen |
Toyota Audio Multimedia with 8-in. touchscreen |
| Sound System |
Harman Kardon® Premium Audio w/ Clari-Fi™, 8 speakers, 320 Watts, and Integrated Subwoofer |
Bose premium audio with 8 speakers incl. center channel and subwoofer |
12 Speaker Bose Premium Sound System with Centerpoint® Surround Sound technology |
Bose Premium Audio System w/ 8 Speakers |
9-speaker JBL® * Premium Audio including amplifier and subwoofer |
| Base Price |
$19,690* |
$20,950* |
$25,050* |
$20,050* |
$21,550* |
Kia Forte versus Hyundai Elantra
Kia Forte versus Hyundai Elantra
- Kia Forte and Hyundai Elantra are very evenly matched on many aspects.
- Forte offers a few more trim levels and package options along with more color options to customize your vehicle to your personality and lifestyle.
- There is slightly more cargo space in the Kia Forte.
- Kia opted to use a Harmon Kardon premium sound system in the Forte while Hyundai chose to go with a Bose premium sound system.
- Kia has a lower base price and maintains a more affordable MSRP across all comparable trim levels to the Hyundai Elantra.
- Reviewers reported better interiors and more comfortable cabin features with a more user-friendly interface in the Kia Forte when comparing to Hyundai Elantra.
- Both Kia and Hyundai offer the Best Warranty in America with:
- 10-year/100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty
- 5-year/60,000 mile limited basic warranty
- 5-year/100,000 mile limited anti-perforation warranty
- 5-year/60,000 mile roadside assistance plan
Kia Forte versus Honda Civic
Kia Forte vs Honda Civic
- With the capability to run at 201 HP and 195 lb.-ft. of torque, Forte is poised to take Civic in a head-to-head-race.
- An available large 10.25-inch intuitive infotainment screen allows you to more easily navigate, control technology features, and get vehicle stats than the 9-inch Honda Civic screen.
- The 2023 Kia Forte has so many configurations to allow you to get the perfect vehicle for your needs and lifestyle while Civic is limited in choices of trim levels.
- This year, Kia has outperformed the Honda Civic when rounding corners with the Forte’s active dampening suspension
- The bottom line is Kia is a better value with more standard features and better performance options for a lower MSRP.
- Kia has the Best Warranty in America offering the following:
- 10-year/100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty
- 5-year/60,000 mile limited basic warranty
- 5-year/100,000 mile limited anti-perforation warranty
- 5-year/60,000 mile roadside assistance plan
Kia K5 versus Toyota Corolla
Kia Forte vs Toyota Corolla
- The Kia Forte has one of the most roomy cabins in its class beating out the competitors with extra room in the back seat for your passengers and durable, soft touch materials throughout the interior.
- Even with a roomier cabin, Forte still offers more cargo volume than the Corolla, so take your passengers and the things you need for your adventure.
- Maneuverability is paramount when considering a compact car, so the smaller turning radius on the Forte will help you in and out of tight spots.
- For those who like more control and the thrill of shifting through gears in race-like fashion, Forte offers a 6-speed manual transmission whereas the Toyota Corolla does not.
- The bottom line is better value with more standard features and better performance options for a lower MSRP in the Kia Forte.
- Kia has the Best Warranty in America offering the following:
- 10-year/100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty
- 5-year/60,000 mile limited basic warranty
- 5-year/100,000 mile limited anti-perforation warranty
- 5-year/60,000 mile roadside assistance plan
Kia K5 versus Nissan Sentra
Kia Forte versus Nissan Sentra
- With the aggressive front grille and stance and sleek fascia leading to the sharp-cut aerodynamic fastback, Forte wins in the looks department over Sentra.
- There are only 10 new vehicle models left for sale in America with starting prices under $20,000, and Forte is one of them, making it a great value over the base MSRP for Sentra and the rest of the compact car segment. Even as you move up in trim levels, the price remains competitive and reasonable.
- Nissan only offers one engine for all Sentra models while Kia Forte offers many configurations to allow you to get the perfect vehicle for your needs and lifestyle.
- For those who like more control and the thrill of shifting through gears in race-like fashion, Forte offers a sporty 6-speed manual transmission where the Sentra does not.
- Kia has the Best Warranty in America offering the following:
- 10-year/100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty
- 5-year/60,000 mile limited basic warranty
- 5-year/100,000 mile limited anti-perforation warranty
- 5-year/60,000 mile roadside assistance plan
