While the automotive giants like Ford and GM have already resorted to shutting down their sedan manufacturing units, Kia remains optimistic with its all-new 2020 Forte, as it has been one of their bestsellers, even in this era of crossovers. Borrowing major cues from Kia's sporty Stinger, the Forte is just a diminished version of the same. However, adhering to the Korean manufacturer's standards, the Forte has been nourished with some top-notch materials and build quality. However, in this era where the sedans are slowly making an exit, can the 2020 Forte become an exception? Let's find out.
Rearview camera and rear parking sensors now standard
Features
vehicle bio
base price
$17790
bodystyle
4dr Sedan
passenger capacity
5
drivetrain
FWD
engine type
displacement
122 cu.in.
horsepower
147 hp @ 6200 rpm
torque
132 lbs.-ft @ 4500 rpm
transmission
6-speed manual
chassis
frame type
Unibody
suspension front
front independent suspension
suspension rear
Semi-independent rear torsion beam suspension
brake rotors (f/r)
61.5/61.9
dimensions
wheelbase
106.3 in.
length
182.7 in.
width
70.9 in.
height
56.5 in.
curb weight
2707 lbs.
ground clearance
5.3 in.
capacity
passenger volume
96 cu ft.
cargo volume
15.3 cu ft.
payload capacity
931 lbs.
performance
zero to 60 mph
8 sec.
fuel economy
city/combined/highway
27/31/37 mpg
highway range
518 mi.
warranty
basic warranty
5 yr. / 60000 mi.
drivetrain warranty
10 yr. / 100000 mi.
powertrain warranty
120 months. / 100000
corrosion warranty
5 yr. / 100000 mi.
roadside assistance
5 yr. / 60000 mi.
Pictures
exterior
interior
Colors and Styles
Aurora Black
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
The 2020 Forte remains unchanged from the yesteryear and frankly, it was already ahead of time back then. Even today, many of its rivals still struggle to match the feature-list of the Kia. Peek under the hood, and you'll be acquainted by a four-cylinder motor that is smooth but lacks the excitement. As a compensation though, it gets you stellar fuel-economy along with an intuitive infotainment system. A slew of active-safety features are also offered, including standard automated emergency braking and optional adaptive cruise control.
With the prices starting at $17,690 for the base trim, the Forte challenges some well-reputed rivals like the Honda Civic, Volkswagen Jetta, Toyota Corolla, and the Hyundai Elantra.
2020 Kia Forte Front Three-quarter View
2020 Kia Forte Rear Three-quarter View
8.2/10 Features
5.7/10 Engine and Performance
7.0/10 Fuel Economy
8.2/10 Interior
7.0/10 Exterior
8.0/10 Safety
2020 Kia Forte Features
8.2/10
The 2020 Kia Forte starts at $17,690, which is one of the lower base prices in this affordable class and reaches up to $22,000. Kia covers the Forte with a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. That's among the best coverage you can get from any automaker.
10-Way Power Driver's Seat with Power Lumbar Suppor
8" Rear-Camera Display, Android Auto™, and Apple CarPlay™
·16" Machine Finish Alloy Wheels
·LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), LED Rear Combination Lamps
Collision Warning (BCW) and Rear Cross Traffic Collision Warning (RCCW
Dual-Zone Automatic Temperature Control
60/40 Split-Folding Rear Seat
·
Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel
·
One-Touch Auto-Up/Down Driver's Power
Window
Smart Key with Push-Button Start and Immobilizer
·Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA)
Black Gloss Sport Bumper Accents
·
Drive Mode Select (DMS)
·UVO eServices, Voice Recognition, and SiriusXM® Satellite Radio
SOFINO Leatherette with Heated and Ventilated Front Seats
·
USB Charging Ports
2020 Kia Forte Engine and Performance
5.7/10
"In short, the Kia Forte has grown up. It’s more refined and sportier while boasting more tech. It’s also more fuel efficient. And in addition to having a generous amount of safety and infotainment technology, the new Forte has been made more attractive with some styling cues taken from the Kia Stinger sport sedan. - Kellybluebook
All of the 2020 Forte models comes with a 2.0- liter four-cylinder engine that produces 147 horsepower and 132-pound feet of torque. The base variant comes with a six-speed manual transmission while a CVT is optional. Higher spec models come with a standard CVT.
2020 Kia Forte Engine
Known by the name “Intelligent Variable Transmission” (IVT), this is Kia's first attempt at a CVT and developed by Kia in the house for a production car. This gearbox uses a chain-type belt instead of a push belt to reduce the rubber-band effect. To curb noise, vibration, and harshness, Kia added more adhesive and thicker glass for the front side windows. The shifts are seamless and power is evenly distributed over the whole rev range.
Models
Kia Forte
Nissan Sentra Sedan
Volkswagen Jetta S Sedan
Hyundai Elantra Sedan SE
Toyota Corolla L Sedan
Honda Civic LX Sedan
Mazda 3 Sport Sedan
Chevrolet Cruze Sedan L
MSRP
$20,100
$17,790
$20,240
$18,100
$18,700
$20,250
$20,240
$18,870
Engine
2.0 liter inline 4
Regular Unleaded I-4, 1.8 L
1.4L Turbo Inline 4
2.0 L inline-four
1.8 L inline-four
2.0 L inline-four
2.0 L inline-four
1.4L Turbo Inline 4
Transmission
6 speed automatic
6-Speed Manual
8 Speed Automatic
6-speed Automatic
CVT
CVT
6-speed Auto
6 Speed Automatic
Horsepower
147 hp @ 6200 rpm
130hp @ 6000rpm
147hp@5000 rpm
147hp @ 6200 rpm
132hp @ 6000 rpm
158hp @ 6500 rpm
155hp @ 6000 rpm
153hp@5600rpm
Torque
132 lb-ft
3500 rpm
128lb.-ft @ 3600rpm
184lb.-ft@1400 rpm
132 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm
128 lb-ft@4400rpm
138 lb.-ft @ 4200 rpm
150 lb.-ft. @4000 rpm
177lb.-ft@2000-4000
The Honda Civic is the most powerful car in the lot which produces 158 hp and 132lb-ft of torque. The Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra are somewhat similar in terms of power delivery. The Forte sedan bags second spot in head to head with rivals.
Acceleration
Kia Forte’s little 1.6 liters will give you a pleasant surprise as it is very potent. A slick 6 speed automatic makes most of the horsepower and hits 60 mph in just 9.5 seconds. The acceleration is linear and it takes 16.2 seconds to cover the quarter-mile flag.
2020 Kia Forte Acceleration
Models
Kia Forte
Nissan Sentra Sedan
Volkswagen Jetta S Sedan
Hyundai Elantra Sedan SE
Toyota Corolla L Sedan
Honda Civic LX Sedan
Mazda 3 Sport Sedan
Chevrolet Cruze Sedan L
0-60 MPH(sec)
9.5
9.5
7.7
8.3
9.4
8.2
8.0
7.7
Quarter mile(sec)
16.2
17.4
NA
16.4
17.2
16.3
16.2
16.3
Emission
(Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)
8.2
5.9
5.2
10.2
9.8
8.4
11.2
5.6
Curb Weight (lb..)
2668
2866
2959
2767
2840
2742
2899
2870
Once again the Honda Civic with its potent engine is fastest among rivals and merely takes 8.0 seconds to reach 60 mph followed by Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla.
Ride and Handling
The ride quality provided by the (MacPherson struts and a torsion beam in the rear is firm but comfortable, and the car feels stable on the highway, yet willing to change directions when the road starts to curve. The electric-assist steering communicates well what the front tires are doing, and the CVT does a good job of mimicking a traditional 6-speed automatic.
In fact, most people would be hard-pressed to identify the Forte’s transmission as a CVT, thanks in part to what Kia calls “adaptive style shift logic.” There are three electronic drive modes: Normal, Smart and Sport. In Smart, the new Forte switches between Normal and Sport, depending on how the car is being driven. In short, the new Kia Forte is a nimble compact sedan, and its well-tuned steering, gas and brake inputs make for a pleasant driving experience.
Braking
Forte’s brakes are firm with short pedal travel. They are easy to modulate in stop-and-go traffic and also on tight curves. The 125 –foot stopping distance from 60 to standstill is above average. They stay consistent and aspires confidence while sudden stops.
2020 Kia Forte Wheel
Models
Kia Forte
Nissan Sentra Sedan
Volkswagen Jetta S Sedan
Hyundai Elantra Sedan SE
Toyota Corolla L Sedan
Honda Civic LX Sedan
Mazda 3 Sport Sedan
Chevrolet Cruze Sedan L
Brake Front (in.)
11.6
11
11.5
10.3
10.8
10.2
10.7
10.8
Brake Rear (in.)
10.2
9
10.8
9.7
9.1
9.8
9.5
10.4
70-0 MPH (ft.)
125
122(60-0MPH)
191
182
183
180
179
110(60-0MPH)
Most of the car delivers similar braking performance is there is no substantial difference.
2020 Kia Forte Fuel Economy
7.0/10
The Kia Forte’s engine employs the Atkinson cycle, which results in better fuel economy. A base Forte, fitted with the 6-speed manual transmission, delivers EPA fuel economy of 27 mpg/city, 35 mpg/highway, and 30 mpg/combined. If you opt for a Forte FE with the new continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), those numbers increase to 31/41/35, respectively. Over 40 mpg on the highway is impressive.
Models
Kia Forte
Nissan Sentra Sedan
Volkswagen Jetta S Sedan
Hyundai Elantra Sedan SE
Toyota Corolla L Sedan
Honda Civic LX Sedan
Mazda 3 Sport Sedan
Chevrolet Cruze Sedan L
MPG (city)
31
27
30
28
28
32
27
30
MPG (highway)
40
35
39
37
35
42
36
39
MPG (combined)
35
30
34
32
31
36
30
33
Fuel Tank Capacity(Gal.)
14.2
13.2
13.2
14
13.2
12.39
13.2
13.7
Those numbers are similar to what the Honda Civic offers with its base engine and each transmission choice, but the Forte does a little better than the Hyundai Elantra in all those considerations.
2020 Kia Forte Interior
8.2/10
"On top of its value proposition, its combination of style, respectable handling, excellent ride comfort and tech position the new Forte well to play to the wide audience. Nobody should be surprised if it continues to be Kia's best seller."- CNET
Seating and Comfort
The 2020 Kia Forte will remind you of the Optima from inside, or, in other words, it's good looking and well equipped. The minimalistic design, with a wide horizontal theme and beautifully contoured dash, can be compared with an entry-level Audi. Soft-touch materials on the front door panels and armrests while leather-textured black plastic decorates the dashboard.
2020 Kia Forte Front Seat
The front seats, which provide ample comfort throughout the day are well suited for taller drivers. Likewise, the split folding rear seats are pretty decent in terms of legroom and headroom. The middle armrest is around an inch higher and longer than the previous variant, which improves it much for, well, lavishly resting your arm. Forte’s outward visibility is excellent due to the well-designed A & C pillars.
Models
Kia Forte
Nissan Sentra Sedan
Volkswagen Jetta S Sedan
Hyundai Elantra Sedan SE
Toyota Corolla L Sedan
Honda Civic LX Sedan
Mazda 3 Sport Sedan
Chevrolet Cruze Sedan L
Passenger capacity
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
38.3/54.8/42.3
39.4/54.7/42.5
38.5/55.9/41.1
38.8/56.2/42.3
38.3/54.8/42.3
39.3/57.0/37.1
38.3/54.8/42.3
38.9/54.8/42
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
37.3/55.0/35.7
36.7/53.9
37.2/54/37.4
37.3/55.0/35.7
37.1/55.0/37.4
37.1/55.0/37.4
37.6/54.4/35.8
37.3/53.7/36.1
Interior Features
Front Bucket Seats -inc: 6-way adjustable driver's seat
60-40 Folding Bench Front Facing Fold Forward Seatback Rear Seat
Power Rear Windows
Leather Steering Wheel
Remote Releases -Inc: Mechanical Cargo Access and Mechanical Fuel
Cruise Control w/Steering Wheel Controls
HVAC -inc: Underseat Ducts
Power 1st Row Windows w/Driver 1-Touch Down
Front Center Armrest
Perimeter Alarm
Cargo Space Lights
Fade-To-Off Interior Lighting
Infotainment System
The touch screen sits high on the dash, within easy view of the driver. There are clearly labeled physical buttons and knobs to adjust audio and cabin climate settings. The infotainment system is intuitive and processes command quickly. The 2020 Forte offers a ton of standard features:
2020 Kia Forte Infotainment Display
Radio: UVO eServices Infotainment AM/FM/MP3
Audio -inc: SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
USB/auxiliary input jacks
7" touch-screen display, rearview camera
6 speakers including tweeter speakers
Bluetooth wireless technology w/voice recognition, and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls
Radio w/Seek-Scan, Clock, Speed Compensated Volume Control and Voice Activation
Streaming Audio
Window Grid Antenna
2 LCD Monitors In The Front
Cargo Capacity
The Kia Forte has one of the largest trunks in its class. Rear seats can be folded down to make more space for storing your articles but not in the base variant. Also optional is a hands-free power trunk, which pops open when you stand behind the car with the smart key on your person.
2020 Kia Forte Trunk Space
Models
Kia Forte
Nissan Sentra Sedan
Volkswagen Jetta S Sedan
Hyundai Elantra Sedan SE
Toyota Corolla L Sedan
Honda Civic LX Sedan
Mazda 3 Sport Sedan
Chevrolet Cruze Sedan L
Cargo Capacity (lb..)
15.3
15.1
14.1
14.4
13.0
15.2
12.4
14.8
The 15 .3 cubic capacity is slightly larger than the Honda Civic (15.1) and Hyundai Elantra (14.4). Corolla stays last in rivalry due to smallest load carrying capacity.
2020 Kia Forte front seat2020 Kia Forte2020 Kia Forte Interior2020 Kia Forte Infotainment Cluster2020 Kia Forte Center console2020 Kia Forte Rear seat2020 Kia Forte Cupholder
2020 Kia Forte Exterior
7.0/10
“The 2020 Kia Forte pairs stylish good looks with a lot of features, making it a compact sedan standout” –car connection.
Dimension and Height
And it's a pretty pleasant face. Although it's far from the Stinger's twin, the Forte adopts some of the most prominent features from the sporty hatch, such as the long hood, fastback profile, and sweptback headlights.
2020 Kia Forte Side View
With the refresh in 2020, the Kia Forte gets a more appealing exterior, with edgier lines and the prominent tiger grille up front. Taller and wider than the previous generation, the Forte has a more imposing presence than ever before. At the back, the tail lights feature full-length LED strip, which keeps the design relevant for 2020.
Models
Kia Forte
Nissan Sentra Sedan
Volkswagen Jetta S Sedan
Hyundai Elantra Sedan SE
Toyota Corolla L Sedan
Honda Civic LX Sedan
Mazda 3 Sport Sedan
Chevrolet Cruze Sedan L
Curb weight (lb..)
2871
2866
2767
2844
2840
2724
2899
2870
Length(in)
181.9
182.6
185.1
181.9
183.1
182.3
180.3
183.7
Width(in)
70.9
69.3
70.8
70.9
69.9
70.8
70.7
70.5
Height(in)
56.5
58.9
57.4
56.5
57.3
55.7
57.3
57.4
Ground clearance (in)
5.6
6.4
5.6
5.3
6.7
6.3
6.1
6.4
Wheelbase (in)
105.7
106.3
105.7
106.3
106.3
106.3
106.3
106.3
The Forte is few inches shorter in length than most of their competitors but otherwise measure up very close to the rest of the class. As with several competitors, a small footprint helps the Forte feel nimble, although driver and passengers will surely note the Forte’s body roll around curves and corners
Exterior Features
Body-Colored Front Bumper and Body-Colored Rear Bumper w/Black Rub Strip/Fascia AccentBlack Side Windows Trim
Body-Colored Door Handles
Body-Colored Power Heated Side Mirrors w/Manual Folding
Fixed Rear Window w/DefrosterLight
Variable Intermittent Wipers
Front Windshield -inc: Sun Visor StripFully Galvanized Steel PanelsBlack Grille w/Chrome
2020 Kia Forte2020 Kia Forte2020 Kia Forte2020 Kia Forte2020 Kia Forte2020 Kia Forte
2020 Kia Forte Safety
8.0/10
Anti-lock braking system
Traction Control
Dual advanced front airbags
Dual front side-mounted impact airbags
Dual side curtain airbags
4-wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Electronic stability control (ESC)
Vehicle stability management (VSM)
Hill-assist control (HAC)
Rearview camera Blind spot detection
Lane-keep assist system
An autonomous emergency braking system
2020 Kia Forte Competition
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic and Forte earn lots of praise as an amazing daily driver. Kia is a better value product because of the lower price tag and lots of standard safety features. The Civic has athletic handling along with a comfortable ride. Choosing between these two may just come down to whether you want more amenities at a cheaper price with the Forte or better overall performance with the Civic. The Forte is the better value in base form thanks to a lower starting price and heaps of standard infotainment and advanced safety amenities.
2020 Honda Civic
Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra has one of the lower base prices in the segment, but its void of standard safety features. Both cars offer turbocharged engines with almost the same power output. The Elantra has low composite safety scores, which makes the Forte a better option. The Hyundai Elantra is a good car but it does not stack up well against the Forte.
2020 Hyundai Elantra
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is an excellent daily driver but is a bit dreary to drive. You will get more of everything, such as cargo space and rear seat room, except fuel economy. The Kia Forte is still a better alternative as it offers subpar interior and an appealing design. In terms of overall performance, the Kia Forte is a sure winner.
2020 Toyota Corolla
2020 Kia Forte Final Verdict
The Forte may not be athletic as the Stinger but it does a lot of things well. It falls on the shopping list of nearly every compact car buyer. Kia Forte is spacious, comfortable and well equipped at an economical price tag. With upmarket material and a long list of standard features, this Kia proves to be a compelling choice. The ride quality may not be aspiring like the Mazda 3 or Honda Civic but its turbocharged engine is a blaring deal. The SX model offers a sportier ride, and as the only model with a manual gearbox, it’s the enthusiasts’ pick. By all means, the new Forte is a much better alternative to many subcompacts like the Corolla.