2020 Kia Forte

 The GT-Line trim is our choice as it adds more features for a lesser price tag and dresses up the interior to look sporty. This model adds a leather flat-bottom steering wheel, sport cloth seats with leatherette side bolstering and contrast stitching, LED DRLs, LED taillights, fog lights, power and heated side mirrors, a push-button start, and two additional speakers. Safety features such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert and lane change assist. 

The 2020 Kia Forte is well-equipped as standard and near luxurious in top-tier forms, all for under $24,000- The Car Connection

This year, Kia has added a new trim to the lineup called GT-Line and renamed LS to LSX. The other trims include FE and EX. The Forte can be purchased as low as $17,890, without adding a destination fee tag of $995. For such a low price tag, Kia offers many standard technologies and safety features, keeping itself competitive in the segment.  Along with that, Kia also offers several optional packages and accessories for the Forte.

Among the trim levels, the LSX trim is one such trim that is oddly priced. It does not add any comfort or technological equipment but has a price tag of $19,290. The $1,500 GT-Line Premium package adds an 8-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, power sunroof, satellite radio, voice recognition, UVO eServices, two USB ports, dual illuminating vanity mirrors, and wireless charger. Remote start is available in the LSX trim for $495. 

Also Read:

• Check out the review of the latest Kia's lineup- the 2022 EV6

We’re already impressed with the sedan’s suspension tuning. It’s firm, but comfortable. Its high-speed stability is extraordinary- Autoweek

Every Kia Forte comes with a 2.0L four-cylinder engine that produces 147 hp and 132 lb-ft. 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. The shifts of the CVT are seamless and power is evenly distributed over the whole rev range. It does a good job of mimicking a traditional 6-speed automatic.

The ride quality provided by the MacPherson struts and a torsion beam in the rear is firm but comfortable. In return for that stiffness, it handles pretty well. One thing counting against it is the rear torsion beam suspension. It tends to be a little nervous over mid-corner bumps. That is the case with the Forte but not at objectionable levels. The car feels stable on the highway, yet willing to change directions when the road starts to curve.

Acceleration in the Forte is linear and it takes 8.7 seconds to accelerate from 0-60 MPH. It further sprints to cover the quarter-mile flag in 16.6 seconds and tops at 115 MPH. For a compact sedan, these figures are pretty decent. The 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 feet stopping distance from 60-0 MPH is above average. 

With more power than the Forte, the Honda Civic has the best performance stats in this competition. Also, it is the only vehicle here to offer a standard manual transmission like the Forte. Although equally powered as the Forte, the Hyundai Elantra uses a standard CVT, and hence, its acceleration becomes sluggish. Its kind of the same story as the Toyota Corolla and has the worst acceleration numbers here. 

Also Read:

• Read our detailed review of the 2022 Kia Stinger GT

With the various engine and transmission options, the Forte is a mixed bag for fuel economy- Carbuzz

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 an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 27 MPG in the city, 37 MPG on a highway, and 31 MPG combined. The other trims employ a CVT transmission for better fuel economy. 

 The fuel ratings include 29 MPG in the city, 40 MPG on a highway, and 33 MPG combined. All the trims come equipped with a 14-gallon fuel tank. At its full capacity, the Forte can deliver 448 miles in mixed proportions with a manual transmission while models with CVT transmission raise the bar to 483 miles, which is great for a compact sedan. 

The Hyundai Elantra has the best fuel estimates thanks to the CVT transmission that it comes standard with. The Toyota Corolla also boasts great efficiency and delivers 2 MPG combined more than the Forte. The Honda Civic doesn't stay put as it also has good efficiency but its small tank results in less driving range than other class rivals. 

Also Read:

• Check out the new features of the 2022 Kia Niro

You won't think you're in a luxury car, but the Forte's cabin is still nice- Autotrader

The 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 adorn the front door panels and armrests while leather-textured black plastic decorates the dashboard. The front seats, which provide ample comfort throughout the day, are well suited for taller drivers.

The driver's seat is 10-way power-adjustable on the EX trim and up . This trim also adds heated and ventilated front seats. Likewise, the rear seats are pretty comfortable too. The rear row is 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. The Forte’s outward visibility is excellent due to the well-designed A & C pillars.

The 8-inch touchscreen sits high on the dash, within easy view of the driver. Even on the base trim, both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are offered, which is really great. The interface is intuitive and processes command quickly. There are clearly labeled physical buttons and knobs to adjust audio and cabin climate settings. The standard sound system includes a four-speaker stereo on lower trims. Some trims add two more speakers but an 8-speaker Harman Kardon audio system is available. 

The Forte has one of the largest trunks in its class. Once you pop up the trunk, you will see 15.3 cubes of cargo space. The 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. The trunk has a wide opening and the flat loading lip ensures easy loading of items. Some main cabin features of the Forte are:

• Tilt & telescopic multi-function leather steering wheel 
• 10-way power driver's seat
• Heated & ventilated front seats
• Cloth seats with contrast stitching
• Hands-free trunk
• Push-button start
• 12V power outlet
• Dual illuminating vanity mirrors
• 8-inch touchscreen display with Apple Carplay and Android Auto
• 8-speaker Harman Kardon audio system
• Wireless charging
• Satellite radio

Also Read:

• Find out the expected release date of the 2022 Kia Carnival

There’s a hint of Stinger about the Forte, which is a good thing- Kelly Blue Book

The Kia Forte has one of the most favorite designs in the compact sedan segment. It is a very mature and handsome-looking vehicle. It received a complete refresh last year and continues with the same changes. the Kia Forte gets a more appealing exterior, with edgier lines and the prominent tiger grille upfront. Taller and wider than the previous generation, the Forte has a more imposing presence than ever before. 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.

Speaking of headlights, they have a butterfly-like design that is halogen throughout the range. You get LED DRLs and fog lamps from the GT-Line trim onwards. The wheel arches house 15, 16, and 17-inch alloy wheels depending on the trim level. The Forte flaunts slightly high ground clearance for a sedan, which is good enough to escape those high bumps on the road. Its wheelbase is on par with its rivals, which indicates a spacious interior. At the back, the taillights feature a full-length LED strip, which keeps the design relevant for 2020. Overall, the Forte has a pleasant face and looks modernish. 

The Toyota Corolla sits 0.5 inches lower than the Forte. This helps to get in and out of the vehicle easily. The Hyundai Elantra weighs slightly more than the Forte and hence, its on-road performance isn't that great. The Honda Civi along with the other rivals on the table share the same wheelbase with the Forte. However, the Civic's rear row boasts more legroom than the others. Some main exterior features of the Forte are:

• Halogen headlamps
• LED DRLs
• LED taillights
• Fog lamps
• Puddle lamps
• Black grille with chrome surround
• Chrome window trim
• 15, 16 & 17-inch alloy wheels
• Chrome exhaust tips

Also Read:

• Know more about the 2021 Kia Sorento here

Kia offers a handful of standard and optional driver-assistance features- CarAndDriver

The Kia Forte was well-received by both the safety agencies. NHTSA gave four out of five stars for its performance in all the crash tests. Meanwhile, IIHS awarded the vehicle with the second-highest Top Safety Pick designation for its extraordinary results. Therefore, there's no running away from the fact that the Forte is a safe vehicle. 

In view of safety features, Kia adds a few of them under the standard list. To get access to all the safety features, you need to either buy the top trim level or upgrade to an optional package. Moreover, a total of eight airbags are installed in the cabin of the Forte. All these features can avoid getting into an accident. Some of the safety features are:

• Rearview camera
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep assist
• Forward collision warning
• Automatic emergency braking
• Driver attention & drowsiness monitor
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise control
• Auto high-beams
• Reverse parking sensors
• Pedestrian detection

2020 Kia Forte vs 2020 Honda Civic

The Forte is a better value product because of the lower price tag but the Honda Civic offers a spacious cabin. The Civic also 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 has an upper hand thanks to heaps of standard infotainment amenities.

2020 Kia Forte vs 2020 Hyundai Elantra

The Hyundai Elantra has one of the lower base prices in the segment, but it lacks enough standard safety features. The Elantra offers three engine options while the Forte sticks to two. The Elantra's trunk volume is less, which makes the Forte a better option. The Elantra offers a better fuel economy even in the base trim as it uses a CVT transmission. The Elantra is a good car but it does not stack up well against the Forte.

2020 Kia Forte vs 2020 Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is an excellent daily driver but is a bit dreary to drive. You will get less of everything, such as cargo space, rear-seat room, and infotainment features except fuel economy. The Forte is still a better alternative in this aspect. Where the Corolla beats the Forte is in terms of safety and reliability. The Corolla packs more standard safety features but in terms of overall performance, the Kia Forte is a sure winner.

The 2020 Kia Forte may not be athletic but it does a lot of things well. It falls on the shopping list of nearly every compact car buyer as it 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. By all means, the Forte is a much better alternative to many subcompacts like the Corolla.