History/Overview
The Kia Forte is this Korean brand’s player in the compact sedan segment. What used to be one of Canada’s most lucrative car categories is less popular now that small crossovers have stolen some market share, but affordable four-doors like the Forte remain an important part of our marketplace.
What’s New/Key Changes From Last Year
For 2022, the Forte gets a styling refresh, and some new tech. The sporty GT Limited trim has dropped last year’s manual transmission and now only comes with an automatic.
Available Trims
Kia offers the Forte in LX, EX, EX+, EX Premium, GT Line, and GT Limited trims. Most use a 2.0L four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The outliers are LX MT, which trades the CVT for a six-speed manual, and GT Limited, which gets a 1.6L turbo mill and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
Standard Features
Forte LX comes with 15-inch steel wheels with covers, LED daytime running lights, auto on/off headlights, heated side mirrors, heated front seats, manual A/C, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, six-speaker audio, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration.
EX adds 16-inch alloy wheels, a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, tire pressure monitoring, blind spot detection/collision avoidance, lane keep/follow assist, driver attention alert, forward collision mitigation, and rear cross-traffic alert.
EX+ gets 17-inch wheels, LED headlights and taillights, and a sunroof.
EX Premium’s additions are dual-zone A/C, adaptive cruise control, passive keyless entry, and an upgraded collision mitigation system.
GT-Line’s upgrades include a rear spoiler, cloth/leather seating, power driver’s seat, and ventilated front/heated rear seats.
Finally, GT Limited gains 18-inch wheels, leather upholstery, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, and an upgraded sound system.
Fuel Economy
Kia’s fuel consumption estimates for the Forte are 8.8/6.1 L/100 km (city/highway) with the 2.0L engine and six-speed manual transmission, and 7.9/5.9 L/100 km with the 2.0L/CVT combo. The 1.6L turbo and its seven-speed are rated for 8.7/6.6 L/100 km (city/highway).
Competition
The Kia Forte competes for the attention of compact sedan shoppers with the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, Subaru Impreza, and Mazda3.
