Kia Forte

The Forte is a compact sedan that seats up to five passengers. In Kia’s sedan lineup, it slots between the subcompact Rio and the midsize K5 (formerly known as the Optima), and it shares a platform and some components with the Hyundai Elantra, which is built by Kia’s sister company. In the past, the automaker has also offered the Forte in a two-door version called the Forte Koup (discontinued in 2017) and in a hatchback called the Forte5 (discontinued in 2019); these models are reviewed separately.

In recent years, Kia has sold the Forte in a range of trim levels, including the entry-level FE (formerly called LX), the mid-level LXS, the sporty GT-Line (formerly called S), and the upscale EX. At the top of the range is the performance-oriented GT trim, which debuted in 2020 and comes with a more powerful turbocharged engine, a sport-tuned suspension, and larger brakes.

The third-generation Forte debuted in 2019, offering an all-new design with a roomier cabin and more tech features, including standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. An array of driver aids also joined the equipment list, including standard automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist and optional adaptive cruise control. The third-gen Forte underwent a minor refresh in 2022 that updated its styling and added lane-centering assist as well as wireless smartphone connectivity.

Under the hood, the Forte comes standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 147 horsepower. Since 2019, it’s been mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT); earlier versions utilize a six-speed automatic. A six-speed manual gearbox is also available on some lower-level trims (such as the FE). The top-of-the-line GT trim comes with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 201 hp, paired with either a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic or a six-speed manual. All versions of the Forte are front-wheel drive (only).