2023 Kia Forte Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The Kia Forte is a compact sedan that was last redesigned for the 2019 model year and retains some of the carmaker's older design cues while also incorporating some of its newer styling elements. The double-tab grille is one of those cues that has identified Kia models for over a decade while the converging angled cutouts underneath have hints of the latest design language. LED headlights and taillights are standard beginning from the EX+ trim. The GT trims add a little extra excitement with LED fog lights and bold red accents, though they may not be to everyone's liking. From the side and rear of the Forte, the design is more typical of the class, but the overall shape is more graceful than some competitors. The base wheels on the LX trim are 15-inch steel wheels, but you can get 16-inch alloy wheels on the EX grade, 17-inchers on most other trims, and 18-inch sport alloy wheels on GT Limited.

The interior holds onto Kia's older layout, with a touchscreen mounted atop the centre of the dash and traditional climate knobs and dials below. Many newer models have adopted a more high-tech look with the touchscreen integrated into an enclosure that also holds a digital instrument panel. The Forte still looks appropriately modern though, and as an added bonus, it can be easier to get acclimated to the infotainment system and other physical controls rather than digging through on-screen menus for features.

When this Forte generation was introduced, it was notable for its interior materials that were noticeably nicer than what you'd find in its contemporary rivals. There was far less hard plastic to cheapen the cabin, replaced with nicer soft-touch surfaces and a sturdier construction. Cloth seats are standard on all but the GT models, where the synthetic leather upholstery on the sport seats is fairly convincing. The thicker material is much more substantial than the thin vinyl-like coverings you'd find in a Toyota Corolla. As is typical with many non-luxury vehicles, the rear seats get more hard plastic surfaces to better endure knocks and scrapes from child passengers. Even after all the time that has passed since its redesign, the Forte has aged well and remains competitive against newer sedans in the class.

Shoppers have two engine choices in the 2023 Kia Forte. The base engine is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder that produces 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. It's mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that sends power to the front wheels, which Kia refers to as an intelligent variable transmission or IVT. Stepping up to the GT Limited trim upgrades you to a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 201 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. In Canada, it's available exclusively with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). (The six-speed manual transmission that was formerly available is no longer being offered.) Front-wheel drive (FWD) is the only available drivetrain.

The base engine should accelerate the Forte to 100 km/h in roughly 8.8 seconds, which is what you'd expect from comparable sedans. The more potent GT Limited will get there in roughly 6.5 seconds. The base powertrain will be adequate for the vast majority of drivers, while the GT Limited is the pick for those seeking more excitement and performance. In addition to the turbocharged engine’s higher output, it also receives a sport-tuned suspension.

The base model's CVT tends to make it feel slower and less powerful than it is, but you still won't feel the need to floor the accelerator when merging into highway traffic. Once up to speed, it passes slower traffic with similar ease. The dual-clutch transmission in the GT Limited does a much better job of keeping power on tap. It can be rather jumpy and unrefined at lower speeds, though.

Handling is sportier than we expected, as the Forte GT Limited slices through turns with little drama or tire squeal. The super light steering feel is precise and predictable, but the lack of feedback or effort don't encourage driving with much more aggression.

Despite the sport-tuned suspension and the improved handling, the GT Limited's ride quality is pleasantly comfortable. It's not as stiff-legged as the competing Mazda 3, but it's also not as entertaining for the driver. You'll certainly feel the ruts and bumps in the road, but they're rounded over well enough to keep them from being intrusive. Besides some noticeable road noise, the Forte's cabin is as quiet as other sedans in the class.

The front seats of the Forte provide ample space for taller passengers. Even though they have only the most basic of adjustments, we found the driver’s seat comfortable after a few hours on the road. The layout of the dashboard, centre stack and centre console place controls within easy reach of the driver. After getting used to the cabin, many functions can be operated without having to take your eyes off the road. Heated front seats and keyless entry are standard on the Kia Forte LX, and a heated steering wheel is equipped from the EX grade. A single-pane sunroof comes in at EX+. Dual-zone climate control is standard beginning at EX Premium.

A rubberized phone tray is placed just below the climate controls and does a good job of keeping your device from sliding around. A wireless charger is available in the higher trims and pairs well with the cordless Bluetooth phone integration. Underneath is another rubberized tray for other personal effects and you also have moderately sized cup holders, door pockets, and a centre armrest bin.

Rear seats have enough room to comfortably accommodate an average-sized adult. There's ample headroom, legroom, and space for your feet under the front seats. Higher trims benefit from separate air conditioning vents and a USB charge port back there. Heated rear seats are equipped on the GT-Line and GT Limited trims.

Behind the rear seats, the trunk can hold up to 433 litres of cargo. That's slightly more cargo space than the Honda Civic and Mazda 3 sedans, but the hatchback versions of those can hold between 569 and 693 litres. The cargo floor has a flimsy fabric covering that seems out of place when everything else is adequately sturdy, but the space itself is notable for its height. You can load much bulkier items than the typical sedan and if you need more space, remote seatback releases make it that much easier.

Supporting Forte trims come standard with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen while the GT-Line and GT Limited receive a 10.25-inch display with onboard navigation. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included with all models, but if you want a wireless charging pad, you'll need to opt for the Kia Forte EX grade at minimum. A six-speaker sound system is standard, while a premium eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system is equipped on the GT Limited. Kia Connect connected services become available beginning at the EX Premium trim.

The infotainment system features sharp graphics and quick responses to inputs. The menu organization is logical and intuitive while buttons at the bottom of the frame give you helpful shortcuts to the most commonly used functions. Overall, the Forte meets expectations in regard to tech features and is comparable to other cars in the class. We were unable to get the wireless phone integration to work in our particular test vehicle, but we're convinced it was an anomaly since we've been able to make it work in other Forte models we've driven.

In crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2023 Kia Forte was awarded four out of five stars for overall, frontal, side, and rollover protection. It's worth noting that some base forward collision avoidance features are flagged as not meeting the Administration's performance criteria, but available upgrades do. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Forte its highest score of "Good" in all evaluations except for the updated front moderate overlap and side impact tests, which received the lowest score of "Poor".

In Canada, most driver assistance and safety features other than airbags and electronic stability control are not standard and come in at the EX trim, one level up from base. This includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, a driver attention monitor, a tire pressure monitoring system, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The EX Premium adds an advanced forward collision assist warning and adaptive cruise control, while Kia’s Highway Driving Assist system is equipped on the GT-Line and GT Limited.

The 2023 Kia Forte in base LX trim has a new vehicle starting price of $20,695 (not including $2,449 in destination fees), making it one of the more affordable cars on sale today. The top GT trim remains within reach of many shoppers too, with a starting price of $31,095.

According to Natural Resources Canada, a Kia Forte with the base 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine can be expected to consume 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 6.0 on the highway, and 7.2 combined. Opt for the GT Limited and its turbo 1.6-litre engine, and those fuel economy figures rise to 8.7 L/100 km city, 6.6 hwy, and 7.8 combined.

Among its rivals, the Kia Forte is the value leader. It undercuts the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla by a few thousand dollars and the Mazda 3 by hundreds, depending on trim level.

The Honda Civic still edges out the Forte for the class leader, but not by a huge margin. Our Forte GT Limited test vehicle is closest to the Civic Si in terms of performance, but the Honda costs roughly $4,000 more than the Kia. In a class where price is vitally important, that should be enough to steer shoppers towards the Forte. The Mazda 3 is the athlete of the class, benefitting from superior performance without resorting to the expensive high-performance Civic Type R or GR Corolla variants. But the desirable Mazda 3 Turbo starts at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) above $37,000. That would likely be a deal breaker for budget-conscious shoppers.

That makes the Kia Forte a great pick for those on more modest budgets, but that doesn't mean you'll be forced into more compromises. You get a lot for the money and it feels as well-built as its rivals. We would suggest keeping an eye on Kia's future plans, though. The company recently revealed a redesigned K3 sedan (what the Forte is named in other markets), and we wouldn't be surprised if it replaces the Forte within a year or so. That said, we also wouldn't be surprised if it costs a bit more.

Note: Images show a US model.