2020 Honda Accord Hybrid vs 2019 Kia Forte

The 2019 Kia Forte might have appeared to be a mere facelift, but it was actually an all-new generation. It retained its jellybean-like shape and plucky front-end design, with a subtle swoop along the side. The taillight band connecting each side above the license plate was a design element that seemed cheap and tacked-on. However, the new Forte had a more mature design, with additional small rear quarter windows framing the rear doors and flatter, lower windowsills. Styling cues from the sporty Kia Stinger were evident, including the grille's powerful shape, futuristic headlights, and aggressive lower-grille design.

Inside, the Forte’s contemporary, high-tech cabin packed a lot of substance into a simple layout. The influence of the Stinger was present with a sport steering wheel and floating touchscreen. The instrument panel's crisp look and general layout had hints of Audi’s small car, thanks to Peter Schreyer, the head of design at Hyundai and Kia, who previously worked at Audi. Trims for the Forte included FE, LXS, S, and EX, with the base FE trim offering plenty of standard features like electric power side mirrors, remote keyless entry, forward-collision avoidance, and lane-keeping assist. The range-topping EX trim added luxury features such as power heated side mirrors, leatherette upholstery, and a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat.

The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid looked almost identical to other models in the Accord lineup, with only “Hybrid” badges and aerodynamic 17-inch aluminum wheels setting it apart. This approach was smart, as it avoided the odd design cues often seen in hybrid versions of mainstream vehicles. The Accord Hybrid was available in four trim levels: Hybrid, Hybrid EX, Hybrid EX-L, and Hybrid Touring. Prices started at $25,620, with the hybrid powertrain being a $1,600 upgrade over the standard Accord LX, EX, and EX-L. The Hybrid Touring trim was actually $960 cheaper than the standard Touring due to the high-powered turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine.

The recommended trim was the Hybrid EX at $29,520, which included all of the Accord’s driver-assistance and infotainment technologies, plus a 12-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and heated side mirrors. The Hybrid EX-L added leather and a 10-speaker premium sound system for $32,020. The leather interior, combined with simulated matte-finish wood trim, gave the car an upscale look and feel. However, the floor mats were notorious for attracting pet hair, making them difficult to clean.

The 2019 Kia Forte came with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive, producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. The engine was paired with either a 6-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT), with the FE trim offering the manual as standard. Kia’s CVT, known as the iVT, managed power well and provided an immediate response when accelerating. The Forte was quick off the line and had ample power for highway passing, with handling that was impressive for its class. The steering had a performance-like weight, and the car displayed minimal body roll when cornering.

The Forte’s ride quality was refined, handling bumps and potholes with ease. The CVT-equipped models featured a Drive Mode Selector with Normal, Sport, and Smart modes, catering to different driving preferences. Fuel economy for the CVT-equipped Forte was 30 mpg city, 40 highway, and 34 combined, while the manual FE trim achieved 27/37/31. The most efficient configuration was the FE with the CVT, returning 31/41/35 combined. During a week of combined city and highway driving in the EX trim, the observed fuel economy was 29.7 mpg.

The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, with its 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and two-motor hybrid powertrain, produced 212 combined horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque. The EPA estimated 48 mpg in combined driving, but real-world testing yielded 42.6 mpg. The car returned 44.1 mpg during city and suburban driving and 41.2 mpg after a spirited drive in Sport mode. The Accord Hybrid was speedy, especially in Sport mode, but the electronic continuously variable transmission (eCVT) produced a loud drone during hard acceleration.

The Accord Hybrid’s extra weight contributed to a road-hugging feel but affected its composure on undulating pavement. Despite this, the car provided predictable ride motions, a flat-cornering attitude, and faithful regenerative brakes. The steering was precise, and the car communicated well with the road surface, making it enjoyable to drive.

The 2019 Kia Forte’s exterior dimensions grew, resulting in a noticeably larger interior. The front seat offered plenty of legroom, though headroom was tight for occupants over 6 feet tall. The backseat had adequate headroom and legroom, making it comfortable for taller passengers on longer drives. The Forte’s trunk space increased to 15.3 cubic feet, one of the largest in its class. The EX trim featured Kia’s smart trunk system, which automatically opened the trunk when you stood behind the car for a few seconds.

The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid offered the same full-size interior and trunk as the standard Accord. The massive backseat provided exceptional thigh support, rear air-conditioning vents, and available USB charging ports. However, the front seat lacked sufficient track travel and height adjustment, which could be an issue for taller drivers and passengers. The seat cushions were comfortable, and the Touring trim included front heating and ventilation and rear heating.

Interior storage space was generous, and the 16.7-cubic-foot trunk was larger than most competitors. It could accommodate four full-size suitcases and additional smaller items. The Accord Hybrid also featured a 60/40 split-folding rear seatback for added utility.

The 2019 Kia Forte came standard with an 8-inch UVO touchscreen, featuring a user-friendly layout with vivid colors and fonts. Physical buttons and conventional tuning and volume dials made the system easy to use. The UVO e-services provided enhanced roadside assistance, vehicle diagnostics, and a smartphone app for locating the car.

The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, with EX trim or higher, featured a Display Audio infotainment system with a power and volume knob, tuning and scrolling knob, and shortcut buttons. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and quick-charge USB ports. The EX-L trim added a premium sound system, while the Touring trim included navigation, HD digital traffic data, a wireless smartphone charger, NFC technology, a WiFi hotspot, and expanded HondaLink service plans. HondaLink offered features like in-car delivery of Amazon packages, a Find My Car function, and remote locking, unlocking, and engine starting.

The 2019 Kia Forte offered standard forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. Additional safety features included a reversing camera, traction control, front- and side-impact airbags, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and adaptive cruise control. The lane-keeping assist system was particularly effective, providing minor steering inputs to keep the car centered in the lane.

The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid included Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) such as adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, traffic-sign-recognition technology, and a road-departure-mitigation system. The Accord Hybrid also featured automatic high-beam headlights, a multi-angle reversing camera, and SmartVent front side airbags. The EX trim and higher included a blind-spot-warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. The Accord received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.