2022 Kia Forte vs 2021 Honda Accord

The 2021 Honda Accord was a staple in the midsize sedan market, competing fiercely with rivals like the Toyota Camry, Mazda6, and Hyundai Sonata. For 2021, Honda refreshed the Accord with a wider, restyled grille that gave it a more sculpted appearance, enhancing its visual appeal. The Honda Sensing safety system's radar unit was better integrated, contributing to a cleaner look. The Accord featured LED headlights and lowlights, providing excellent nighttime visibility, and the fog light openings were reduced for a more sophisticated appearance. New alloy wheel designs were introduced, with 19-inch wheels standard on most trims, and a new Sonic Gray Pearl paint option added a unique touch. Inside, the Accord offered a sophisticated interior with high-quality cloth or leather-trimmed seats, depending on the trim level. The Sport trim included a power moonroof, though it slightly reduced headroom. Overall, the Accord's interior was well-regarded for its design and materials, offering a premium feel even in lower trims.

The 2022 Kia Forte presented a refreshed exterior with a new grille, headlights, and bumpers across all models. The GT-Line and GT Limited trims received sportier styling with red-accent detailing, a gloss black lip spoiler, and larger 18-inch wheels. The interior remained largely unchanged from the previous year, featuring a 4.2-inch driver information display and a revised centre console with an electronic parking brake. The GT Limited trim boasted a sporty interior with simulated leather, polished metal accents, and a thick-rimmed steering wheel. While the Forte's interior was simple, it offered a comfortable and supportive seating arrangement. The GT Limited trim's sport-tuned suspension and exhaust provided a more engaging driving experience, though it wasn't as refined as some competitors. The Forte's trunk was spacious, offering 433 litres of cargo space, making it one of the largest in its segment.

The 2021 Honda Accord offered two engine options. The standard engine was a 192-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder, delivering 192 pound-feet of torque and paired with a CVT. This engine was available on the SE, Sport, EX-L, and Touring trims. For those seeking more power, a 2.0-litre turbo-four engine produced 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This engine was available on the Sport 2.0 and Touring 2.0 trims. The Accord was front-wheel drive only, with no all-wheel drive option. Fuel economy for the 1.5-litre engine was rated at 7.2 L/100 km combined for the SE and EX-L trims, and 7.5 L/100 km combined for the Sport and Touring trims. The 2.0-litre engine had a combined rating of 9.1 L/100 km. The Accord's driving dynamics were engaging, with smooth braking and responsive steering, though acceleration was not its standout feature.

The 2022 Kia Forte carried over most of its mechanical components from the previous year. The majority of trims featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, with a six-speed manual transmission standard on the base LX trim and a CVT available on other trims. The GT Limited trim offered a more exciting driving experience with a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine producing 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The GT Limited also featured a sport-tuned suspension and larger 18-inch wheels. Fuel economy for the 2.0-litre engine was rated at 7.6 L/100 km with the manual transmission and 7.0 L/100 km with the CVT. The GT Limited's turbocharged engine had a combined rating of 7.8 L/100 km, though real-world testing showed higher consumption. The GT Limited offered a fun driving experience, but its brakes and noise levels were areas of concern.

The 2021 Honda Accord was designed with practicality in mind, offering comfortable seating for five adults. The interior featured dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and push-button start as standard. The rear seats had a 60/40 split and a centre armrest, allowing for pass-through from the spacious 473-litre trunk. The cabin was well-designed, with all essential controls within easy reach. While small-item storage was limited, the front centre console offered a small cubby for convenience.

The 2022 Kia Forte GT Limited provided a comfortable and well-equipped interior for long journeys. It featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a power sunroof. The dual-zone automatic climate control system and rear air conditioning vents ensured passenger comfort. The rear seats offered good headroom and legroom, with a large bottom seat cushion for support. The Forte's trunk was spacious, with 433 litres of cargo space, and the rear seats folded down to expand capacity.

The 2021 Honda Accord came equipped with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, featuring physical volume and tuning knobs. Standard features included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and two USB ports. Higher trims added satellite radio, HD radio, a wireless phone charger, and a 10-speaker premium audio system. The Touring trims offered an on-board navigation system, rain-sensing wipers, and a head-up display.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered new technology features for higher trims, including a rear-seat USB port and remote engine starting. Lower trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while higher trims had a 10.25-inch display with additional features like SiriusXM satellite radio and Kia Connect services. The GT Limited trim included an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though the voice recognition capabilities were inconsistent.

The 2021 Honda Accord prioritized safety with a comprehensive suite of features, including vehicle stability assist, brake assist, a rearview camera, and LED daytime running lights. The Honda Sensing suite added lane-keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Accord received top safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA, with a Top Safety Pick+ and a five-star overall rating, respectively.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered a range of safety features, with most trims including forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and blind spot monitoring. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist. The Forte received high marks from the IIHS, though testing of the revised LED headlights was incomplete. The NHTSA awarded the Forte a four-star overall rating, with concerns about rear passenger safety in side impacts.