2022 Kia Forte vs 2021 Kia K5

The 2021 Kia K5 represented a fresh identity for Kia, moving away from its past of drab and unattractive sedans. It was a symbolic break from the Optima, with a fastback form reminiscent of the Kia Stinger. Styled in the GT-Line trim, the K5 featured flat Wolf Gray paint and fire-engine red seats, giving it an Audi A5 Sportback-like appearance. The design was led by Peter Schreyer, who brought his expertise from the Volkswagen Group to Kia. The K5 boasted unique taillights with dashed LEDs and a sleek front with Z-shaped amber LED running lights. Despite some fake air vents and exhaust tips, the K5's proportions made it sportier, with a longer wheelbase and a killer front design. The interior was upscale, with a driver-focused dash, quality materials, and stylish details, exuding sportiness and quality.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered six trim levels, with the GT Limited being the most fun. The Forte GT Limited came with Steel Grey paint and a price of $32,084, including destination charges. The Forte received updates with a new grille, headlights, and bumpers, along with fresh wheel designs for the GT-Line. The GT Limited had a sportier look with red-accent detailing, a gloss black lip spoiler, and larger 18-inch wheels. The interior featured a 4.2-inch driver information display, a revised centre console, and improved infotainment systems. The GT Limited's interior had a sporty look with seat perforations, patterns, and polished metal accents, providing a Germanic appearance.

The 2021 Kia K5's GT-Line trim had aggressive styling but lacked the driving verve to match. It had a softer suspension and Pirelli P Zero All-Season tires that protested in tight turns. The GT trim promised better performance with a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine producing 290 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, but it was front-wheel drive only. The standard engine was a 1.6-litre turbo-four with 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, offering good fuel efficiency at 9.2 L/100 km in the city and 6.9 on the highway. The K5's ride was isolated and balanced, but the sporty trim didn't live up to the hype.

The 2022 Kia Forte's mechanical components mostly carried over, with a 2.0-litre engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque for most trims. The GT Limited trim offered a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The GT Limited had a sport-tuned suspension and larger 18-inch wheels, providing a more engaging driving experience. However, the brakes were not up to the task on demanding roads, and the engine noise was noticeable at highway speeds. The Forte GT Limited averaged 9.1 L/100 km in testing, higher than the official rating of 7.8 L/100 km.

The 2021 Kia K5 comfortably accommodated two adults in the back, with scalloped roof and seatbacks providing ample headroom and legroom. The front seats were supportive and firm, ideal for long drives. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a 10.25-inch display available. Trunk space was 434 litres, expandable with rear seats folded.

The 2022 Kia Forte GT Limited offered a comfortable ride for long trips, with a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat and ventilated front seats. The rear seat provided good headroom and legroom, with a large bottom cushion for support. The trunk had 433 litres of cargo space, the largest in its segment, with rear seats folding down for more capacity.

The 2021 Kia K5 featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, and lane-keep assist as standard. The GT-Line trim added 18-inch wheels, LED taillights, a panoramic sunroof, and adaptive cruise control. The GT trim included a Bose audio system and 19-inch wheels.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered new technology features, including a rear-seat USB port and remote engine starting. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available on lower trims, while higher trims required a cable. The GT Limited had a 10.25-inch touchscreen, SiriusXM radio, and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, but voice recognition was hit-and-miss.

The 2021 Kia K5 earned top marks in crash tests from NHTSA and IIHS, with a Top Safety Pick+ designation. It came with standard safety features like forward collision avoidance, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Junction Turning was available on higher trims.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered more safety technology, with forward-collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring standard on most trims. Adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist were available on higher trims. The Forte received high marks from IIHS, but NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating due to concerns about rear passenger safety.