2023 Kia Forte vs 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback emerged as a bold contender in a market where hatchbacks were losing ground to small crossover SUVs. Despite the trend, Honda saw potential in the hatchback segment and introduced a redesigned Civic Hatchback, aiming to capture a significant share of the remaining market. Manufactured in Indiana, it was one of the few compact cars still produced in North America. The Civic Hatchback shared its front design with the Civic sedan but distinguished itself with a unique grille and wheel designs. From the rear, it presented a different profile, attempting to balance visual weight distribution. Inside, the Civic Hatchback mirrored the sedan's interior, with Sport Touring trim offering advanced digital displays and high-quality materials, although the CVT shifter operation was slightly lacking in sophistication.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Forte retained some of Kia's older design elements while incorporating newer styling cues. The Forte's design was marked by a double-tab grille and LED lighting from the EX+ trim upwards. The GT trims added sporty touches with LED fog lights and red accents. The Forte's interior maintained a traditional layout with a central touchscreen and physical climate controls, offering a modern yet familiar feel. The materials used in the Forte's cabin were of higher quality than many of its contemporaries, with soft-touch surfaces replacing hard plastics. The Forte's design aged well, remaining competitive against newer sedans in its class.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered two engine options. The Sport and Sport Touring trims featured a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, with peak torque available from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm. The Civic Hatchback was front-wheel drive, with a choice between a CVT and a six-speed manual transmission. The CVT worked well with the turbo engine, providing a smooth driving experience, while the manual transmission was praised for its short throws and fluid gear engagement. The Civic Hatchback's suspension was tuned for a balance between comfort and handling, though it was not designed for aggressive driving on winding roads. Fuel efficiency was commendable, with real-world testing nearly matching official estimates.

The 2023 Kia Forte offered two engine choices as well. The base engine was a 2.0-litre four-cylinder producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT. The GT Limited trim featured a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine with 201 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The base engine provided adequate performance for most drivers, while the GT Limited offered a more exciting driving experience with a sport-tuned suspension. The Forte's handling was sporty, with precise steering, though it lacked feedback. The GT Limited's ride quality was comfortable, absorbing road imperfections well.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback excelled in functionality, offering a generous 693 litres of trunk space. The back seat featured a 60/40-split folding design, though the load floor was not flat. The Civic Hatchback provided comfortable seating with sufficient legroom, though some passengers noted the lack of a seat-height adjuster for the front passenger seat and rear air conditioning vents. The driver enjoyed an eight-way power-adjustable seat, with heated front seats standard in Canada. The Sport Touring trim added heated outboard rear seats and black leather upholstery.

The 2023 Kia Forte's front seats offered ample space for taller passengers, with basic adjustments providing comfort on long drives. The dashboard and centre console layout placed controls within easy reach. Heated front seats and keyless entry were standard, with a heated steering wheel available from the EX grade. The rear seats provided enough room for average-sized adults, with higher trims offering separate air conditioning vents and a USB charge port. The Forte's trunk held up to 433 litres of cargo, with remote seatback releases for additional space.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a new infotainment system, with a 7-inch touchscreen on LX and Sport trims, and a 9-inch display on Sport Touring. The Sport Touring trim also included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, wireless charging, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The Civic's infotainment system was praised for its user-friendly interface and physical knobs for sound controls. Digital instrumentation was standard, with a 10.2-inch display on the Sport Touring.

The 2023 Kia Forte came with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, while the GT-Line and GT Limited received a 10.25-inch display with navigation. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless charging available from the EX grade. The Forte's infotainment system was noted for its sharp graphics and intuitive menu organization. A six-speaker sound system was standard, with an eight-speaker Harman Kardon system on the GT Limited. Kia Connect services were available from the EX Premium trim.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback was equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. New features included low-speed following and Traffic Jam Assist, though these were only available with the CVT. The Civic Hatchback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, thanks to its advanced safety engineering and new frontal-impact airbags.

The 2023 Kia Forte received four out of five stars from the NHTSA for overall protection. Some base forward collision avoidance features did not meet performance criteria, but available upgrades did. The IIHS awarded the Forte "Good" ratings in most evaluations, except for the updated front moderate overlap and side impact tests, which received "Poor" ratings. In Canada, most safety features were available from the EX trim, with advanced features on higher trims.