2022 Hyundai Sonata vs 2022 Kia Forte

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata had evolved significantly from its early days when it closely mimicked the Honda Accord. Initially criticized for its lack of originality and quality, Hyundai gradually improved the Sonata by learning from its competitors. By the seventh generation, redesigned for the 2020 model year, the Sonata featured a distinctive wide grille, rounded front fascia, and a sloped rear roofline. Inside, the Sonata offered a functional and spacious cabin with seating for five, clear gauges, and average material quality. The Limited trim boasted comfortable leather seats, though the tan upholstery color was not universally appealing. For those seeking a sportier look, the Sonata N Line added aggressive styling elements and a more dynamic interior with dark chrome trim and red stitching.

The 2022 Kia Forte, available in four trims—FE, LXS, GT-Line, and GT—offered a range of features to suit different needs. The Forte GT, evaluated for this review, came with a Steel Gray paint job, the GT2 Package, and a price of $26,900. The GT trim stood out with its turbocharged engine, sport-tuned suspension, and distinctive styling elements like red-accent detailing and larger 18-inch wheels. The interior featured a sporty design with traditional analog gauges, a thick-rimmed steering wheel, and polished metal accents. The Forte GT's cabin was comfortable for long trips, and the trunk offered 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space, making it one of the largest in its segment.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata offered a range of performance options. The base engine, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, produced 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, providing a smooth and quiet ride. A turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, available on the SEL Plus and Limited trims, delivered 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. Both engines paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Sonata N Line, with its 290-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission, and sport suspension, offered a more thrilling driving experience. All Sonatas were front-wheel drive, and the car excelled in ride comfort, handling, and noise abatement.

The 2022 Kia Forte's mechanical components largely carried over from the previous year. Most trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Forte GT, however, offered a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine producing 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, available with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The GT trim also featured a sport-tuned suspension, larger 18-inch wheels, and available Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer performance tires. While the Forte GT provided a fun driving experience, it fell short in areas like brake performance and cabin noise at highway speeds. The car's fuel economy also did not meet EPA estimates during testing.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's cabin offered 104.4 cubic feet of passenger space, classifying it as a "Large Car" by the EPA. Front-seat headroom and legroom were among the best in the segment, though shoulder room was average. The rear seat comfortably accommodated two adults, and the 16-cubic-foot trunk provided ample cargo space. The Sonata's Remote Smart Parking Assist feature, standard on the Limited trim, allowed the car to park itself with the press of a button on the key fob.

The 2022 Kia Forte GT, especially with the GT2 option package, offered numerous comfort features, including a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a power sunroof. The Forte's rear seat provided good room for a compact car, with a large bottom cushion for proper support. The trunk, at 15.3 cubic feet, was the largest in its segment, and the rear seats folded down to expand cargo capacity. The Forte also featured a height-adjustable front passenger seat and rear air conditioning vents, enhancing comfort for all occupants.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's infotainment technology varied by trim level. The base SE came with an 8-inch touchscreen, six speakers, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a rearview camera. Higher trims like the SEL Plus and Limited featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, wireless device charging, and dynamic voice recognition. The SEL trim also included last year's Tech package as standard, adding features like Highway Driving Assist and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered new Technology option packages for the LXS, GT-Line, and GT trims. The base FE and LXS trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The GT-Line and GT trims, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, required a cable for smartphone integration but added features like SiriusXM satellite radio, voice recognition, and Kia Connect services. The GT trim also included wireless smartphone charging and an available eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. The Forte's infotainment system was user-friendly, though the voice recognition capabilities were hit-and-miss.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata came equipped with a comprehensive safety package, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, driver-attention warning, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. Higher trims added features like blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view monitor. The NHTSA awarded the Sonata five stars for overall crash protection, while the IIHS gave the 2021 model top "Good" ratings in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front crash prevention.

The 2022 Kia Forte also offered a robust suite of safety features. Standard equipment included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and a driver monitoring system. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Warning. The Forte also offered advanced features like navigation-linked adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist. The NHTSA gave the Forte a four-star overall crash protection rating, noting issues with rear passenger injury in side impacts.