2022 Kia Forte vs 2022 Nissan Sentra

The 2022 Kia Forte offered a range of six trim levels, each catering to different preferences and budgets. The GT Limited trim, which was evaluated, stood out with its sporty aesthetics, featuring red-accent detailing, a gloss black lip spoiler, and 18-inch wheels with a machined finish. The exterior updates for 2022 included a new grille, headlights, and bumpers, enhancing its modern appeal. Inside, the Forte GT Limited maintained a sporty look with traditional analog gauges, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and polished metal accents. The interior was equipped with a 4.2-inch driver information display and improved infotainment systems, offering a blend of style and functionality.

In contrast, the 2022 Nissan Sentra retained its design from the 2020 redesign, presenting a sleek, modern look reminiscent of a downsized Altima. The exterior was low-slung and coupe-like, with a variety of bold colour options. The interior of the Sentra was a highlight, combining form and function with a simple yet modern layout. The front cabin featured a touchscreen rising from the dash, serving as the visual centrepiece. The Sentra's trims, S, SV, and SR, offered a range of features, with the SR trim adding sporty elements like 18-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights. The Midnight Edition package for the SR trim added dark accents, enhancing its visual appeal.

The 2022 Kia Forte's performance varied across its trims. Most trims were equipped with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with either a six-speed manual or a CVT. The GT Limited trim, however, featured a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine delivering 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This trim offered a sportier driving experience with Smart, Normal, and Sport driving modes, a sport-tuned suspension, and larger 18-inch wheels. Despite its fun-to-drive nature, the GT Limited's brakes struggled on demanding descents, and its fuel economy fell short of expectations, averaging 9.1 L/100 km during testing.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra, on the other hand, was powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque. It offered a six-speed manual transmission as standard in Canada, with a CVT available. The Sentra's performance was consistent, providing solid low-end acceleration and satisfactory highway performance. Its steering was well-weighted, and cornering was sharp for a non-performance car. The suspension handled most road conditions well, though it struggled with harsher bumps. Overall, the Sentra was a reliable choice for commuting and occasional road trips.

The 2022 Kia Forte GT Limited excelled in interior comfort and space. It featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a power sunroof. The rear seat offered ample headroom and legroom, with a large bottom seat cushion for support. The Forte's trunk was the largest in its segment, offering 433 litres of cargo space, with rear seats that folded down to expand capacity. The interior was designed for comfort on long trips, with features like dual-zone automatic climate control and rear air conditioning vents.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra provided 404 litres of trunk space, slightly less than the Forte. The trunk could be expanded with a 60/40 split-fold rear bench, though the ledge created by the bench could make loading larger items challenging. The Sentra's interior offered spacious seating in both rows, with comfortable front seats and decent rear legroom. The front row featured large in-door cargo trays and bottle holders, while the centre console provided ample storage for gear.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered a range of technology features, with higher trims receiving new additions like a rear-seat USB port and remote engine starting. The EX Premium trim and lower offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with an 8-inch touchscreen, while the GT-Line and GT Limited featured a 10.25-inch display with more features but required a cable for smartphone connectivity. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though the voice recognition capabilities were hit-and-miss, leading to reliance on wired Apple CarPlay for navigation and music streaming.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the SV and SR trims featured an 8-inch display. The system was easy to navigate, with conventional hard buttons and volume/tuning dials. However, the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a drawback, especially as competitors like the Honda Civic offered these features on higher trims.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered a range of safety features, with most trims including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and Highway Driving Assist. The Forte received high marks from the IIHS for crashworthiness and driving assist systems, though the NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating due to concerns about rear passenger injury in side impacts.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came equipped with standard driver-assistance features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and blind spot monitoring. Additional features included a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control. The Sentra earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" award from the IIHS, though its headlight ratings were lower.