2023 Kia Forte vs 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

The 2023 Kia Forte was a compact sedan that retained some of Kia's older design cues while incorporating newer styling elements. Its double-tab grille was a long-standing identifier of Kia models, complemented by converging angled cutouts that hinted at the latest design language. LED headlights and taillights were standard from the EX+ trim, while the GT trims added LED fog lights and bold red accents for a sportier look. The Forte's side and rear design were typical of its class, yet its overall shape was more graceful than some competitors. The interior maintained Kia's older layout with a touchscreen mounted atop the dash and traditional climate knobs below, offering a modern yet user-friendly experience. The interior materials were notably nicer than those of its contemporaries, with soft-touch surfaces and sturdy construction, making it competitive against newer sedans.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid received significant styling updates, particularly in its streamlined front fascia, which featured a single slim lightbar known as the "seamless horizon lamp." This modern flair was complemented by a repositioned badge above the grille and independently placed headlights. The rear end, with its lightbar forming a wide "H" shape, resembled the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe. While the side profile remained similar to the 2023 model, the Sonata's interior saw changes, including a redesigned dash with vents flowing across and a T-shaped steering wheel. The gear shifter moved to the steering column, and the interior offered a basic black leather upholstery in the Preferred-Trend trim, with the N Line trim featuring a light grey option with Nappa leather and suede inserts.

The 2023 Kia Forte offered two engine choices. The base engine was a 2.0-litre four-cylinder producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that powered the front wheels. The GT Limited trim featured a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 201 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, available exclusively with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) in Canada. The base engine accelerated the Forte to 100 km/h in approximately 8.8 seconds, while the GT Limited achieved it in about 6.5 seconds. The GT Limited also boasted a sport-tuned suspension, enhancing its performance. Despite the sportier handling, the GT Limited maintained a comfortable ride quality, with the cabin remaining quiet except for some road noise.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid introduced an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system for the first time, available on the Preferred-Trend trim for an additional $2,000. The Preferred-Trend trim featured a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The N Line trim offered a turbocharged version of the same engine, delivering 290 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, with power transferred via an 8-speed wet-clutch dual-clutch transmission (DCT). The Sonata's steering feel and handling were well-received, and the configurable driver-information display added to the driving experience.

The 2023 Kia Forte's front seats provided ample space for taller passengers, with basic adjustments ensuring comfort on long drives. The dashboard and centre console layout placed controls within easy reach, allowing for intuitive operation. Heated front seats and keyless entry were standard on the LX trim, with a heated steering wheel available from the EX grade. The rear seats offered sufficient room for average-sized adults, with higher trims featuring separate air conditioning vents and a USB charge port. The trunk provided 433 litres of cargo space, slightly more than competitors like the Honda Civic and Mazda 3 sedans.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid offered competitive interior space, with the front seats providing 975 millimetres of headroom, slightly above the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Rear-seat headroom was 950 mm, and the front row prioritized legroom with 1,170 mm, while rear passengers had 885 mm. Heated and ventilated front seats were standard in the Preferred-Trend trim, with the N Line featuring sport seats. The trunk close button was a notable convenience feature, adding to the Sonata's practicality.

The 2023 Kia Forte came standard with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, while the GT-Line and GT Limited received a 10.25-inch display with navigation. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included across all models, with a wireless charging pad available from the EX grade. The infotainment system featured sharp graphics and quick responses, with logical menu organization and helpful shortcut buttons. The Forte's tech features met expectations and were comparable to other cars in its class.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid featured a selectable functionality for the driver's side front USB-C port, allowing it to switch between data-transmitting and charging-only modes. This complemented the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available on all trims. The Sonata's curved display combined the infotainment touchscreen and driver-information display into a single panel, with the N Line featuring a pair of 12.3-inch screens. The infotainment system included voice controls, with the N Line offering navigation and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system.

The 2023 Kia Forte received four out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for overall, frontal, side, and rollover protection. However, some base forward collision avoidance features did not meet the Administration's performance criteria. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Forte its highest score of "Good" in most evaluations, except for the updated front moderate overlap and side impact tests, which received a "Poor" rating. In Canada, most driver assistance features were available from the EX trim, including forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid came standard with blind-spot collision warning and rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist. All trims featured forward collision-avoidance assist with junction turning detection, safe exit warning and assist, lane-following and lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, automatic emergency braking, and rear occupant alert. Hyundai's infotainment system made safety features easy to find and operate, with clear graphics explaining each function.