How Does the 2020 Kia Forte Match Up to the Competition?

The Kia Forte is a compact, 5-seat, 4-door sedan. In previous model years, it was also offered as a hatchback, but that version is no longer available for the 2020 Kia Forte. If you’re in the market for a compact car, it is more than likely that you have thought about the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic. These two household names have been around for longer than the Kia and are its biggest competition. So how does the Kia stand up to the competition?

How Does the 2020 Kia Forte Match Up to the Competition?

The compact sedan segment is crowded with good options. Icons such as the Civic, Corolla, and Impreza have long been the default choice for most people. However, other brands have stepped up their game, offering good value for money, strong performance, and comfortable cabins.

The Kia Forte is one of the most notable, especially after its 2019 update. It offers buyers a strong alternative and a unique take on the segment.

Practicality

Trunk Space

The Kia Forte has 15.3 cubic feet of trunk space. The Civic sedan, on the other hand, almost matches the Forte with its 15.1 cubic feet of space. The Corolla offers noticeably less trunk space with only 13 cubic feet of usable space.

The hatchback variants of the Corolla and Civic offer significantly more trunk space, because of their shape. However, hatchbacks have less legroom and headroom, especially in the back row.

Interior

The Forte, Corolla, and Civic sedans all seat five, in varying degrees of comfort. The Civic has ample legroom both in the front and back rows, but its sloping roofline cuts into the headroom in the back row.

The Corolla also offers ample legroom, with the only complaint being that the standard seats offer little in the way of support and side bolstering. Like its competitors, the Forte offers legroom and headroom sufficient for all but the tallest passengers.

Performance

Corolla

The Corolla’s standard engine is a 1.8-liter four-cylinder that offers 139 horsepower. This power plant is mated to a continuously variable transmission. A slightly larger and more powerful 2.0-liter engine is optional. It makes 30 more horsepower and can be mated to a six-speed manual in lieu of the CVT.

Forte

Like the Corolla, the Forte has two engine choices. A 2.0 liter, 147 horsepower petrol unit, and a turbocharged 1.6-liter petrol that produces 201 horsepower.

Civic

The Civic comes in four different engine options whose outputs range from 158 to 306 horsepower. The least powerful engine is a naturally aspirated 2.0 liter that produces 158 horsepower.

The most powerful has the same displacement, but is turbocharged, makes 306 horsepower, and is only available with the hatchback model. It’s also a lot more expensive as an upgrade.

A Solid Performer

The Kia Forte is a solid performer and is well suited for city driving as well as long trips out of town. It holds its own against the competition, with unique styling and a long feature list giving it an edge.

Want to learn more about the 2020 Kia Forte? Contact Darcars Kia of Temple Hills today.

Tags: 2020 Kia Forte Overview, 2020 Kia Forte Review
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