2021 Kia Forte Review

　　

2021 Kia Forte Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The small sedan market isn't as popular as it once was. Chevrolet and Ford, for example, discontinued their respective Cruze and Focus sedans to focus on selling more SUVs. But this thinning of the herd, so to speak, has actually made it a little easier to choose. And one of our favorites is the 2021 Kia Forte.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Kia Forte FE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$121/mo  for Forte FE

　　Forte FE

　　FE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6M) - $17,890 MSRPFE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $18,790 MSRPLXS 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $19,390 MSRPGT-Line 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $20,490 MSRPGT 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $22,790 MSRPGT 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $23,390 MSRPEX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $23,090 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　The Forte goes head to head with rivals such as the Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Subaru Impreza and Toyota Corolla. Even among this all-star group, the Forte stands out. We like its handsome styling, easy-to-use tech and excellent fuel economy. It's also a good value, offering plenty of features for your money, plus Kia's great warranty.

　　We do wish the Forte had a bit more rear-seat legroom, and its ride can be a little too stiff at times. Still, there's much to like about the Forte, especially given its price and feature list. Check out our in-depth Expert Review to help you decide if the 2021 Forte is right for you.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Forte drive? In routine driving, the Forte feels adequately punchy. At zzdcar' test track, our test Forte covered 0-60 mph in 8.7 seconds, which is an average time for the class. The CVT automatic generally works well but at times feels unpolished. It delivers power promptly when commanded, but it's too eager to drop revs when you ease off the throttle slightly. It can make for surging power delivery.

　　We're also not overly impressed with the Forte's handling. The steering weight is fine but offers little feedback, and the on-center feel is vague. While the Forte corners relatively flat, it can get unsettled by midcorner bumps.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Forte? The Forte is more comfortable than most cars in the class. The seats are nicely contoured for long-distance comfort, and the headrests are soft and unobtrusive. Road noise is ably quelled, and only a mild amount of wind and ambient noise seeps through. The dual-zone automatic climate control works well. We also like that Kia offers ventilated front seats, although the cooling effect isn't especially powerful.

　　The biggest knock against the Forte here is its stiff suspension. It's OK on rough paving or shallow imperfections, but it struggles to smooth out larger bumps. The rear suspension, in particular, is especially troubled by uneven bumps.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? Kia has done an excellent job designing the Forte's interior. A mix of textures makes the well-built interior look grown-up and refined. The controls are logical and easy to find, and the infotainment is easy to navigate, with physical buttons for important features. The seating position and steering wheel both offer a wide range of adjustability.

　　The front seat is roomy with plenty of knee and shoulder room. Taller drivers have sufficient headroom, too. Rear-seat knee room falls short compared to class leaders (and the hard plastic seatbacks don't help), but headroom is an issue only for passengers over 6 feet tall.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? Overall, the Forte offers a lot of well-integrated features. The touchscreen interface is easy to use, and the upgraded audio system sounds sharp as long as you don't turn it up too loud. Our test car didn't have the optional navigation system, but standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compensate for a lot. The native voice system recognizes basic controls with little confusion, though you have to follow a structured set of commands.

　　Every Forte comes with forward collision mitigation, and a blind-spot monitor is available on midtier trims and above. It's a little disappointing that adaptive cruise is only available as an option on the highest trim level. It's standard on many competitors. In testing, all systems worked well and avoided false alerts.

　　

Storage

8.5/10

　　How’s the storage? For a small sedan, the Forte offers excellent utility. The trunk has a wide, flat load floor and a generous opening. At 15.3 cubic feet, it's also among the biggest in the class. The cabin offers several small-item storage options to help you organize your things. These include a decently sized center console box, miscellaneous storage trays and accommodating door pockets.

　　The anchor points for child safety seats are clearly marked, and the anchors sit close to the surface of the cushions, making them easy to access. The somewhat limited rear-seat room means bulky rear-facing seats might interfere with front seat movement.

　　

Fuel Economy

9.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? Fuel economy is excellent, and the EPA estimates the Forte with the base engine will get 33 mpg combined (29 city/40 highway). We fell a bit short in our real-world driving tests but saw better returns in the Forte than in most competitors.

　　

Value

9.0/10

　　Is the Forte a good value? The Forte makes an undeniably strong value statement. It has a slightly different equipment balance than competitors, but you'll pay less for lots of features. The quality of the interior design also belies the below-average price. Cost-cutting is not all that apparent until you really start looking.

　　Kia and its corporate cousin, Hyundai, offer the best warranty in the business right now, with six years/60,000 miles of basic coverage and 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain. Roadside assistance, offered for five years/60,000 miles, is also good for the class, though Hyundai edges it out slightly with unlimited mileage over the same period.

　　

Wildcard

7.0/10

　　The Forte is a small car that you can show off because it doesn't give the impression of being an economy bargain pick. The strength of this car is that it's an affordable vehicle that doesn't make you feel as if you've compromised. But it also doesn't exhibit the same fun-to-drive dynamics that make the Civic and Mazda 3 so rewarding to pilot.

　　

Which Forte does zzdcar recommend?

We suggest going with the midlevel GT-Line model. It combines a good list of standard and optional features with sporty styling, giving it a look that will stand out in the crowd.

　　

2021 Kia Forte models

The 2021 Kia Forte small sedan is available in five trim levels: FE, LXS, GT-Line, EX and GT. Feature highlights include:

　　FE

　　This base-level trim comes standard with:

　　2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (147 horsepower, 132 lb-ft of torque) 15-inch steel wheels Standard six-speed manual transmission or optional continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel 8-inch touchscreen display Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration Four-speaker audio systemEvery Forte also comes with these advanced driver safety features:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Lane keeping assist (steers the Forte back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)LXS

　　Stepping up to the LXS trim adds even more features, including:

　　Standard CVT 16-inch alloy wheels 60/40-split folding rear seats Selectable drive modes Upgraded interior trimGT-Line

　　The GT-Line sits in the middle of the lineup and offers a good mix of features such as:

　　17-inch alloy wheels Foglights LED running lights and taillights Heated exterior mirrors Cloth sport seats with faux leather inserts Leather-wrapped steering wheel Six-speaker audio system Keyless entry and push-button start Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) 

　　Options include:

　　Sunroof Power-adjustable driver's seat Eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system Two extra USB charging portsEX

　　The EX trim drops the GT-Line's sporty appearance but in return gains its optional features. It also has:

　　Simulated leather upholstery Heated and ventilated front seats Dual-zone automatic climate control Integrated navigation system Wireless device chargingGT

　　This is the sport-oriented Forte. Compared to the GT-Line, it has:

　　Turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder (201 hp, 195 lb-ft) Standard seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission or optional six-speed manual  LED headlights Sport-tuned suspension and performance tires Sport-tuned exhaust 18-inch wheels Black faux leather and cloth seats with red stitching Paddle shifter on automatic-equipped modelsOptions for the GT include:

　　Sunroof Full simulated leather upholstery Power-adjustable driver's seat Heated and ventilated front seats Harman Kardon audio system Wireless device charging Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Forte and the car in front)

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2021 Forte Highlights

Trim: FELXSGT-LineGTEXFE

　　

Base MSRP	$17,890
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	31 MPG
Cost to Drive	$121/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	15.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles