2024 Kia Forte

　　

2024 Kia Forte Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　, rating written byChristian WardlawSenior Editor and Content Strategist, CarMax

　　Will Kaufman has worked in the automotive industry since 2017. He has written hundreds of car-related articles and reviews over the course of his career. Will is a senior editor and content strategist for CarMax at zzdcar. Will has been featured in the Associated Press and a number of major outlets on the topics of infotainment and vehicle data, vehicle subscription services and autonomous vehicles. Will started his career in online publishing by writing and editing standardized test guides, but he has a lot more fun writing about cars.

　　Modern small cars are more stylish, sophisticated and technologically advanced than ever. And while they still commonly serve as the entry point to a brand, they frequently deserve a descriptor other than entry-level. Case in point: the 2024 Kia Forte. Though it's been half a decade since Kia's compact sedan got a complete redesign, it remains an appealing choice backed up by an industry-leading warranty. It provides lots of value for your dollar as well as pleasing performance in the GT-Line and GT trims.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Kia Forte LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) 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 $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$109/mo  for Forte LX

　　Forte LX

　　LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $19,790 MSRPLXS 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $20,290 MSRPGT-Line 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $22,290 MSRPGT 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $24,490 MSRPGT 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $25,190 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Crash test ratings

Top-notch crash test ratings are often top of mind for small car shoppers. While it generally earns high marks, the 2023 Forte earned a Poor rating in updated small overlap front-impact and side-impact tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the Forte three stars out of five for front passenger protection in a front-impact collision.

　　

Competitors to consider

There are several worthy alternatives to the Kia Forte. For example, the Hyundai Elantra matches the Kia's warranty and exceeds the Forte with complimentary maintenance and a long free trial to connected services. Alternatively, consider the Honda Civic for its roomy seating or the Mazda 3 for its style and cabin refinement. Be sure to read our full Expert Rating on the Forte below to learn more about where it stands out and where it comes up short.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Please note that this rating is based on a prior year and may change slightly once complete information about the 2024 Forte becomes available.

　　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 continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) 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 pavement or shallow imperfections, but it struggles to smooth out larger bumps. The rear suspension, in particular, is especially troubled by uneven bumps.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below