2023 Kia Forte Overview

What’s New?

  • We expect everything else to stay the same by 2023.
  • In 2019, the third generation of the Forte came out.

In this category of compact sedans, which is very competitive, value is one of the things that can help you do well. Depending on the trim level, the 2023 Kia Forte is cheaper than its direct competitors and has a few more features. The Forte is hard to beat because it gets excellent gas mileage and has the most extended warranty in its class.

Last year, Helping Matters got a big update that added new features and made it look better. Since this is the case, we think there will be no significant changes in 2023. However, a recent trademark application suggests that the name of the Forte may change. We wouldn’t be surprised if the K3 got a new name to fit its global brand better.

You can only get as much as a Forte in this class, and it wouldn’t matter what you called it. One of these cars is the Honda Civic, which won an InvoicePricing Top Rated award for its overall quality. On the other hand, the Forte is just a few points behind. The similar Hyundai Elantra and the sporty Mazda 3 are also strong rivals.

Pros

  • It has many features and costs less than most of its competitors.
  • It gets good gas mileage and has an easy-to-use entertainment system.
  • A long guarantee

Cons

  • Ride that doesn’t bend
  • Some competitors’ back seats are more prominent.

The Forte feels substantial and is suitable for driving every day. Our test Forte went from 0 to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds, which is about average for its class. Even though the CVT automatic sometimes feels sloppy, it works well most of the time. It responds quickly to requests for more power but wants to slow down as soon as you lightly touch the throttle. It could lead to more energy being sent out.

We don’t like how the Forte drives, either. It’s hard to tell where the car’s center is, and the steering weight is fine but lacks feedback. Even though the Forte turns relatively flat, bumps in the middle of a corner can make it lose its balance.

Most cars in its class are less comfortable than the Forte. The headrests are soft and don’t get in the way, and the shape of the seats is perfect for long trips. Only a tiny amount of wind and background noise can be heard now that the road noise has been effectively muffled. The automatic climate control for two zones works well. Even though the effect isn’t powerful, we like that the front seats of the Kia are ventilated.

In this situation, the firm suspension is the biggest problem with Forte. It works well on uneven ground or small bumps but doesn’t get rid of bigger ones. Irregular lumps are hard on the rear suspension, in particular.

Kia did a great job designing the inside of the Forte. The well-built interior looks mature and elegant thanks to the different materials used. The infotainment system is easy because all the essential functions are done with physical buttons. The controls are easy to find and simple to use. Both the seat and the wheel can be changed in many ways.

The front seat has a lot of space for your legs and shoulders. There is enough room for taller drivers as well. Only people over 6 feet tall will have trouble with the headroom in the back seats. However, the knee room in the rear seats could be better than in other cars in its class, and the rough plastic seat backs don’t help.

Overall, the Forte has a lot of features that work well together. When not turned up too loud, the new sound system has a sharp sound, and the touchscreen is easy to use. Even though our test vehicle didn’t have the optional navigation system, the built-in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto more than made up for it. Even though you have to follow instructions, the native voice system is easy to use for essential controls.

All models of the Forte come with standard forward collision prevention, and higher-level trims can come with a blind-spot monitor. It’s too bad that adaptive cruise control isn’t standard on any trim level. It’s something that many competitors do. During testing, all systems did a great job and didn’t set any false alarms.

For such a small car, the Forte has many valuable features. The trunk has a big door and a flat floor for carrying items. It is also 15.3 cubic feet, which makes it one of the biggest in its class. The cabin has many small-item storage options to help you keep your things in order. These include a center console box that is a good size, several storage trays, and large door pockets.

Anchors for child seats are easy to use. Find and mark clearly. They are also near the top of the cushions. Due to the limited space in the backseat, large seats that face the back may make it hard for people in the front seats to move around.

How well does it use gasoline? EPA estimates for good gas mileage say that the standard engine in the Forte should be 32 mpg combined or 35 mpg if you go for the FE variant. Even though we didn’t do as well as we wanted to in our real-world driving tests, the Forte did better than most of its competitors.

Undoubtedly, the Forte makes a strong case for its value. It could be more reasonable and well-balanced in terms of equipment than some competitors, but you’ll pay less for its features. The low price is hard to believe when you see how excellent the interior design is. You have to look for ways to save money sometimes.

Kia and Hyundai, owned by the same company, have the best warranty in the industry right now. The standard warranty covers six years or 60,000 miles, and the powertrain covers ten or 100,000 miles. Roadside assistance is also good for the class and is available for five years or 60,000 miles, but Hyundai offers unlimited miles for the same period.

The Forte is a small car that doesn’t look like a cheap choice, so that you can show it off. The most attractive quality of this automobile is it is inexpensive without making you feel ripped off. But it doesn’t have the same fun-to-drive qualities as the Civic and Mazda 3 that make them so good.

As of this writing, Kia had not made any official announcements about the 2023 Forte. If something changes, we’ll change our recommendation, but based on the Forte from last year, we like the GT-Line trim. On top of the models it’s based on, it has many new features and can be used in many different ways.

Kia Forte variants

The information below is from Forte from the year before. We expect the lineup for the 2023 model to be the same, and we’ll update this section when we know more.] There are four trim levels for the Kia Forte: FE, LXS, GT-Line, and GT. Both the fuel-efficient FE and the sporty GT are in the lineup. The second one has a more powerful engine and a six-speed manual transmission that can be added as an option.

2023 Kia Forte Video Review

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