Used 2020 Kia Forte for sale 

The compact Forte is available in four trims for 2020. The S trim has been discontinued for this year and so we are now left with three brim-packed trims that are much more desirable than before. The base FE trim marks the starting of the Forte lineup at $17,790 which is unheard of in this segment, thus undercutting all of its competitors. You are also treated with a GT-Line trim which gives you a taste of the bonkers GT line-up which is a whole different breed with its turbocharged engine and amplified driving dynamics.

Kia is generous with its feature list as it has one of the best features to price proposition in this segment. You are treated to a host of safety features along with an array of creature comfort features which also includes steering mounted controls for cruise control. All of the trims are equally desirable, enough to get you confused!

Trims	FE	LXS	GT-Line	EX
MSRP (FWD)	$18,790	$19,290	$20,490	$22,090
Key Features	Optional CVT Gearbox	All the features in FE trim added or replaced and:	All the features in LXS trim added or replaced and:	All the features in LXS and GT-Line trim added or replaced and:
	15-inch steel wheels	16-inch alloy wheels	17-inch alloy wheels	17-inch alloy wheels
	DRLs	60/40 Split-Folding Seats	Black Trunk lid spoiler	LED DRLs
	Projector headlamps	CVT Gearbox	Front Fog lights	Heated Outside Mirrors
	Solar Control Glass	Chrome exhaust tip	Heated Outside Mirrors	Dual-Zone Automatic Temperature Control
	4-Speaker Audio System	Drive Mode Select(DMS)	6-Way Adjustable Driver’s seat	Adjustable rear headrests
	3.5-Inch TFT LCD Display	Soft-touch upper door panels	Perimeter Approach lighting	10-Way Power Adjustable Driver Seat
	Android Auto and Apple CarPlay	Black bumper accents	6-Speaker Audio System	Heated Front seats
	Cruise control with steering controls		Leather-wrapped steering wheel
	Leather-wrapped steering wheel		LED Taillamps
	Day-Night Interior Rearview Mirror

Which wholesome trim should you go for?

We would recommend you to go all out with the Kia Forte. The EX trim which isn’t on the pricey end despite the number of insane features on offer will surely get you drooling. You get a competent sedan that will even put the so-called premium sedans in this segment to shame at just under $22k.

The 2.0L inline-four engine doesn't complement the smooth and slick 6-Speed manual transmission. This pot pumps out moderate power figures which can get you from point A to B and that's about it. The only involving part about this engine is the gearbox. You can also opt for an optional CVT gearbox for the base trim which is standard on the higher ones.

The CVT is smooth and vaguely responsive which is not the case with CVTs in general, especially in this segment. This gives the Kia Forte an edge over its competition. The CVT gearbox helps squeeze the utmost potential of the engine without compromising on the fuel efficiency front. The three driving modes, namely-Normal, Sport and Comfort help alter the driving characteristics to best suit your needs. A very impressive and a drool-worthy addition from Kia.

Models	Kia Forte FE	Hyundai Elantra SE	Toyota Corolla L	Mazda 3 Base
MSRP	$18,790	$18,950	$19,600	$21,500
Engine	2.0L Inline-4	2.0L Inline-4	1.8L Inline-4	2.5L Inline-4
Drivetrain	FWD	FWD	FWD	FWD
Transmission	6-Speed Manual	CVT	CVT	6-Speed Automatic
Power	147hp@6,200rpm	147hp@6,200rpm	139hp@6,100rpm	186hp@6,000rpm
Torque	132lb-ft@4,500rpm	132lb-ft@4,500rpm	126lb-ft@3,900rpm	186lb-ft@4,000rpm

Hyundai Elantra is technically a Kia Forte underneath. As both are derivatives of a single product, the only difference between them is in the cabin and exterior styling. Toyota Corolla bottoms the list with the least power output, however, its expertise lies elsewhere. Mazda 3 takes the podium here.

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How quick is the Kia Forte from 0-60?

The acceleration figures below are of the manual gearbox equipped Forte. The CVT will add a few 100th of seconds to this time but won't make much of a difference. The 16.4-second quarter-mile time is rather moderate. The acceleration is linear and comfortable. It won't really pop your eyes out - it's just okay. However, the same cannot be said for the Forte's evil twin - The Kia Forte GT.

The occupants will not feel the rush and thus reward you with a relaxed and comfortable experience. It amplifies the passenger comfort without being too sluggish, thanks to the impressive CVT gearbox. On the other hand, if anyone challenges you on the freeway, we'd suggest you give it a pass.

Models	Kia Forte FE	Hyundai Elantra SE	Toyota Corolla L	Mazda 3 Base
0-60 MPH	8.2 sec	9.0 sec	9.8 sec	7.0 sec
Quarter Mile	16.4 sec	16.2 sec	17.4 sec	15.2 sec
Top Speed	129 MPH	116 MPH	120 MPH	131 MPH
Engine	2.0L Inline-4	2.0L Inline-4	1.8L Inline-4	2.5L Inline-4

All of the contenders manage to minimize the emissions without sacrificing the performance. It is interesting to observe the major variations in 0-60 and quarter-mile timings for the very similar Kia Forte and Hyundai Elantra. The engineering outlook is clearly evident from these figures. Toyota Corolla gets handicapped due to its mediocre engine and power figures.

How well does the 2020 Forte handle?

With the world's expectations from the daily driver cars to be pushed to their limits is growing day by day, Kia has clearly taken care of this. The Kia Forte uses a steel unibody which has a lot of stress members that eliminate distresses on the body with ease. This helps the occupants to travel peacefully and be in their comfort zone without feeling the jolts. Electrically assisted power steering is precise in its reaction to inputs and helps sync the driver with the car instantaneously. Although the steering lacks feel, the responsiveness helps mask the demerit.

MacPherson struts and torsion beam axle with twin shocks take care of Forte's suspension business. Not really the best in this segment as the ride tends to unsettle with quick maneuvers. Kia has a more driving oriented GT line-up which drastically improves the driving dynamics so that the enthusiast in you can have his part. So, the Kia Forte is a mixed bag in terms of ride and handling.

Also read:

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Where does the Mazda 3 stack up on the handling front?

How much distance does it take for the Forte to stop from 60-0?

Kia has equipped the Forte with disc brakes on all four wheels, a lavish sight in this segment as many of the sedans in this segment comes with rear drum brakes. The rotors are among the largest in this segment and it also translates to a good bite.

The stopping distance is impressive as the 118 feet to a standstill is linear and doesn’t involve any abrupt movement. No nose dive at all as the car sits lower and the suspension does an impressive job of eliminating or minimizing yaw - unlike some better-established rivals here like the Honda Civic, that focus more on plush ride quality, thus inviting a lot of nosedive in extreme situations.

Models	Kia Forte FE	Hyundai Elantra SE	Toyota Corolla L	Mazda 3 Base
Brake Rotors Front	11.0"	11.0"	10.8"	11.0"
Brake Rotors Rear	10.3"	8.0"	10.2"	10.4"
Curb Weight	2707 lbs	2844 lbs	2910 lbs	3071 lbs
60-0 MPH	118 ft	125 ft	119 ft	118 ft

Mazda 3 has slightly bigger brakes but that doesn’t bring in any major changes as it has the exact same stopping distance as the Kia. Hyundai Elantra is the only one of the lot which is equipped with rear drums and thus takes the maximum distance to come to halt.

The efficient 2.0L engine helps chuck out good MPG figures for the Kia. We have similar figures for both the manual and CVT gearboxes. The below figures are of the manual one. CVT returns 31/41 MPG for city/highway.

The range is moderate and can sustain a decent weekend trip for your family. The drive mode selector helps maximize efficiency as per your driving needs. It helps the vehicle adapt to your driving style and keep performance and efficiency at its peak.

Models	Kia Forte FE	Hyundai Elantra SE	Toyota Corolla L	Mazda 3 Base
MPG (City)	27	31	30	26
MPG (Highway)	37	41	38	35
MPG (Combined)	31	35	33	30
Fuel Capacity	14.0 gallons	14.0 gallons	13.2 gallons	13.2 gallons
Range (City/Hwy/Combined)	378/518/434 miles	434/574/490 miles	396/502/435 miles	343/462/396 miles
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15k mi/yr)	4.8	4.3	4.4	4.9

We can observe the difference in efficiency figures for a very similar car, namely, Kia Forte and Hyundai Elantra. Elantra has an edge here as the CVT in it is solely focused on efficiency unlike the balanced character of Kia. Mazda 3 and Corolla have marginally fewer MPG figures because of a bump in performance and added curb weight respectively.

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Kia Forte is a very mature sedan in terms of interior styling. It has a very minimalistic design that is filled with superior materials. There are no hard plastics and the cabin is airy. The dashboard is well laid out with tactile buttons and a host of modern technology features which includes a floating center infotainment screen.

Both the rows are comfortable in terms of seating and are well-bolstered with ample thigh support. The front seats pretty much adhere to the segment standards, however, the rear ones take things up a notch with stupendous passenger volume on all sides. The base model gets cloth upholstery and can lavishly seat four adults. As we go up the table, you get heated and cooled SOFINO trimming on the seats. In case you are unaware, SOFINO is the Kia specific term for high-quality artificial leather. All in all, an impressive yet interactive layout of the interior by Kia for the Forte.

Models	Kia Forte FE	Hyundai Elantra SE	Toyota Corolla L	Mazda 3 Base
Seating Capacity	5	5	5	5
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	38.8/56.1/42.2	40.3/56.2/42.2	38.3/54.0/42.0	38.0/55.7/42.3
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	37.5/55.3/35.7	37.3/55.3/35.7	37.1/51.7/34.8	37.3/53.5/35.1

The dual-zone automatic climate control keeps you cozy on those long journeys without breaking a sweat and the seats hold up for long durations as well. Hyundai has taken a different approach as they have given more weight for the cabin. It has a tad bit more headroom and legroom, although this comes in with a sacrificial cargo room. Mazda 3 features a very low roofline and so suffers in the headroom parameter. Kia stills has the most spacious cabin of the lot due to the clever use of seat design.

What are the infotainment features on offer in the 2020 Kia Forte?

Kia Forte has a floating 8-inch crisp LCD infotainment display that fills up the center of the dashboard - a familiar offering all across the Kia family. The base trim gets a four-speaker system whereas higher trims add two more to it. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard and we are grateful for it. The instrument cluster also has an integrated TFT LCD display that displays technical data in a crisp and intuitive manner.

It also gets Kia’s in-house hands-free smartphone integration which makes usage of your phones much easier. Kia also gives you the privilege to opt for a 320W 8-Speaker Harman Kardon Audio System with an integrated subwoofer. This subwoofer is stuffed beneath the rear bench, so fret not, as it doesn't really take up any usable space. That said, the basic features associated with the infotainment system of the 2020 Kia Forte are:

• 6-Speaker Audio System
• 8-inch infotainment display
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Bluetooth Hands-Free Connectivity and audio

How much cargo can the Forte take in?

Cargo volume is class-leading in the Kia Forte. This is possible due to the smart cabin space management which has helped to squeeze out more cargo space. It is evident from the fact that its twin, the Elantra gets lesser cargo volume despite being the exact same in terms of dimensions.

The 60/40 split rear foldable seats add to the cargo volume and can help transport larger objects with ease. But you will have to get past the base trim for split seats. Nevertheless, Forte has one of the largest cargo compartments in its class.

Models	Kia Forte FE	Hyundai Elantra SE	Toyota Corolla L	Mazda 3 Base
Cargo Capacity	15.3 cu.ft.	14.4 cu.ft.	13.1 cu.ft.	13.2 cu.ft.

Kia also offers a hands-free power trunk which can come in handy when your hands are full! It opens up if you have the smart key in its vicinity. Toyota has the least cargo volume due to its smaller shape which is followed by Mazda’s 3.

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What makes the Toyota Corolla a segment-leader?

Interior Features

• 10-Way Power Adjust Driver’s Seat
• 5-inch TFT LCD Display
• 6-Way Adjustable Front passenger seat
• 60/40 Split-Folding Rear Seats
• Cruise Control with Steering wheel controls
• Dual 12V outlets
• Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel
• Drive Mode Select (DMS)
• SOFINO Seat trimming
• Heated Front Seats

Kia has adopted a striking design philosophy that resembles the rest of the Kia lineup. We don’t blame you for confusing the Forte with the Stinger as they have a lot of resemblances. The front fascia, for example, flaunts the Kia-centric grille that gives it a sporty touch.

The simple lines and healthy shoulder lines are complemented by 17-inch alloy wheels which gives the Forte a very distinctive look. The front LED DRLs are housed along with projector headlamps which differentiates it from the crowd. It has an overall clean design language that isn’t too edgy but adds sportiness to the humble sedan.

Models	Kia Forte FE	Hyundai Elantra SE	Toyota Corolla L	Mazda 3 Base
Curb Weight	2707 lbs	2844 lbs	2910 lbs	3071 lbs
Length	182.7"	181.9"	182.3"	183.5"
Width	70.9"	70.9"	70.1"	70.7"
Height	56.5"	56.5"	56.5"	56.9"
Ground Clearance	5.3"	5.3"	5.1"	5.5"
Wheelbase	106.3"	106.3"	106.3"	107.3"

The cousins share exactly the same dimensions but differ in design language which makes all the difference. Toyota Corolla is the compact one of the lot and Mazda 3 flaunts its bold and youthful design language in the largest package of the lot.

Exterior Features

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Auto Headlight Control
• Trunk lid spoiler
• Daytime Running Lights (DRLs)
• Chrome Exhaust tip
• Heated Outside Mirrors
• LED Taillamps
• Projector headlamps
• Solar Control Glass

Also Read:

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Kia has been generous to load the Forte with an impressive list of standard safety features. No other sedan in this segment dares offer so many of them. Standard features like rearview camera, lane departure warning, and driver attention features are a rare sight in base trims. The NHTSA was impressed by the Forte and gave it a healthy four out of five stars - thanks to the high-tensile steel unibody structure that gets the credit for such an impressive result.

Apart from the above-mentioned features, the Forte also gets adaptive LED headlamps and a host of passive safety features as we move up the trim. No compromise on safety here.

Safety Features

• 4-Dual Stage Airbags
• Driver Attention Warning(DAW)
• Forward Collision Warning(FCW)
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA)
• Lane Departure Warning(LDW)
• Electronic Stability Control(ESC)
• Hill Start Assist Control (HAC)
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System(TPMS)

To know more on the safety front of the Kia Forte, click here.

Kia Forte vs Hyundai Elantra

Meet the twins. Kia, as we know, is a part of the Hyundai family. So this rivalry is in house and so is a win-win situation for the company. But jokes apart, these two cars show us how two very same cars can be so very different. Kia has loaded its offering with a host of standard safety features and a more responsive CVT gearbox. The manual gearbox is a sweet addition from Kia again. We would not take the Kia for granted and so Forte is our choice here.

Kia Forte vs Toyota Corolla

Toyota provides very reliable machines which we guarantee will never give you a hard time. But it dulls out in all of the other aspects which makes the Kia Forte a very desirable car. The Toyota Corolla has better driving dynamics, undoubtedly, but the CVT gearbox nullifies that boon. In fact, there are not many cars that provide you with such a feature-packed bundle, which the Kia Forte is.

Kia Forte vs Mazda 3

Now Mazda has really done its homework and observed the market closely. There is no other way that they could pull something like the 3 from its pocket. It is everything that the Kia provides, just with much more attitude in terms of bold modern styling and tech-laden features. However, the Mazda 3 has one of the most cramped rear seats of the class and falls behind in terms of comfort. But it still impresses us as a very economical luxury alternate which is shocking for this segment.

 

Kia has a winner in its hands as there aren't many sedans in this class that provides us with the level of involvement in terms of driving as well as features. In fact, other manufacturers should look up to Kia and learn a thing or two. It has a balanced blend of performance, safety features, comfort, and design. Kia has gone through all of the syllabus and thus fared very well in this examination. An impressive car at an impressive price point.

2020 Kia Forte Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Should you buy Kia Forte GT or not?

Well that would have to be yes. It is most definitely the closest that compact sedan gets to its full potential. Powering this four-door sedan is the same 1.6-liter turbo-four that the Elantra Sport and Elantra GT N Line get, so it too comes with a Dual Clutch transmission. Then there's the sport-tuned suspension setup and exhaust system along with bigger brakes. All these and several other factors makes the Kia Forte GT a much worthy option.

Should you buy Kia Forte GT or Kia Forte GT Manual?

The Kia Forte GT is the most performance focused version of the Forte. Not only does it offer you a more powerful engine but it also allows you to take control of it. Its GT Manual trim gets a 6-speed manual gearbox which is the same one offered in the base FE. Even the standard GT's DCT unit features paddle shifters. So which is the better of the two? Is has to be the automatic, i.e., the GT. Shifts from its DCT unit are a lot faster and it is also more fuel effcient.

Which variant of the Kia Forte is most value for money?

We would recommend you to go all out with the Kia Forte. The EX trim which isn’t on the pricey end despite the number of insane features on offer will surely get you drooling. You get a competent sedan that will even put the so-called premium sedans in this segment to shame at just under $22,000.

Is Kia Forte better than Hyudai Elantra?

It most definitely is but not by a lot. Only it is a lot more upmarket for not a lot of money and that's what matters most to most people. As a premium brand that is what Kia aims to provide its customers, and the Forte does it well. Other than that, 2020 Kia Forte and 2020 Hyundai Elantra are very similar.

Why should you buy Kia Forte?

The reason to buy 2020 Kia Forte compact, four-door sedan are many. Of them, the most important is the best in class warranty coverage that Kia offers. As a more premium brand from Hyundai, its vehicles too offer what Hyundai calls America's best Warranty. As part of it, all Kia cars get 10 years/100,000 miles Powertrain Limited Warranty and 5 years/60,000 miles New Vehilce Limited Warranty coverages besides many more.