2022 Kia Forte

The compact sedan market might be shrinking, with Chevrolet and Ford recently abandoning the class to focus on compact SUVs, but that just makes it easier to consider the segment's standouts. The 2022 Kia Forte ranks high on that list with its sharp style, impressive fuel economy and a string of standard features at a lower price than rivals.

The Forte lineup ranges from the fuel-thrifty base model to the sporty 201-horsepower GT top trim and its optional six-speed manual transmission. New for 2022 are restyled front and rear ends, with a sleeker grille and headlights, and revised taillight designs for a more aggressive look. New safety features and driver aids have been added as standard equipment, including navigation-based adaptive cruise control and a lane-centering system. Standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now make smartphone connections easier and cable-free for front occupants.

The Forte once got by on its low price and generous feature list, but it's no longer just a value alternative. An array of standard and optional features, solid power and improving refinement make the Forte a legitimate consideration among the standard bearers in the class, including the Honda Civic and Mazda 3. The Forte is still a bit rough around the edges in terms of ride quality and handling, and its rear seat is a bit small for the class. But as an overall value play, the Forte holds its own against the best. Read our Expert Rating below to see if the Forte is right for you.

The Forte is a grown-up small sedan that's a fantastic value for the money, with above-average utility. Other highlights include a comfortable, quiet interior and an extensive list of available features. However, it lags well behind top competitors in driving dynamics, ride quality and rear legroom.

How does the Forte drive? In routine driving, the Forte feels adequately punchy. At Edmunds' 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.

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.

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.

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 control isn't standard on any trim level. It's standard on many competitors. In testing, all systems worked well and avoided false alerts.

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 backseat room means bulky rear-facing seats might interfere with front seat movement.

How’s the fuel economy? Fuel economy is excellent, and the EPA estimates the Forte with the base engine will get 33 mpg combined (or 35 mpg for the FE trim). We fell a bit short in our real-world driving tests but saw better returns in the Forte than in most competitors.

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.

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.