2018
Kia Forte

Starts at:
$16,800
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New 2018 Kia Forte
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Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • LX Manual
    Starts at
    $16,800
    MPG
    25 City / 34 Hwy
    Seat capacity
    5
    Engine
    Regular Unleaded I-4
    Drivetrain
    Front Wheel Drive
    See all specs
  • LX Auto
    Starts at
    $17,900
    MPG
    29 City / 37 Hwy
    Seat capacity
    5
    Engine
    Regular Unleaded I-4
    Drivetrain
    Front Wheel Drive
    See all specs
  • LX Auto
    Starts at
    $18,300
    MPG
    25 City / 34 Hwy
    Seat capacity
    5
    Engine
    Regular Unleaded I-4
    Drivetrain
    Front Wheel Drive
    See all specs
  • S Auto
    Starts at
    $19,400
    MPG
    25 City / 37 Hwy
    Seat capacity
    5
    Engine
    Regular Unleaded I-4
    Drivetrain
    Front Wheel Drive
    See all specs
  • EX Auto
    Starts at
    $21,700
    MPG
    25 City / 33 Hwy
    Seat capacity
    5
    Engine
    Regular Unleaded I-4
    Drivetrain
    Front Wheel Drive
    See all specs
  • EX Auto
    Starts at
    $22,200
    MPG
    25 City / 34 Hwy
    Seat capacity
    5
    Engine
    Regular Unleaded I-4
    Drivetrain
    Front Wheel Drive
    See all specs
  • SX DCT
    Starts at
    $23,900
    MPG
    25 City / 30 Hwy
    Seat capacity
    5
    Engine
    Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4
    Drivetrain
    Front Wheel Drive
    See all specs
  • SX Manual
    Starts at
    $26,100
    MPG
    23 City / 29 Hwy
    Seat capacity
    5
    Engine
    Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4
    Drivetrain
    Front Wheel Drive
    See all specs

Photo & video gallery

2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte

Notable features

  • Cruise control now standard
  • Five-seat compact sedan or hatchback
  • Turbocharged engine available
  • Manual or automatic transmission

The good & the bad

The good

  • Hatchback styling is sleek and attractive
  • Available safety technology and driver aids
  • Interior materials
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available
  • Powertrain warranty

The bad

  • Ride quality with sport suspension
  • Front-seat comfort
  • Overly aggressive lane-keeping system
See all specifications

Available cars near you

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Safety review

Based on the 2018 Kia Forte base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Overall rating
Combined side rating front seat
Combined side rating rear seat
Frontal barrier crash rating driver
Frontal barrier crash rating passenger
Overall frontal barrier crash rating
Overall side crash rating
Rollover rating
Side barrier rating
Side barrier rating driver
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat
Side pole rating driver front seat
10.3%
Risk of rollover
Side barrier rating driver
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat
Side pole rating driver front seat
10.3%
Risk of rollover

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
5 years / 60,000 miles
Corrosion
5 years / 100,000 miles
Powertrain
10 years / 100,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
5 years / 60,000 miles

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Dealer certification
135 Point Inspection
See all CPO program details

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    2020 Hyundai ELANTRA
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    $18,800
    2016 Hyundai Elantra GT
    MPG
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    2018 Kia Optima
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Consumer reviews

94% of drivers recommend this car
Based on 255 reviews
Write a review
Comfort
4.7
Interior
4.7
Performance
4.7
Value
4.7
Exterior
4.8
Reliability
4.8

Most recent

  • By Jeff Sandler from Sanford Maine
    Owns this car
    November 12, 2024

    I bought my 2018 Kia forte Lx aurora black pearl 63k

    I bought my 2018 Kia forte Lx aurora black pearl 63k miles automatic transmission fully loaded. Absolutely gorgeous car inside and out! All xx Aside I absolutely love driving this car! It does everything I ask it to do and it's truly a joy to drive! I can't say enough about the features of the infotainment system and the beautiful interior! All of the safety systems make me feel amazing! I use a car cover on it when it's not being driven and I use the steering wheel club on the wheel when the car's not being driven. I Absolutely Love My KIA!!!!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    5.0
    Interior
    5.0
    Performance
    5.0
    Value
    5.0
    Exterior
    5.0
    Reliability
    5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • By David from LaGrange, GA
    Owns this car
    February 5, 2024

    Pretty Good

    Car is good for your first car stereo could be better. dont have much get up and go. i got 68,000 miles on it and its runs great.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    4.0
    Interior
    3.0
    Performance
    2.0
    Value
    1.0
    Exterior
    5.0
    Reliability
    5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Eddie from Los Angeles, CA
    Owns this car
    November 11, 2023

    AC System may be the weakest link.

    The air conditioning stopped to work and I had to replace the AC Compressor for my KIA Forte 2018 at less than 30k miles of use, which is a very low mileage for such a problem to have. In fact I never experienced an AC failure happening to any of my previously owned cars, either foreign or domestic and some of them I used for 80-90k miles. The average cost of replacing the AC Compressor is around $1500 depending of the service facility and it is not covered by manufacturer’s extended warranty (after 12,000 miles or 1 year, whichever first).
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort
    3.0
    Interior
    3.0
    Performance
    2.0
    Value
    2.0
    Exterior
    3.0
    Reliability
    2.0
    0 people out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Brote from Columbia mo
    Owns this car
    October 6, 2023

    Airbag recalls for 2018 Forte

    The 2018 Kia Forte’s Air Bag are not working correctly. Air bags deployed when you are moving slowly with traffic and airbags do not deploy when in a crash. So the air bag is not reliable and therefore dangerous to drive. When you take your car in to Kia to get the airbag repaired or replaced after the airbag deploys the Kia service department are not able to replace the airbag. The service department relies on the engineers from the Kia manufacture to give instructions which takes weeks and months. Communication between them is by email which takes 24-48 hours for every piece of instruction such as all the wires that have any connection with the airbags. Kia will not supply you with another car while they takes weeks to fix their damaged made airbag and will only offer an Electric car that needs to be charged every 250 miles or less. As Kia service states “no power gas cars available. However cars from Hertz and Enterprise have these cars available in which Kia does want to pay. But Kia will supply you an electric car that only works have time due to the need of charging which refill charge takes 4 hours. Living in a rural area puts people at risk driving in an electric car that needs this type of charging. Kia has not and will not stand by their parts needed for your car repairs specifically with Airbag repairs. Please be careful buying any Kia automobile.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort
    1.0
    Interior
    2.0
    Performance
    1.0
    Value
    2.0
    Exterior
    3.0
    Reliability
    1.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Nelda Holcombe Zavala from Bay City, Texas
    Owns this car
    September 28, 2023

    Excellent performance

    The Kia Forte is a very enjoyable car to drive. The comfort of the seats could be a little better, but overall it's a nice car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    3.0
    Interior
    4.0
    Performance
    5.0
    Value
    5.0
    Exterior
    5.0
    Reliability
    5.0
    3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Angie from Mankato, MN
    Owns this car
    September 27, 2022

    I wish i would have had a better experience. 2018

    I have 87000 + miles and it needs over 2400 Dollars worth of repairs...cam shaft timing...ect it's been an expensive car to have i wished I'd known better.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort
    3.0
    Interior
    2.0
    Performance
    1.0
    Value
    3.0
    Exterior
    2.0
    Reliability
    4.0
    9 people out of 9 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Sonya from Youngstown OHIO
    Owns this car
    June 5, 2021

    from SUV to a Forte

    I didn’t think I’d like a sm car after driving an SUV for the last 15 years. But I Love my Forte 😍. And the color Platium Brown
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    5.0
    Interior
    5.0
    Performance
    5.0
    Value
    5.0
    Exterior
    5.0
    Reliability
    5.0
    7 people out of 8 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Mercer’s
    Owns this car
    April 30, 2021

    Most reliable car I’ve owned

    Most reliable car I’ve ownedIt takes care of me and everything I need for transportation for my family my job two are from doctors needs etc.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    5.0
    Interior
    5.0
    Performance
    5.0
    Value
    5.0
    Exterior
    5.0
    Reliability
    5.0
    8 people out of 9 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • By Not another Kia from Scottsburg, Indiana
    Owns this car
    April 28, 2021

    Its junk

    It burns oil at 65000 miles. It sounded like a diesel at not 15000 miles and needed new plugs. Now it sits broke down due to a fault in the ecu. This is a 2018. Its only driven on the highway. It only gets synthetic oil. How can it burn oil 5his soon. I mean 2 quarts a month. This car is a piece.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort
    5.0
    Interior
    5.0
    Performance
    2.0
    Value
    2.0
    Exterior
    5.0
    Reliability
    1.0
    10 people out of 14 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Dee N Dave from Pueblo Colorado
    Owns this car
    April 24, 2021

    Most reliable car I’ve ever had

    My car is well built, runs great and is very dependable. The interior is comfortable to drive or ride in, it has great accessories, backup camera, air conditioning, etc! I love my Kia
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    5.0
    Interior
    5.0
    Performance
    5.0
    Value
    5.0
    Exterior
    5.0
    Reliability
    5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Tyler from east branch,new york
    Owns this car
    April 18, 2021

    really great on gas and super reliable

    this car meets all of my needs it has plenty of leg room and truck room and is great on gas, would definitely recommend this vehicle for first time buyers
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    5.0
    Interior
    4.0
    Performance
    5.0
    Value
    5.0
    Exterior
    4.0
    Reliability
    5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By mamastrong from Houston Tx
    Owns this car
    April 9, 2021

    Most Reliable car I have owned

    I feel so comfortable driving my car.All the signals work well and my car is well kept from 2018 uhtil the present time. I want to share that that I understand . The car is to be comfortable to drive and my 2018 Forte is all of this and more.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    5.0
    Interior
    5.0
    Performance
    5.0
    Value
    5.0
    Exterior
    5.0
    Reliability
    5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
See all reviews

Latest news from Cars.com

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What Does It Cost to Fill Up a 2018 Kia Forte?

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Kia dealers near you

See all Kia dealers near you

FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2018 Kia Forte?

The 2018 Kia Forte is available in 4 trim levels:

  • EX (2 styles)
  • LX (3 styles)
  • S (1 style)
  • SX (2 styles)

What is the MPG of the 2018 Kia Forte?

The 2018 Kia Forte offers up to 25 MPG in city driving and 34 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

What are some similar vehicles and competitors of the 2018 Kia Forte?

The 2018 Kia Forte compares to and/or competes against the following vehicles:

Is the 2018 Kia Forte reliable?

The 2018 Kia Forte has an average reliability rating of 4.8 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2018 Kia Forte owners.

Is the 2018 Kia Forte a good Sedan?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2018 Kia Forte. 94.9% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.7 / 5
Based on 255 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.7
  • Interior: 4.7
  • Performance: 4.7
  • Value: 4.7
  • Exterior: 4.8
  • Reliability: 4.8

Kia Forte history

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