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2022 Kia Forte

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$19,090

starting MSRP

Key specs

Base trim shown

Sedan

Body style

35

Combined MPG

5

Seating capacity

182.7” x 56.5”

Dimensions

Front-wheel drive

Drivetrain

Overview

(11 reviews)

The good:

  • Interior design and materials
  • 8-inch touchscreen standard
  • Many active safety features standard
  • Many active safety features standard

The bad:

  • Roofline limits headroom
  • Small door openings
  • Trunk space
  • Difficult-to-access lower Latch anchors for car seats

4 trims

Starting msrp listed lowest to highest price

Wondering which trim is right for you?

Our 2022 Kia Forte trim comparison will help you decide.

See also: Find the best Sedans for 2024

Notable features

  • Front and rear styling updates
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto now standard
  • Five-seat compact sedan
  • Manual or automatic transmission
  • Automatic emergency braking standard
  • 201-hp, turbocharged GT trim level available

2022 Kia Forte review: Our expert's take

What Is the 2022 Kia Forte?

The five-seat Kia Forte compact sedan competes with highly regarded models like the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla. Most trim levels are powered by a standard 147-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that drives the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission. A 201-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder powers the GT trim level, which is offered with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. You can see how the Forte scored in our Car Seat Check here.

What’s New on the 2022 Kia Forte?

The Forte gets front and rear styling updates, with GT-Line and GT trims featuring LED foglights and taillights. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity is now standard, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen navigation system is available. Lane-centering steering is now standard, too.   

What Features in the 2022 Kia Forte Are Most Important?

Standard features include: 

  • Cloth seats 
  • Air conditioning
  • 8-inch touchscreen multimedia system
  • Forward collision warning
  • Automatic emergency braking
  • Lane-keeping assist
  • Automatic high-beam headlights

Available features include:

  • Alloy wheels
  • Power moonroof
  • Dual-zone automatic air conditioning
  • Simulated leather upholstery
  • Heated and ventilated front seats
  • 60/40-split, folding backseat
  • Harman Kardon premium stereo
  • Wireless device charging
  • Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability
  • Rear automatic braking

Should I Buy the 2022 Kia Forte?

The Forte was already a good compact sedan, and the design updates for the 2022 model year help keep it looking fresh. We like the new standard tech and safety features, and the Forte continues to offer a lot of car for your money. The turbocharged GT model offers performance on a budget, and its available manual transmission is an increasingly rare offering.

Consumer reviews

(11 reviews)
Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.6
  • Interior 4.7
  • Performance 4.6
  • Value 4.8
  • Exterior 4.8
  • Reliability 4.8
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Most recent consumer reviews

Lot of car for the money

This a review after one year of ownership of a 2022 Kia Forte GT with 6 speed manual transmission. The positives.... There is a lot of car for the money. Lots of safety features including blind spot monitoring, lane keep assistant, front collision avoidance, back up camera with cross traffic/pedestrian warning plus the standard stuff that come with all cars. Convenience wise, it came with apple CarPlay and android auto compatibility and a nice 10 inch touch screen that is bigger than what comes in many premium cars. Appearance wise, it's an attractive car with red accents in the grill and around the rear facia on the exterior and inside it has nice red stitching in the black pleather seats with GT stitched in the headrest of the front seats. On the not so positive side.... I think the car is meant to be a sport sedan. It has a 1.6L turbocharged engine rated at about 200 horsepower, a 6 speed manual or 7 speed paddle shift automatic, and 18 inch wheels with 40 series Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires. Should be a Civic SI competitor. And it may be, but it doesn't feel that sporty. It has two driving modes, normal and sport. In normal it feels down right slow and you're liable to get embarrassed if you get into a streetlight drag with even some family mini vans. In sport mode, it feels a bit quicker, but you have to drive it hard. With this being said, the Pilot Sport tires will break free if you get on it. Even with traction control on. So maybe it is quick but just doesn't feel like it. Definitely not sporty. Fuel economy wise, the 6 speed manual gives up 4 or 5 MPG to the automatic and has averaged right at 30 MPG combined city and highway driving over a year and about 13K miles. Not bad, but not great. Wouldn't mind if it felt sporty... To the tires. Even though it is possible to break them free if you try, they are too much tire for the car. And they, along with the 6 speed, come at a $1000 premium. Also they're terrible in snow or wet and will wear out quick if you don't rotate them and keep them properly inflated. Back to convenience...The CarPlay is wired. In the lesser model it is wireless. The 6 speed also comes with heated manual seats. I believe the automatic can be had with heated and ventilated power seats. So, all in all, not a bad car for ~$26K. But not an enthusiasts car either.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 3.0
  • Interior 3.0
  • Performance 3.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 4.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
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Dangerous anti collision

Car auto brakes with out any other cars around. Dangerous, would recommend but for this defect. Handles well, good gas mileage. Large trunk and comfortable seats.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 4.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Transporting family
  • Does not recommend this car
3 people out of 6 found this review helpful. Did you?
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KIA Fun-te!

Just picked up a 2022 KIA Forte GT Line for my wife. Car has outstanding pick up for a 147hp engine. I don't find any difference in performance in changing the various driving modes available though. The fuel economy isn't bad either. We're seeing an average of 34mpg and that is mostly highway driving. Rear leg room in the back seats is perfectly adequate for adults. We have a child's booster seat in the rear passenger side and I have plenty of leg room up front at my 5'11 height. Trunk is very spacious. I can fit two large and one smal suitcase inside it. Interior is pretty high end for a $26k car. Leather seats are well made. Layout of the dash is nice. My only complaint is something lacking on all cars made now. I miss my in-dash CD player. Sorry, I like my tunes and CD case. Overall I would recommend this car to anyone seeking something fun to drive that is both sporty and also economical at the same time. We've only had the car a couple of weeks and have gotten a number of passing positive compliments from strangers.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
7 people out of 7 found this review helpful. Did you?
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See all 11 consumer reviews

Safety

Based on the 2022 Kia Forte base trim.
Combined side rating front seat
5
Combined side rating rear seat
5
Frontal barrier crash rating driver
4
Frontal barrier crash rating passenger
3
Overall frontal barrier crash rating
4
Overall rating
4
Overall side crash rating
5
Risk of rollover
10.7%
Rollover rating
4
Side barrier rating
5
Side barrier rating driver
5
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat
5
Side pole rating driver front seat
5

Warranty

New car and Certified Pre-Owned programs by Kia
New car program benefits
Bumper-to-bumper
60 months/60,000 miles
Corrosion
60 months/100,000 miles
Powertrain
120 months/100,000 miles
Roadside assistance
60 months/60,000 miles
Certified Pre-Owned program benefits
Maximum age/mileage
6 years or newer/less than 80,000 miles
Basic warranty terms
12 months/12,000 miles
Powertrain
10 years/100,000 miles
Dealer certification required
165-point inspection
Roadside assistance
Yes
View all cpo program details

Have questions about warranties or CPO programs?

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