- The 2022 Kia Forte is redesigned at the front and rear
- New 10.25-inch available widescreen navigation display
- Turbo GT model offers 201 horsepower and quick-shifting 7-speed transmission
- The 2022 Kia Forte’s price starts from $19,090 | Price it your way
- On sale now | See Kia Forte models for sale near you
The 2022 Kia Forte is a serious competitor to the likes of segment stalwarts including the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, made all the more competitive with its updates for the 2022 model year. With a fresh front and rear design, sporty appearance and performance options, high-tech driver assists and in-cabin features, and even a highly efficient (non-hybrid) variant, there’s something for nearly everyone in the 2022 Forte lineup.
Passenger Room and Comfort
Although it’s a compact sedan, the 2022 Kia Forte’s cabin is quite roomy. Legroom and headroom are abundant up front, and the back seat can comfortably seat two adults, with room for three if needed.
Ride quality is good, but there are other compact sedans with a more comfortable ride. That’s understandable given the decidedly sporty attitude of the Forte.
Features and Tech
The 2022 Kia Forte offers more trim variants, features, and technology than you might expect of a compact sedan, especially one that’s so affordable. There are no fewer than five different versions of the Forte, spanning the range from fuel-sipping to high-performance, with a dose of premium available in-between.
All 2022 Fortes come standard with front-wheel drive, disc brakes, electric power-assist steering, power windows, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, and remote keyless entry. From there, the range splits into two main groups: the FE, LXS, and GT-Line, and the high-performance GT or GT MT (manual transmission) trims.
The FE, LXS, and GT-Line all use Kia’s 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine matched with an automatic transmission. The GT and GT MT feature a more powerful 1.6-liter turbocharged engine instead, paired with either a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (GT) or 6-speed manual (GT MT).
The 2022 Kia Forte FE is both the fuel-efficiency king of the Forte range and the least expensive model, meaning it includes the least amount of equipment. That said, it’s still reasonably well-equipped, including an 8-inch touchscreen center display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB multimedia, two 12-volt power outlets, cruise control, and more.
Next up is the $19,590 2022 Kia Forte LXS, which adds to or replaces the FE’s equipment list with 16-inch alloy wheels, 60/40 split-folding rear seats, plus a soft-touch dash and upper door panels. An available LXS Technology package ($500), adds to the equipment set.
At the top of the 2.0-liter range for the Forte sits the 2022 Kia Forte GT-Line, priced from $21,290. The Forte GT-Line gets 17-inch alloy wheels, LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) and fog lights, LED rear combination lamps, door handle pocket lighting for the front doors, gloss black exterior electrically adjustable mirrors, body-color front bumper with gloss black accent, body-color side-sill molding, rear deck lid spoiler, a GT-Line emblem, a rear center armrest with cupholders, alloy sport pedals, and a range of interior upgrades. A $1,700 GT-Line Premium Package is available with upgrades, including a Harman/Kardon sound system, wireless device charging, navigation-based smart cruise control, and more. A $1,000 GT-Line Sport Premium Package is also available (requires GT-Line Premium Package).
Moving up to the turbocharged, 201-horsepower 2022 Kia Forte GT variant, this is priced from $23,490 with the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, or $24,490 in GT MT form with a 6-speed manual transmission. In addition to substantive suspension upgrades for better handling, the Forte GT and GT MT also get 18-inch alloy wheels, dual chrome exhaust tips, exterior GT emblems, dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters (GT only), 320-Watt Harman/Kardon 8-speaker audio, and more. A $2,200 GT2 Package is available, adding a power sunroof, navigation-based cruise control, 10-way adjustable power driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, LED interior lighting, leather-like SynTex seating material, plus more.
Materials and Design
The layout and design of the cabin is user-friendly and attractive. Lower-trim models feature an expected number of hard plastics, while climbing the trim ladder nets more premium materials. These include synthetic leather seating, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and soft-touch trim on the doors.
New front and rear styling for the 2022 Forte keeps the look fresh, emphasizing the sporty nature of this compact sedan. The design also gives the Forte a more premium appearance, particularly in GT and GT-Line form. Available eye-catching Fire Orange or Sporty Blue paint colors add to the Forte’s fun, stylish vibe.
Cargo Room and Flexibility
Like the 2022 Forte’s cabin, its trunk is also capacious, especially for the compact sedan class. With 15.3 cubic feet of trunk cargo capacity, the Forte tops both the Honda Civic (14.8 cubic feet) and Toyota Corolla (13.1 cubic feet).
Unlike the Civic and Corolla, the 2022 Kia Forte isn’t available as a hatchback, somewhat limiting its flexibility. Yet despite the lack of a hatchback version, the Forte’s large cargo capacity and spacious cabin still make it a viable alternative.
More Kia Forte
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