2022 Kia Forte Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Shop for a 2022 Kia Forte, and you’ll find four trim levels from which to choose: FE, LXS, GT-Line, and GT. The Forte FE is the fuel-economy champ, rated to get 41 mpg on the highway. The Forte LXS is the version that gives you everything you need, and nothing you don’t. The Forte GT-Line adds a sporty look but without sporty driving characteristics. And the Forte GT is the one you want for the most fun.

We evaluated the Forte GT for this review. It came with Steel Gray paint, the GT2 Package, carpeted floor mats, and a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) price of $26,900, including a destination charge of $1,055. In other words, aside from a handful of accessories, it had everything on it.

If nearly $27,000 is a little too much for your budget, you can select the Forte with FE, LXS, or GT-Line trim. Base prices for those versions range from $19,090 to $21,290, plus the destination charge. Kia drops the previous EX trim level for 2022.

This year, all 2022 Forte models get a new grille, headlights, and bumpers. Fresh wheel designs arrive for the LXS and GT-Line, while the GT-Line and GT receive new fog lights and taillights. The Forte GT has brighter LED headlights, while other trims offer unimpressive halogen headlights.

Both the GT-Line and the GT have a sportier look, but the Forte GT has more red-accent detailing, a gloss black lip spoiler, and larger, more appealing 18-inch wheels with a machined finish. These exclusive details give it the best looks in the family, but the intricate wheel design is a real pain to clean of brake dust.

The interiors are nearly identical to last year’s Forte. There is a standard 4.2-inch driver information display, a slightly revised center console that now houses an electronic parking brake and an Auto Hold feature, and improved infotainment systems. In addition, Kia is using a different kind of simulated leather in the 2022 Forte GT-Line and GT than it did before.

Equipped with traditional analog gauges, round outer air vents, and a thick-rimmed steering wheel with a flat-bottom design and thumb rests, the Forte GT’s interior has an appropriately sporty look. Seat perforations, patterns, piping, and stitching have a Germanic appearance, and polished metal interior accents dress up an otherwise simple cabin.

For the most part, the Forte’s mechanical components carry over from last year. That means all but the GT trim have a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making a modest 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) powers the car’s front wheels. The fuel economy rating for this engine is 35 mpg in combined driving for the FE trim and 33 mpg for the LXS and GT-Line.

Forte GT models offer a more rousing driving experience. One reason is the turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, the latter available from 1,500 rpm to 4,500 rpm. This engine pairs with your choice between a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) with paddle shifters.

Drivers can choose Smart, Normal, or Sport driving modes that adjust throttle response, transmission behavior, and steering feel. Additionally, Kia fortifies the Forte GT with a sport-tuned suspension with an independent rear design that replaces the less sophisticated torsion-beam rear axle in other trim levels. GT trim also comes with a sport-tuned exhaust, larger 18-inch alloy wheels, and available Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer performance tires.

Kia’s modifications to the Forte GT produce effortless acceleration and plenty of driving enjoyment. Getting up to speed isn’t a problem, there is plenty of passing power, and Kia delivers a good blend of ride and handling characteristics. Driving the car with enthusiasm on local mountain roads, the Forte GT demonstrated enough compliance to soak up undulations that can sometimes unsettle a vehicle or result in unexpected weight transfer, yet it proved firm enough to quell unwanted body motions, eliminate most of the body roll, and give the driver more confidence at higher velocities.

However, though the Forte GT is fun to drive, it’s not an outright performance sedan like its more powerful and sophisticated corporate cousin, the Hyundai Elantra N. For example, we didn’t find the paddle shifters particularly rewarding to use, the steering doesn’t feel as secure and precise both on-center and just off-center as it should, and on imperfect city streets, the taut suspension allows smaller and sharper bumps, cracks, and holes to disturb occupants.

The more concerning Forte GT performance trait relates to the car’s brakes. Hustling Kia’s little sports sedan down Deer Creek Canyon Road near Malibu, California, the brakes simply were not up to the task of a demanding mountain descent. We needed to back off sooner than we have in similar vehicles, such as the Honda Civic Sport Touring and the Mazda Mazda3 2.5 Turbo, and by the end of the road where it meets Pacific Coast Highway and the beach, they were cooked like a Thanksgiving turkey.

Another source of aggravation is the Forte GT’s engine racket when traveling at 75 mph on the freeway. This isn’t a quiet car to start with, but with the turbocharged engine pegging the tachometer at about 2,750 rpm on the highway, it simply adds to the amount of noise filtering into the cabin.

Furthermore, the Forte GT did not deliver on the fuel economy promises made by the EPA. Official ratings say the car should get 26 mpg in combined driving with the manual transmission and 30 mpg with the DCT. On the testing loop, the car averaged 25.8 mpg. (Admittedly, traffic was heavier than usual, and we did run the car up Deer Creek Canyon Road in Sport mode while using the paddle shifters.) During the course of the week-long loan, the car got 32.8 mpg, the bulk of those miles compiled on freeways.

Despite its flaws, the Kia Forte GT works brilliantly as a daily driver. After hundreds of miles of driving, we liked it more and more as a zippy commuter, comfortable (if loud) road tripper, and affordable kid-schlepper. But no, a Forte GT is not going to satisfy a serious driving enthusiast who plans to exercise the car at its limits.

If you’re buying a Forte GT, we recommend getting the GT2 option package because it contains numerous worthwhile features. For example, it added a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, a power sunroof, upgraded LED interior lighting, and full instead of partial SynTex simulated leather seats to our test car. (These features are also available for the GT-Line via the Sport Premium Package.)

We used the Forte GT for a round-trip road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and it proved perfectly comfortable for hours on end. One noteworthy thing about the Forte is its height-adjustable front passenger’s seat, which is standard on all trim levels to ensure your favorite person also gets proper leg support.

In addition, given the destination, the GT’s ventilated front seats were a welcome treat. The Forte GT also has a standard dual-zone automatic climate control system and is exclusively available with rear air conditioning vents to keep your passengers cool on warm summer days.

Rear seat room is remarkably good for a compact car. Plus, the bottom seat cushion is large and angled for proper support. The hard plastic front seatback panels are a misstep, but otherwise, this car does a good job of accommodating both children and adults.

The Forte’s trunk is large, too. At 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space, it’s the biggest one in the segment, according to Kia. You can place full-size suitcases flat or on their sides, and there is a grab handle on the inner side to swing the lid shut without getting your fingers dirty on the back of the car. The rear seats also fold down to expand capacity.

For 2022, Kia offers new Technology option packages for the LXS, GT-Line, and GT models. Each adds infotainment and safety systems to the Forte. Additionally, a GT-Line Premium Package further expands the amount of tech available for that trim level. This year a rear-seat USB port is newly available and the GT-Line and GT offer remote engine starting capability using the key fob.

If you want wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, you’ll need to get the FE or LXS trim. Those versions of the Forte have an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with that feature.

Choose a Forte GT-Line or GT with the 10.25-inch touchscreen display and you’ll get many more features and functions but you’ll also need to use a cable and the USB port to run Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The upgrades with the bigger screen include SiriusXM satellite radio, a voice recognition system, and Kia Connect connected services with remote engine starting, remote climate preconditioning, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and a find-my-car feature. Additionally, the Forte GT has standard wireless smartphone charging, and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system is available.

We found the Forte’s infotainment system easy to use thanks to intuitive menu structures, a power/volume knob for the stereo, and a tuning/zoom knob for the radio and navigation map. The purple-themed graphics take some acclimation both for their color and the font Kia uses as it apparently thumbs its nose at the recent trend toward simple and clean UI/UX design.

It wasn’t clear that Kia Connect was active in the test car. Using the voice recognition system, the Forte GT’s digital assistant was able to find the nearest Starbucks and the closest Chipotle, but not a favorite restaurant when requesting the eatery by name and street. To get directions to the nearest hospital, we had to finesse our request. The system recognizes the District of Columbia as a State choice, but when asking for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue after choosing DC, the navigation system supplies closest-match addresses in Washington state (weird). The voice assistant cannot help with the climate control system but did successfully change the radio station to SiriusXM’s Alt Nation.

Overall, we found the Forte’s voice recognition capabilities to be hit-and-miss. So we hooked up a smartphone to the wired Apple CarPlay and used that platform to stream music and find the places we needed to go.

Before switching to our discussion of safety features, take note of the Forte’s Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system. This is a fantastic feature that should be standard in every modern vehicle. If you’re sitting in traffic or at an intersection, and you’re looking at your phone to pass the time, you might not notice when vehicles ahead are moving again. This system tells you when its time to go. Of course, if you’re the first car in the line at the red light, you’ll still need to pay attention.

This year, more Kia Drive Wise technology is available for the 2022 Forte. Across all trim levels, standard equipment includes forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver monitoring system.

Upgrade to GT-Line or GT trim, and you’ll get an active blind-spot monitoring system that can help prevent unsafe lane changes if the driver misses or ignores the blind-spot warning. These trims also have rear cross-traffic alert with rear automatic braking and a Safe Exit Warning system that warns the Forte’s occupants when it’s not safe to open a door and exit the car.

Depending on the trim level, safety-related upgrades include cyclist detection, navigation-linked adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, “zone control” to automatically reduce speed when the posted limit drops, and the ability to automatically reduce speed for curves, such as when transitioning from one freeway to another. You can also get Highway Driving Assist (HDA), which pairs the adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist to create a semi-autonomous driving system for use on highways.

As it has been demonstrated in the past, Kia’s HDA system is exceptionally well executed. Like most of these technologies, it feels more confidence-inspiring on straight roads than curving ones. This time around, HDA showed it can handle rapid slowing of traffic ahead without driver intervention or drama. Also, even after the Forte comes to a complete stop for more than a few seconds it will resume HDA operation. In many cars, especially those at this price point, the driver needs to take manual action to re-activate the technology.

As far as crash-test ratings go, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the Forte’s crashworthiness and driving assist systems high marks. However, until the IIHS is able to assess the revised LED headlights on the Forte GT, testing remains incomplete.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the 2022 Forte a four-star overall crash protection rating. In addition to a three-star frontal impact rating for the front passenger, the NHTSA found an issue related to elevated potential for rear passenger injury in a side impact, resulting in a lower overall score.

With its outstanding 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, five-year/60,000-mile standard warranty with roadside assistance, and one-year complimentary trial subscription to Kia Connect Ultimate services (on selected models), the Forte is a good value. Plus, if you choose the FE trim, you can enjoy a price of just over $20,000 (including destination) and fuel economy of up to 41 mpg on the highway.

However, most Fortes have an underwhelming powertrain that feels a little gutless. And while the CVT is not a constant source of aural discomfort, it still isn’t ideal.

That’s why our favorite version of the car is the Forte GT. You get more power, better handling, greater sophistication, and several exclusive features. Plus, it is surprisingly easy for a family of four to live with this car, and at its price, it feels far more substantial and of greater quality than an equivalently priced subcompact crossover.

The main bummers here are the Forte GT’s brakes, those NHTSA crash-test ratings, and our fuel economy returns. Considered together, they make it harder to recommend this Kia over other compact sedans, including the Forte’s corporate cousin, the Hyundai Elantra. Not only does the Elantra post better safety ratings, it is also available with the same drivetrains as the Forte plus a thrifty hybrid and a track-tuned N performance model. Furthermore, the Hyundai offers even stronger value than the Kia.

Overall, we like the 2022 Kia Forte. And in GT specification, it is an unexpected treat. But there are better choices in the segment unless a low price, a long warranty, and lots of room for people and cargo are your primary requirements in a new compact car.