Used 2019 Kia Forte for Sale nearSan Diego, CA

How much does the 2019 Kia Forte cost?

Prices have softened 8.54% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,076 listings available, which gives you a solid pool of options to compare.

Is the 2019 Kia Forte a good car?

Yes — the 2019 Kia Forte earns a 5/5 user rating and an 8.7/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Cost effectiveness at 10/10.

Owners consistently praise its safety features, great gas mileage, and comfortable ride. The Forte is also framed as a practical daily driver with enough trunk space for several bags and room for 4 or even 5 passengers. For you, that means a compact sedan that leans hard into value without giving up everyday usefulness. With 30.0% of listings marked as good or great deals, the market still gives you room to find a strong buy.

Is the 2019 Kia Forte reliable?

Owners rate it 5/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner feedback points to a car people feel good about keeping, with repeated praise for its dependable feel, strong gas mileage, and comfortable ride. The expert drive notes also emphasize that the Forte manages power well and delivers immediate throttle response, which supports a trouble-free everyday driving experience. Kia’s standard maintenance-friendly ownership pitch is reinforced by the car’s strong value positioning and broad standard equipment.

For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is less about the drivetrain and more about finding a well-kept example with the right equipment and condition.

What should I look for when buying a used 2019 Kia Forte?

At 56.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a close inspection of body panels, paint consistency, and signs of prior repair. Because this car is often bought for value, condition matters a lot: a clean, well-maintained example can feel like a much better purchase than a cheaper one with hidden issues. Pay extra attention to how the cabin wears, since some owners describe the interior as a bit basic for a newer model.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The FE comes with a strong list of standard equipment for an entry-level trim, including forward-collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, an 8-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, dual-zone climate control, and Bluetooth. The LXS adds 16-inch alloy wheels, a chrome exhaust tip, soft-touch interior materials, and a 60/40 split-fold rear bench. The S adds LED head- and taillights, fog lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, navigation, and UVO e-services. The EX adds heated and ventilated front seats, leatherette upholstery, a power driver’s seat, and more comfort-focused features.
• Powertrain: Every Forte uses a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with front-wheel drive. You can get a 6-speed manual on the FE or a CVT, while the other trims use the CVT. The CVT is tuned to respond well and helps the car feel quick off the line.
• Safety package: Standard safety equipment includes forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, driver-attention warning, a reversing camera, traction control, and front- and side-impact airbags. Available upgrades include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and adaptive cruise control. The base trim already includes a notably strong safety setup.
• Infotainment: The Forte comes standard with an 8-inch UVO touchscreen. It supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and the system keeps physical buttons and tuning and volume dials. UVO e-services adds roadside assistance, vehicle diagnostics, and a smartphone parking reminder feature.
• Fuel efficiency: With the CVT, the Forte returns 30 mpg city, 40 highway, and 34 combined. The FE with the manual returns 27/37/31, and the most efficient configuration is the FE with the CVT at 31/41/35.

Which 2019 Kia Forte trim should I buy?

The 2019 Kia Forte is offered in 4 trim levels: FE, LXS, S, EX.

Here's the short version:

• FE: This is the best-value starting point if you want the strongest mix of price and standard safety tech. You get forward-collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, an 8-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth, which makes it a smart pick for budget-focused shoppers.
• LXS: This trim is the step up if you want a nicer-feeling cabin and a few everyday convenience upgrades. The soft-touch materials and split-fold rear seat make it a practical middle ground if you want more polish without jumping too far in price.
• S: This is the trim to choose if you want the Forte to feel more stylish and better equipped. The LED lighting, fog lights, navigation, and UVO e-services give it a more complete feature set, so it suits you if you want a more upscale daily driver.
• EX: This is the comfort-focused choice, with heated and ventilated front seats, leatherette upholstery, a power driver’s seat, and other premium touches. It makes the most sense if you want the most refined Forte experience and are willing to pay for it.

The base trim already includes a strong safety package, so you do not need to move up just to get core driver-assistance features.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2019 Kia Forte?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully and still find value.

• Deal availability: 30.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,076 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.54% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 56.5% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $11,425, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2019 Kia Forte's resale value?

The current average of $11,425 sits slightly below last year's $12,492.

That price movement suggests the Forte has already absorbed a meaningful amount of depreciation, which can help future sellers if they buy at the right number today. If you purchase near the lower end of the range, you reduce the risk of being upside down later. The Forte’s strong value reputation and broad appeal as a practical compact sedan should help keep demand steady.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 5/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2019 Kia Forte safe?

The 2019 Kia Forte earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

It comes with standard forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, driver-attention warning, a reversing camera, traction control, and front- and side-impact airbags. Kia also offers blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and adaptive cruise control for buyers who want more assistance. The base trim already includes a notably strong safety package, so you do not need to move up the lineup to get meaningful protection features.

Should I buy a 2019 Kia Forte or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2019 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2019 if:

• 30.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 56.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.54% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2019 brings a complete redesign, stronger value, and standard driver-assistance features that help it feel more modern.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $12,618, the 2020 costs more than the current year's $11,425 average.
• The 2020 adds a turbocharged GT option for buyers who want a sportier driving character.

The bottom line: If you want the best mix of price, standard safety tech, and everyday usefulness, the 2019 is the smarter buy. If you are willing to spend more for a sportier version or a newer model year, the 2020 is worth a look.

How does the 2019 Kia Forte compare to the 2019 Hyundai Elantra?

Our experts score the 2019 Kia Forte 8.7/10 and the 2019 Hyundai Elantra 8.2/10.

The Forte has the edge if you want stronger value, better fuel economy, and a more generous standard safety package. The Elantra starts a bit cheaper and has slightly more listings, but the Forte’s higher expert score reflects its stronger overall balance of features and efficiency. If you care most about getting more standard equipment for your money, the Forte is the better fit.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 27, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.