2019 Kia Forte vs 2019 Toyota Prius

The 2019 Kia Forte, despite being an all-new generation, retained a familiar silhouette that might have been mistaken for a mere facelift. Its design was characterized by a jellybean-like shape, a bold front-end, and a subtle side swoop, though the taillight band connecting the rear lights was seen as a less appealing feature. The Forte's design took cues from the sporty Kia Stinger, evident in its grille, headlights, and lower-grille design. Inside, the Forte boasted a high-tech cabin with a simple layout, featuring a sport steering wheel and a floating touchscreen, reminiscent of the Audi A3's design. The Forte offered trims like FE, LXS, S, and EX, with the base FE trim providing ample standard features, including forward-collision avoidance and lane-keeping assist. The range-topping EX trim added luxury features such as leatherette upholstery and a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat, with an optional EX Launch Package offering further enhancements.

In contrast, the 2019 Toyota Prius was not typically praised for its looks, with its design often seen as more extroverted than attractive. The fourth-generation Prius, introduced in 2016, continued to feature a boomerang-shaped profile and hatchback design. Despite its polarizing appearance, the Prius was a practical choice for daily driving. The 2019 lineup included trims like L Eco, LE, XLE, and Limited, with optional AWD-e available for LE and XLE trims. The XLE AWD-e test car featured an Advanced Technology Package, adding a head-up display and other amenities. The Prius's interior was unconventional, with centralized controls and a digital instrumentation strip. While the design was functional, the gloss black interior trim attracted dust. The Prius's styling might not have been universally appealing, but it offered a practical and efficient driving experience.

The 2019 Kia Forte was equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with either a 6-speed manual or a CVT, which Kia referred to as an iVT. The CVT provided a responsive driving experience, making the Forte quick off the line and capable of confident highway passing. The Forte's handling was impressive, with precise steering and minimal body roll, offering a refined ride even over rough roads. The Drive Mode Selector allowed drivers to choose between Normal, Sport, and Smart modes, optimizing comfort, efficiency, or performance. Fuel economy for the Forte with the CVT was 30 mpg city, 40 highway, and 34 combined, with the most efficient configuration being the FE with the CVT at 31/41/35 combined.

The 2019 Toyota Prius combined a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor, delivering a total of 121 horsepower. The optional AWD-e system added a rear electric motor, enhancing traction at low speeds. The Prius's fuel economy was impressive, with a standard front-drive model achieving 52 mpg combined, while the AWD-e version returned 50 mpg. The Prius's CVT provided smooth power delivery, and the car offered a pleasant driving experience with decent handling and a comfortable ride. The Prius featured an EV mode for low-speed electric-only driving, and its regenerative brakes helped recharge the battery. Despite its complex powertrain, the Prius was easy to drive, offering a quiet ride in urban settings and a no-hassle driving experience.

The 2019 Kia Forte's interior dimensions grew with its new design, offering a more spacious cabin. The front seat provided ample legroom, though headroom was slightly limited for taller occupants. The backseat offered adequate headroom and legroom, making it comfortable for longer drives. The Forte's trunk space was generous, with 15.3 cubic feet available, and the EX trim featured a smart trunk system for hands-free access.

The 2019 Toyota Prius surprised with its roomy interior, comfortably seating four adults. The driver's seat offered manual height adjustment, while the front passenger seat sat high off the floor. Rear passengers enjoyed good thigh support and legroom, though air conditioning vents were absent in the second row. The Prius's trunk was spacious, with up to 27.4 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat, expanding to 65.5 cubic feet with the seat folded down. The Prius's hatchback design and AWD-e technology positioned it as an alternative to small crossovers, though it was best suited for less challenging terrains.

The 2019 Kia Forte came standard with an 8-inch UVO touchscreen, offering a user-friendly interface with vivid visuals and logical menus. Physical buttons and conventional tuning and volume dials enhanced the user experience. The Forte's UVO e-services provided features like enhanced roadside assistance and vehicle diagnostics, accessible via a smartphone app.

The 2019 Toyota Prius's most advanced infotainment system was reserved for the Limited trim, featuring an 11.6-inch touchscreen, navigation, and a premium JBL sound system. The XLE AWD-e test car had a standard 6.1-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth and a CD player, blending into the interior with a sophisticated look. The Prius's instrumentation was housed in a strip below the windshield, with a mix of modern and dated displays. The Advanced Technology Package added a head-up display and adaptive headlights. However, the Prius lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, limiting its technological appeal.

The 2019 Kia Forte offered standard safety features like forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. Additional options included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The lane-keeping assist was particularly effective, providing active steering inputs to keep the car centered in its lane.

The 2019 Toyota Prius included standard Toyota Safety Sense features, such as adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The LE trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Prius received a 5-star rating in federal crash tests and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, though some areas were rated as Acceptable instead of Good.