2019 Volvo S60 vs 2019 Kia Forte

The 2019 Kia Forte might have appeared to be a mere facelift at first glance, but it was actually an all-new generation. It retained its jellybean-like shape and plucky front-end design, with a subtle swoop along the side. However, the taillight band connecting each side above the license plate looked cheap. The new Forte also featured additional small rear quarter windows and flatter, lower windowsills. Styling cues from the sporty Kia Stinger were evident, including the grille's powerful shape and aggressive lower-grille design. Inside, the Forte’s cabin was contemporary and high-tech, with a sport steering wheel and floating touchscreen influenced by the Stinger. The instrument panel's crisp look and layout had hints of Audi’s small car, thanks to Peter Schreyer, the head of design at Hyundai and Kia.

The 2019 Volvo S60 marked a significant shift from Volvo's quirky image to a more sexy and sophisticated design. The S60 scaled down the flagship S90 sedan’s design to fit a small luxury platform, competing with the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. The S60’s rear fender and C-pillar gave it an athletic stance, while the straight lines and precise angles remained. The S60’s interior was a blend of form and function, with sensible steering-wheel-mounted controls and ample cubby space. However, the placement of the starter and drive-mode selector was awkward. The backseat space was decent, and the 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space was average for the class.

The 2019 Kia Forte came with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, sent to the front wheels through either a 6-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT, branded as iVT by Kia, managed power well and provided an immediate response. The Forte was quick off the line and had ample power for highway passing. Its handling was impressive, with minimal body roll and precise turn-in. The Forte also featured a Drive Mode Selector with Normal, Sport, and Smart modes. Fuel economy with the CVT was 30 mpg city, 40 highway, 34 combined, while the 6-speed manual returned 27/37/31. The most efficient configuration was the FE with the CVT, at 31/41/35 combined.

The 2019 Volvo S60 offered T5, T6, and T8 powertrain options. The T5 featured a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine making 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, sent to front-wheel drive. The T6, which we drove, had a twin-charged 2-liter engine producing 316 hp and 295 lb-ft, sent to all-wheel drive. The T8 was a plug-in hybrid with a combined 400 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque. The T6 provided plenty of acceleration, with instantaneous throttle and transmission responses. The S60 felt firmly planted through corners and was available with a performance suspension setup. The T6 AWD returned 21 mpg city, 32 highway, 25 combined, while the T5 was estimated at 24/36/28. The T8’s overall fuel economy was not specified.

The 2019 Kia Forte’s interior dimensions grew, making it more comfortable for taller occupants. The front seat had plenty of legroom, though headroom was tight for those over 6 feet tall. The backseat offered adequate headroom and legroom for taller passengers. The Forte’s trunk space increased to 15.3 cubic feet, one of the largest in the class. The EX trim featured Kia’s smart trunk system, which automatically deployed when you stood behind the car for a few seconds.

The 2019 Volvo S60’s interior focused on aesthetics, with sensible steering-wheel-mounted controls and ample compartment space. However, the placement of the starter and drive-mode selector was awkward. The S60 featured a conventional shifter, a smart choice in the modern luxury market. The backseat space was decent compared to competitors like the Lexus IS, and the S60 offered 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space, average for the class.

The 2019 Kia Forte came standard with an 8-inch UVO touchscreen, featuring a user-friendly layout with vivid colors and fonts. Physical buttons lined the bottom of the screen, and conventional tuning and volume dials were retained. Kia’s UVO e-services provided enhanced roadside assistance, vehicle diagnostics, and a smartphone app for locating your parked car.

The 2019 Volvo S60 featured the Sensus touchscreen infotainment system, which took a tablet-like approach to menu navigation and graphics. However, many features were tucked away into the screen, making simple tasks like adjusting the temperature cumbersome. The system occasionally lagged and froze, which could be frustrating. The S60 did have a Volume dial, Play/Pause button, and track-skip buttons below the screen, along with a Home button for easy navigation.

The 2019 Kia Forte offered standard forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. It also included a reversing camera, traction control, and front- and side-impact airbags. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and adaptive cruise control. The lane-keeping assist was notably active, providing minor steering inputs to keep the car centered in the lane.

The 2019 Volvo S60 came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system. It also included driver-assistance systems like forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and traffic-sign recognition. The Advance Package added a head-up display, headlight washers, a 360-degree camera, and active bending headlights. Pilot Assist, a semi-autonomous driving system with smart cruise control, was also included.