2020 Kia Forte vs 2020 Honda Accord

The 2020 Kia Forte GT, topping the Forte lineup, offered a distinct blend of performance and style with its turbocharged engine, dual-clutch transmission (DCT), sport-tuned suspension, active exhaust, larger front brakes, and striking 18-inch machined-finish wheels. These enhancements were not merely beneath the surface; the exterior showcased unique styling modifications such as revised bumpers, a black lip spoiler, and dual exhaust outlets integrated into a sporty valence panel. This gave the car a mature yet sporty look that could easily fly under law enforcement radar, especially in more subdued paint colors.

Inside the Forte GT, the aesthetics leaned towards a modern and sporty ambiance. Red seat piping and stitching, a flat-bottom steering wheel equipped with paddle shifters, and a mix of soft-touch materials in harmonious surface tones contributed to a feeling of sophistication. The polished metallic accents and the solid feel of the transmission shifter underscored the car's quality.

Presented against the financial backdrop, the 2020 Kia Forte, with its competitive pricing starting at $17,890 for the base model, offered a blend of affordability and sportiness. Even the more feature-rich models like the Forte GT, priced at $22,490, and the fully equipped GT with extras reaching $26,085, managed to maintain a balance between value and performance.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda Accord exuded a different kind of style. Recognized as one of the most stylish Accords in history, it sported a mainstream family sedan look that verged on an upscale fastback appearance. The accents such as the 19-inch wheels available with the Sport and Touring trims bestowed the Accord with a commanding road presence, while the smaller 17-inch wheels on other trims offered a more economical long-term solution.

Honda structured the Accord’s trim levels to cater to a variety of budgets and preferences, ranging from the base LX at $24,270 to the fully loaded Touring at $36,400. The Touring trim, with its sleek Radiant Red paint and Ivory interior, provided a luxurious feel inside. All primary touchpoints featured high-quality soft materials, and the matte-finish simulated wood in the cabin was convincingly genuine.

Performance-wise, the 2020 Kia Forte GT packed a punch under the hood. It featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine that produced 201 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 195 lb-ft of torque from 1,500 to 4,500 rpm. The power delivered by this engine was significantly higher compared to the base 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, which provided only 147 horsepower.

The Forte GT's 7-speed DCT efficiently transferred power to the front wheels, offering a smooth and responsive driving experience. The sport-tuned suspension, larger brakes, and 18-inch aluminum wheels equipped with performance-oriented Michelin Pilot Sport tires further enhanced the driving dynamics. Driving modes like Normal, Sport, and Smart allowed the car to adapt to varying driving styles. Despite a front-heavy weight distribution that led to some tire scrubbing and brake fading during aggressive driving, the Forte GT excelled in handling and stability thanks, in part, to the expertise of Albert Biermann, formerly of BMW’s M division.

The 2020 Honda Accord, aiming to balance efficiency and performance, provided multiple powertrain configurations. The standard engine was a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder that churned out 192 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 192 lb-ft of torque from 1,600 to 5,000 rpm. This engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive, promoting fuel economy.

For those seeking more power, the Accord offered a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine delivering 252 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 273 lb-ft of torque between 1,500 and 4,000 rpm, coupled with a suave 10-speed automatic transmission. Notably, the 2.0T engine equipped models could still be found with a 6-speed manual transmission for enthusiasts. The hybrid variant offering 212 horsepower achieved an impressive average of 42.6 mpg, making it an attractive option for eco-conscious drivers.

On the road, the Accord 2.0T was notable for its quick acceleration and seamless power delivery, despite a need for better traction under heavy throttle due to the front-wheel-drive layout. Modes like Economy and Sport allowed for a tailored driving experience, and during tests, the Accord achieved fuel efficiency better than EPA estimates. The Touring trim’s adaptive dampers provided a balanced ride quality, enhancing comfort over rough surfaces while maintaining handling precision.

The 2020 Kia Forte GT’s interior was thoughtfully designed to balance comfort and utility. The front sport seats with cloth inserts and Sofino simulated leather bolsters provided excellent support and adjustability, with the GT2 Package upgrading to full leatherette, offering heated and ventilated features. Its rear seats were comfortable, spacious, and accompanied by air conditioning vents to maintain passenger comfort, although hard plastic trimmed seatbacks were less friendly to knees.

Cargo space in the Forte GT measured at 15.3 cubic feet, an impressive figure aligning it with larger sedans. The Smart Trunk technology added convenience, allowing hands-free access by recognizing the proximity of the key fob. However, this feature occasionally activated unintentionally, leading to some inconvenience. Interior storage was ample, with accessible compartments and a well-placed wireless charging pad.

The 2020 Honda Accord, often considered a full-size car by virtue of its spaciousness, offered notable advantages in terms of interior room and cargo capacity. The Accord's rear seat provided exceptional comfort with generous legroom, an accommodating seating angle, and high support, making it ideal for long journeys. The Touring trim added features like heated rear seats and air conditioning vents for heightened passenger comfort.

Cargo capacity in the Accord stood at an impressive 16.7 cubic feet, surpassing the Forte and allowing for significant storage flexibility. However, the lack of a dedicated handle for closing the trunk lid was a minor downside. The Accord’s interior design focused on functionality, with excellent ergonomic controls, practical storage solutions, and a dashboard that enhanced the sense of space without compromising accessibility.

The 2020 Kia Forte came standard with a user-friendly 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, positioned for easy viewing and interaction. This system included features like Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a reversing camera across all trims. Higher trims like the EX and GT included SiriusXM satellite radio and connected services via Kia’s UVO technology. However, the GT did not offer an embedded navigation system, relying instead on smartphone integration.

The GT2 Package added an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, which offered improved audio quality over the standard setup, although it struggled to significantly surpass expectations due to the vehicle's interior noise levels.

Honda’s 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the Accord, praised for its intuitive layout, was equipped with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and text messaging support. Higher trim levels like the EX-L and Touring featured a premium ten-speaker sound system, HondaLink subscription services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, and wireless device charging.

Despite its advanced features, Honda’s voice recognition system required specific commands, lacking natural conversational abilities. The Accord Touring's head-up display, though visible even with polarized sunglasses, was somewhat faint. The reversal camera with multiple viewing angles significantly improved parking and maneuvering.

Safety was a strong point for both vehicles, earning high ratings from prominent safety organizations. The 2020 Kia Forte was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Equipped with various advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), especially in the GT trim with the GT2 Package, the Forte's limited-speed automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control were notable features. However, these systems came with certain limitations, such as the abrupt deactivation of lane-keeping assist when the driver’s hands were off the wheel.

Complementing the ADAS, the Forte’s UVO eServices offered features like 911 Connect, speed alerts, and location tracking, useful tools for parental oversight of teenage drivers.

Similarly, the 2020 Honda Accord excelled in safety, achieving a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS and five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard across all trims, Honda Sensing included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, and traffic sign recognition. However, the effectiveness of Honda Sensing varied, with the adaptive cruise control occasionally exhibiting abrupt responses to traffic changes and the collision and departure warnings misinterpreting shadows and construction zones. Blind-spot monitoring, a favored feature, was only available on higher trims.