2020 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2020 Kia Forte

The 2020 Kia Forte GT was a standout in its lineup, featuring a turbocharged engine, dual-clutch transmission, sport-tuned suspension, and active exhaust. It also boasted larger front brakes and 18-inch wheels, setting it apart from other Fortes with its unique styling modifications. The interior was designed to emphasize its sport-sedan credentials, with red seat piping, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and gloss black trim. Despite its sporty enhancements, the Forte GT maintained a subtle exterior, with details like revised bumpers and dual exhaust outlets hinting at its potential. Inside, the use of soft-touch materials and polished metallic accents contributed to a modern and quality feel.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, particularly in the Sport Touring trim, offered a more refined aesthetic. The exterior featured subtle styling tweaks, such as body-color crossbars on the air intakes and smoked headlights, enhancing its appeal. The Platinum White Pearl paint provided a striking contrast against the glossy black detailing, garnering admiration from onlookers. Inside, the Civic Sport Touring trim included stitched leather on the steering wheel and quality materials, though hard plastics were still present. The cabin was quieter, with a solid door thunk and reduced ambient noise, offering a more serene driving experience.

The 2020 Kia Forte GT was equipped with a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine, delivering 201 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 195 pound-feet of torque between 1,500 rpm and 4,500 rpm. This was a significant upgrade from the 147-hp 2.0-liter engine in other Forte models. The 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) provided power to the front wheels, offering a well-behaved and responsive driving experience. The Forte GT also featured a sport-tuned suspension, active exhaust system, and larger front brakes, enhancing its performance capabilities. Driving modes included Normal, Sport, and Smart, allowing for a tailored driving experience. The car excelled in handling, especially on curvy roads, though it exhibited a nose-heavy weight bias.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, with its turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, produced 174 horsepower in LX, EX, and EX-L trims, and 180 horsepower in Sport and Sport Touring trims. Torque varied depending on the transmission, with the CVT offering 162 pound-feet and the 6-speed manual providing 177 pound-feet. The Civic Hatchback was known for its quiet and refined engine, though the manual transmission had long clutch travel and gearbox throws. While not as performance-oriented as the Civic Si, the Hatchback offered a more compliant ride and quieter cabin, making it suitable for daily driving. It still provided excitement on winding roads, though it lacked the stiffness and composure of the Si.

The 2020 Kia Forte GT featured front sport seats with cloth inserts and Sofino simulated leather bolsters, with full Sofino leatherette available in the GT2 Package or with the manual transmission. The 10-way power adjustable driver's seat offered excellent comfort and support, while the front passenger seat included a manual height adjuster. The backseat provided good comfort with a tall cushion and proper support, along with air conditioning vents. The Forte GT's Smart Trunk technology allowed for hands-free access, revealing a spacious 15.3 cubic-foot cargo area. Interior storage was generous, with a wireless smartphone charging pad and ample storage compartments.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback offered 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly more than the HR-V Touring. While it couldn't match the HR-V for maximum volume, the Civic Hatchback provided better acceleration and fuel efficiency. The driver's seat was low, but the Sport Touring's heated leather front seats offered ample thigh support. The center console storage area was versatile, with a sliding armrest, tray, and cupholders. Rear seat comfort was good, though passengers lacked air-conditioning vents and the dark tinted rear glass could cause discomfort in hot weather.

The 2020 Kia Forte came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a reversing camera. The EX and GT trims included SiriusXM satellite radio and connected services through Kia's UVO technology. The GT2 Package added an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, though it struggled with ambient noise. The Forte lacked an embedded navigation system, relying on smartphone projection for navigation.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system in all but the LX trim, with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a navigation system. The Sport Touring trim included a 12-speaker premium sound system, though it lacked a tuning knob and had limited voice-recognition capabilities. The Civic offered automatic climate control and Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock, providing convenience and peace of mind.

The 2020 Kia Forte was a Top Safety Pick according to the IIHS, equipped with numerous advanced driving assistance systems. The GT with the GT2 Package included all available safety features, though the automatic emergency braking system worked only at lower speeds, and the adaptive cruise control didn't bring the car to a full stop. The lane-keeping and lane-centering assist systems were effective, but required hands on the steering wheel. The Forte also included 911 Connect and programmable alerts for speed, curfew, and geographical boundaries.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and Road Departure Mitigation. Adaptive cruise control was also standard, with low-speed following capability in CVT-equipped models. However, the lane-keeping assist lacked smoothness, and the adaptive cruise control occasionally braked unexpectedly. The Civic lacked a blind-spot monitoring system, relying on LaneWatch for the right-side blind spot. The Civic did not earn a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS due to poor headlight performance, though it received top marks for crash-test performance.