2020 Kia Forte vs 2020 Toyota Prius

The 2020 Kia Forte GT, new for the year, featured a turbocharged engine, dual-clutch transmission (DCT), sport-tuned suspension, active exhaust, larger front brakes, and 18-inch wheels. Styling modifications set it apart from other Fortes, and the interior boasted enhancements to solidify its sport-sedan credentials. Despite its potent capabilities, the Forte GT maintained a subtle appearance with revised bumpers, a black lip spoiler, and dual exhaust outlets. Inside, the car combined complimentary surface tones and textures with soft-touch materials, red seat piping, and gloss black trim, creating a modern look. The transmission shifter felt solid, imparting a sense of quality.

The 2020 Toyota Prius retained its iconic shape, optimized for aerodynamics. Toyota made subtle changes to make it look more like a sedan while maintaining its hatchback functionality. The Prius had a futuristic style, with a cabin defined by centrally located instrumentation and gauges. Trim levels included L Eco, LE, XLE, and Limited, each offering various features from 15-inch alloy wheels and automatic climate control to synthetic leather upholstery and an 11.6-inch touchscreen. The Prius also offered a 2020 Edition with unique dark exterior accents, limited to 2,020 units.

The 2020 Kia Forte GT was equipped with a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 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 Fortes. The power was delivered to the front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT), which was well-behaved and responsive. The Forte GT also offered a 6-speed manual gearbox option, which included additional GT2 package features. The car came with a sport-tuned suspension, active exhaust system, larger front brakes, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. Driving modes included Normal, Sport, and Smart, with the latter adjusting based on driving behavior. The Forte GT provided a firm, connected ride quality, with a sport exhaust that burbled with each upshift. The car handled well, especially on curvy roads, and remained stable and responsive.

The 2020 Toyota Prius featured a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor and battery, producing a combined 121 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque. The Prius was available in front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) variants, with the AWD-e model employing a second electric motor for the rear wheels. The Prius offered smooth acceleration, with a seamless transition between electric and conventional power. It had three drive modes: EV, Eco, and Power. The unique shifter design required some adjustment, with a separate button for Park and an Engine Braking mode for downhill driving. The Prius handled well for a hybrid, with a low center of gravity providing sharper handling than expected. The ride was smooth, making it ideal for commuting.

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 manual transmission models. The 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat provided excellent comfort and support, with heated and ventilated options. The front passenger seat also had a height adjuster. The backseat offered good comfort with proper support and air conditioning vents. The Forte GT included Smart Trunk technology, which automatically opened the trunk when the key fob was nearby. The trunk had a roomy 15.3 cubic-foot cargo area, and interior storage was generous with a wireless smartphone charging pad, door panel storage, and a large glovebox.

The 2020 Toyota Prius made efficient use of its space, with deep door pockets and a large tray area between the front seats for storing items. The front seats were spacious and comfortable, with good headroom and legroom. The rear seats also provided ample space, though taller passengers needed to be cautious when entering and exiting. The Prius offered 50.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet with the seats up, depending on the model. The hatchback design made loading and unloading easy, enhancing its versatility.

The 2020 Kia Forte came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, positioned for easy reference. Standard features included Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a reversing camera. The EX and GT trims added SiriusXM satellite radio and Kia’s UVO technology. The GT2 Package included an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, which performed well despite the car's interior noise.

The 2020 Toyota Prius featured a 7-inch touchscreen with a sensible menu layout, standard with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity, a WiFi hotspot, and three USB ports. The Limited trim upgraded to an 11.6-inch screen with a customizable layout, though it lacked Android Auto. The Prius also offered satellite radio, HD Radio, a head-up display (HUD), and a 10-speaker JBL premium audio system. The top-center instrument panel provided hybrid drivetrain status and other critical readouts, with many menus accessible via the steering wheel.

The 2020 Kia Forte was a Top Safety Pick according to the IIHS and came with numerous advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). 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 did not 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 GT also included 911 Connect and programmable alerts for speed, curfew, and geographical boundaries.

The 2020 Toyota Prius came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front-and-rear parking sensors, and active park assist. The Prius earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" from the IIHS, though it fell short of the highest rating due to "average" scores in certain crash tests and headlight performance.