2020 Kia Forte vs 2021 Toyota Prius

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. The exterior styling was subtly aggressive, with revised bumpers, a black lip spoiler, and dual exhaust outlets, giving it a mature yet sporty appearance. Inside, the Forte GT offered a modern look with red seat piping, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and gloss black trim, all contributing to a sense of quality and sophistication. The transmission shifter was particularly noted for its solid feel, enhancing the driving experience.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Prius retained its iconic boomerang-shaped design, which had become synonymous with the model. Despite advancements in aerodynamic vehicle design, the Prius maintained its unique styling, which was not universally praised. The interior was unconventional, with a central strip of displays and a dashboard-mounted transmission toggle. The infotainment pod was positioned towards the front seat occupants, and the use of gloss-black trim attracted dust and fingerprints. The Prius offered a range of trims, including the L Eco, LE, XLE, 2020 Edition, and Limited, with prices ranging from $24,525 to $32,650. The Prius 2020 Edition test vehicle, in Supersonic Red, was priced at $31,295.

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 found in other Forte models. The power was transmitted to the front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT), which was noted for its smooth operation. 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 Forte GT was praised for its firm ride quality, responsive steering, and impressive handling, particularly on curvy roads.

The 2021 Toyota Prius, on the other hand, focused on fuel efficiency rather than performance. The L Eco version achieved an impressive 56 mpg in combined driving, while other front-drive models earned 52 mpg, and AWD-e models managed 49 mpg. The Prius paired a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with a 53-kilowatt electric motor, producing a total system output of 121 horsepower. The electric motor provided 120 pound-feet of torque, offering a lively feel off the line. The Prius featured Eco, Normal, and Power driving modes, with regenerative braking to capture energy during deceleration. While not a performance vehicle, the Prius handled well on twisty roads, thanks to its Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, which provided a lower center of gravity and improved handling.

The 2020 Kia Forte GT offered a comfortable and supportive interior, with front sport seats featuring cloth inserts and Sofino simulated leather bolsters. The GT2 Package or manual transmission option upgraded the seats to full Sofino leatherette, with heating and ventilation. The driver's seat was 10-way power adjustable, and the front passenger seat had a manual height adjuster. The backseat provided good comfort, with air conditioning vents and a tall cushion. The Forte GT also featured Smart Trunk technology, offering a hands-free system that recognized the key fob and opened the trunk automatically. The trunk provided a spacious 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space, with generous interior storage options.

The 2021 Toyota Prius, often perceived as a small car, offered surprising interior space, accommodating up to five passengers. The test vehicle featured an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the low seating position made entry and exit challenging. The rear seats provided adequate foot, leg, and headroom, but lacked air-conditioning vents. Cargo space varied by trim level, ranging from 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats, and expanding to 47.9 to 50.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2020 Kia Forte came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a reversing camera. The Forte EX and GT added SiriusXM satellite radio and connected services through Kia’s UVO technology. The GT2 Package included an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, though it struggled with ambient noise. The system was user-friendly, with stereo knobs and menu shortcut buttons for easy navigation.

The 2021 Toyota Prius featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard across all trims, with Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Toyota’s Safety Connect and WiFi Connect were also standard, with free trial subscriptions. The Limited trim offered a 10-speaker JBL premium sound system, navigation, and a natural voice recognition system, paired with an 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen. However, the sound quality was lacking, and the digital instrumentation displayed dated graphics.

The 2020 Kia Forte was a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, equipped with numerous advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). The GT with the GT2 Package included all available safety features, though the automatic emergency braking system was limited to lower speeds, and the adaptive cruise control did not bring the car to a full stop. The lane-keeping and lane-centering assist systems worked well but required hands-on steering. The Forte GT also featured 911 Connect and programmable alerts for speed, curfew, and geographical boundaries.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), offering adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and road-sign recognition. Higher trims included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Safety Connect services were standard, providing automatic collision notification and emergency assistance. The IIHS rated the Prius favorably, though it did not achieve a Top Safety Pick designation.