2022 Kia Forte vs 2021 Kia K5

The 2021 Kia K5 was a visual representation of Kia's new identity, stepping away from its past with a bold and fresh look. The K5 drew instant attention with its striking fastback sedan form, vividly resembling the Kia Stinger but with a more accessible flair. Its GT-Line trim, adorned in fashionable flat Wolf Gray paint and fire-engine red seats, projected an appearance much akin to the Audi A5 Sportback. Designed under Peter Schreyer’s guidance, the K5 showcased meticulous details such as a long rear window blending seamlessly into a short tail and polished black trim. The K5’s unique taillights with dashed LEDs created a visual harmony, emphasizing its one-inch wider body compared to the Optima. Despite some decorative fake air vents and exhaust tips, its proportions provided it a sportier stance, being both lower and longer than its predecessor, with an additional two inches at the wheelbase. The front of the K5, especially in GT-Line trim, featured sophisticated textures and sharp LED running lights, ensuring the car stood out from every angle.

Inside, the 2021 K5 matched its exterior charisma with a driver-centric interior. The GT-Line featured red seats with black accents and a flat-bottom steering wheel. Although our test model had an analog instrument panel and an 8-inch touchscreen, it felt upscale due to the premium materials like polished black trim and well-crafted vinyl seats. The K5 cleverly incorporated design elements like the Supra-style divider in the dash and the overlapping instrument panel. Overall, the interior exuded an appealing mix of sportiness and quality.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Forte sported a revamped grille, headlights, and bumpers across its trims. This year, the Forte GT particularly stood out with brighter LED headlights, unique red-accent details, a glossy black lip spoiler, and larger 18-inch wheels, making it the most visually compelling in its family. Its redesign extended to new fog lights and taillights for the GT-Line and GT trims.

Inside, the 2022 Forte's interior largely carried over from the previous year, with notable improvements like a slightly revised center console and updated infotainment systems. The GT model featured sporty elements including thicker-rimmed, flat-bottom steering wheels and German-style seat accents. Polished metal interior accents added a touch of sophistication. While simplistic compared to the K5, the Forte GT provided a sporty look and good-quality enhancements for its segment.

The driving experience of the 2021 Kia K5, particularly in its GT-Line trim, did not align with the sporty promise of its appearance. Despite aggressive styling, it lagged behind competitors like the Volkswagen GLI, and lacked paddle shifters. The K5’s softer suspension and Pirelli P Zero All-Season tires caused noticeable squealing in tight turns. However, it balanced isolation and comfort in its ride quality, making it more of a well-performing family sedan rather than a sports sedan. The K5’s GT trim, with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine delivering 290 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, hinted at better performance but remained an FWD without an AWD option.

The standard engine across the K5 range was a 1.6-liter turbo-four, producing 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. It offered commendable acceleration, complemented by an eight-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy for the FWD variant was impressive, with an EPA rating of 27 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined.

The 2022 Kia Forte, on the other hand, offered a modest 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine in most trims, giving it 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque managed through a CVT. The FE trim boasted the best fuel efficiency at 35 mpg combined, while the LXS and GT-Line delivered 33 mpg combined.

The Forte GT trim promised an engaging drive with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine producing 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DCT with paddle shifters. This model allowed drivers to choose between Smart, Normal, and Sport modes, adjusting various driving dynamics. The GT’s sport-tuned suspension offered satisfying ride and handling balance, making it enjoyable on twisty roads despite some limitations in steering and braking performance. However, at higher rpms, the turbo engine introduced notable cabin noise, and the brakes underperformed during extended sports driving.

For any sedan, interior space is crucial, and the 2021 Kia K5 excelled in this area despite its raked profile. The K5 comfortably fit two adults in the rear thanks to strategic design elements like scalloped roof portions and front seatbacks. Though it lacked rear air vents in the 2021 models, overall comfort was notable. Front seats were supportive and firm, ideal for long drives. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with optional upgrades including a 10-inch display. Trunk space was ample, with 16 cubic feet available before folding the rear seats.

The 2022 Kia Forte, particularly the GT with the GT2 option package, offered commendable features enhancing comfort and practicality. It included a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, a sunroof, and upgraded LED lighting. One standout was the height-adjustable front passenger seat, ensuring comfort for both the driver and passenger. Rear seat space was generous, with a large cushion for better support. The Forte boasted a 15.3 cubic feet trunk, effectively accommodating luggage and other cargo. Additionally, it provided the convenience of easily foldable rear seats to expand cargo capacity.

In the 2021 Kia K5, standard technology features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making smartphone integration seamless. The GT-Line trim added useful enhancements such as a power driver’s seat, rear USB ports, and auto up/down controls for the front passenger window. The Premium package further added features like a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, and advanced LED headlights. Higher trims included options like a Bose stereo system and a larger 10-inch infotainment display. Safety features were plentiful, with adaptive cruise control providing semi-automated driving in highway conditions without navigation.

The 2022 Kia Forte introduced new Technology option packages for various trims, improving infotainment and safety systems. Notably, wireless smartphone integration was available only in the FE and LXS trims via an 8-inch touchscreen. Higher trims required a USB connection but offered additional features like SiriusXM radio and Kia Connect services. The GT trim came with wireless smartphone charging and an optional Harman Kardon sound system. Despite some quirks in voice recognition, the infotainment system was user-friendly with intuitive controls.

The 2021 Kia K5 was expected to earn top safety ratings due to its stronger chassis and body shell. Standard safety features included rear side airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, forward emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims offered advanced systems like blind-spot monitoring with Safe Exit Assist, cyclist detection, and Junction Turning. These features ensured a high level of safety across the K5 range.

The 2022 Kia Forte expanded its Kia Drive Wise technology offerings. Standard across all trims were features including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. GT-Line and GT trims added active blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Warning. Advanced features like adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and Highway Driving Assist were available on certain trims. The NHTSA rated the Forte four stars overall, while the IIHS gave it high marks except for unassessed headlights on the GT trim.