2021 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2022 Kia Forte

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3, following its 2019 redesign, continued to impress with its dramatic and sophisticated bodywork. The sedan version, which was tested, offered a conservative yet elegant appearance, while the hatchback variant was noted for its aggressive and forward-leaning stance. The Premium Plus trim of the sedan, priced at $33,890, featured luxurious touches like Nappa leather and a high-contrast two-tone interior, aiming to elevate Mazda's brand into premium territory. Despite some use of hard plastics, the overall design and quality were commendable, with a driver-centric cabin and a well-integrated Mazda Connect infotainment system.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Forte offered four trim levels, with the GT trim being the most performance-oriented. The GT model, priced at $26,900, featured sporty design elements like red-accent detailing, a gloss black lip spoiler, and 18-inch wheels. The interior, while simple, had a sporty look with analog gauges, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and polished metal accents. The Forte GT's cabin was functional and comfortable, with a 4.2-inch driver information display and improved infotainment systems. However, the car's brakes and engine noise at highway speeds were noted as areas needing improvement.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 Turbo was powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower with 93-octane fuel and 227 horsepower with 87-octane fuel. The engine delivered 320 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm with premium fuel and 310 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm with regular fuel. Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and Mazda's i-Activ AWD system, the Mazda3 Turbo offered a smooth and predictable driving experience. The car's performance was transformative, with improved steering feel, stiffer front suspension springs, and a well-calibrated powertrain. Despite its sporty nature, the Mazda3 Turbo averaged 20.4 mpg during testing, falling short of the EPA estimate of 27 mpg.

The 2022 Kia Forte GT, on the other hand, featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. This engine was available with either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The Forte GT offered Smart, Normal, and Sport driving modes, along with a sport-tuned suspension and larger 18-inch alloy wheels. While the Forte GT provided a fun driving experience with good acceleration and handling, its brakes were not up to the task during demanding driving conditions. Additionally, the car's engine noise at highway speeds and lower-than-expected fuel economy were noted as drawbacks.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 2.5 Turbo's interior was lined with Nappa leather and featured heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. However, it lacked some premium features like a power-adjustable front passenger seat and rear-seat ventilation. The rear seats were cramped, and in-cabin storage was limited. The sedan's trunk offered 13.2 cubic feet of space, while the hatchback variant provided more utility with 20.1 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 47.1 cubic feet with the seat folded down.

The 2022 Kia Forte GT, especially with the GT2 option package, offered a comfortable and well-equipped interior. The package added a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, a power sunroof, and upgraded LED interior lighting. The Forte GT's rear seat room was impressive for a compact car, with a large and supportive bottom seat cushion. The trunk was spacious, offering 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space, the largest in its segment. The rear seats also folded down to expand capacity.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 featured the Mazda Connect infotainment system with an 8.8-inch display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year trial subscription to Mazda Connected Services. However, the lack of a touchscreen and poor voice-recognition technology were significant drawbacks. The system was paired with a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, which offered good sound quality but struggled with satellite radio. The car also included an Active Driving Display (HUD) that remained visible with polarized sunglasses.

For 2022, the Kia Forte offered new Technology option packages for various trims, adding infotainment and safety systems. The Forte GT featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen display with SiriusXM satellite radio, voice recognition, and Kia Connect connected services. The GT also had standard wireless smartphone charging and an available eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system. While the infotainment system was easy to use, the voice recognition capabilities were hit-and-miss. The Forte also included a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system, which was a useful feature for drivers.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 came with the i-ActiveSense collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), designed to support the driver. The system included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, automatic high-beam LED headlights, and an Adaptive Front Lighting System. The Premium Plus trim added features like a high-definition surround-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, low-speed reverse automatic braking, and Traffic Jam Assist. The Mazda3 received top five-star ratings in NHTSA crash tests and was expected to retain its IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" rating.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered more Kia Drive Wise technology, with standard features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a driver monitoring system. The GT-Line and GT trims added active blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Warning. Higher trims also included cyclist detection, navigation-linked adaptive cruise control, and Highway Driving Assist (HDA). The Forte received high marks from the IIHS for crashworthiness and driving assist systems but had a four-star overall crash protection rating from the NHTSA due to issues with rear passenger injury potential.