2022 BMW 3 Series vs 2022 Kia Forte

The 2022 BMW 3 Series lineup included the 330i, 330e, M340i, and M3, with base prices ranging from $41,450 to $73,000, excluding a $995 destination charge. Each version had a distinct powertrain, with the 330i and 330e featuring a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the latter paired with plug-in hybrid technology offering 23 miles of electric range. The M340i boasted a turbocharged six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology and dynamic tuning for enhanced handling, while the high-performance M3 stood at the top of the range.

The M340i test vehicle featured Barbera Red special-order paint, Cognac-color SensaTec simulated leather upholstery, and an optional SensaTec dashboard wrap. It included the Driving Assistance and Driving Assistance Pro packages, the Premium package, the Cooling and High-Performance Tire package, and an Adaptive M Suspension, totaling $67,390 with the destination charge. The M340i's exterior design included exclusive grille and bumper designs, Shadowline trim, and blue brake calipers, with 19-inch wheels wrapped in high-performance tires. Inside, the perforated SensaTec upholstery and Cognac color provided a trendy, upscale look, with quality materials and a technical design focused on driving enjoyment.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered four trim levels: FE, LXS, GT-Line, and GT. The Forte FE was the fuel-economy leader, rated at 41 mpg on the highway, while the LXS provided essential features. The GT-Line added sporty looks without sporty driving characteristics, and the GT was the most fun to drive. The evaluated Forte GT came with Steel Gray paint, the GT2 Package, carpeted floor mats, and an MSRP of $26,900, including a $1,055 destination charge.

For those on a tighter budget, the FE, LXS, or GT-Line trims ranged from $19,090 to $21,290, plus the destination charge. The 2022 Forte models featured a new grille, headlights, and bumpers, with fresh wheel designs for the LXS and GT-Line. The GT-Line and GT received new fog lights and taillights, with the GT boasting brighter LED headlights. The GT's sportier look included red-accent detailing, a gloss black lip spoiler, and larger 18-inch wheels with a machined finish. Inside, the Forte GT featured a 4.2-inch driver information display, a revised center console with an electronic parking brake and Auto Hold feature, and improved infotainment systems. The GT's interior had a sporty look with seat perforations, patterns, piping, and stitching, and polished metal accents.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series M340i was equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine featuring 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, returning 24.9 mpg on the evaluation route, just shy of the EPA rating of 26 mpg. The engine produced 382 horsepower between 5,800 rpm and 6,500 rpm and 368 pound-feet of torque from 1,800 rpm to 5,000 rpm. It paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission with Sport mode, paddle shifters, and launch control, driving the rear wheels through an M Sport differential. The M340i included M Sport brakes, variable sport steering, and a standard M Sport suspension, with the test car featuring the optional Adaptive M Suspension.

BMW claimed the M340i could accelerate to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, and the car delivered thrilling performance, with the transmission behaving flawlessly. The M340i felt hard-wired to the driver's inputs, exhibiting graceful athleticism and surgical precision. The sixth-generation 3 Series had improved over the years, and the M340i provided a thrilling driving experience, making it a highly recommended sports sedan.

The 2022 Kia Forte GT offered a more exciting driving experience with its turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, available from 1,500 rpm to 4,500 rpm. The engine paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) with paddle shifters. Drivers could choose between Smart, Normal, or Sport driving modes, adjusting throttle response, transmission behavior, and steering feel. The Forte GT featured a sport-tuned suspension with an independent rear design, a sport-tuned exhaust, larger 18-inch alloy wheels, and available Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer performance tires.

The Forte GT delivered effortless acceleration and driving enjoyment, with a good blend of ride and handling characteristics. However, the brakes were not up to the task of demanding mountain descents, and the engine noise at highway speeds was noticeable. The Forte GT's fuel economy fell short of EPA ratings, averaging 25.8 mpg on the testing loop and 32.8 mpg over a week. Despite its flaws, the Forte GT worked well as a daily driver, offering a zippy commute, comfortable road trips, and affordability, though it might not satisfy serious driving enthusiasts.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series M340i featured power-adjustable front sport seats with ample support for various driving conditions. The driving position was perfect, with a thick-rimmed steering wheel shaped for comfort and grip. Rear seat passengers had enough legroom for four relatively tall people, though the center rear seating position was likely to go unused. The back seat provided good thigh support, but the rigid plastic panels on the front seatbacks could be uncomfortable.

The M340i came with a three-zone automatic climate control system, with the Premium package adding a heated steering wheel and heated front seats. Heated rear seats were available, but ventilated front seats were not. Interior storage space was decent, and the 17 cubic-foot trunk offered roomy cargo space with a 40/20/40-split folding design and a center armrest pass-through for added utility. However, a BMW M340i sports wagon would have been even better, though not available in the U.S.

The 2022 Kia Forte GT, with the GT2 option package, included a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, a power sunroof, upgraded LED interior lighting, and full SynTex simulated leather seats. The Forte GT proved comfortable for long road trips, with a height-adjustable front passenger seat ensuring proper leg support. The ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control system, with rear air conditioning vents, kept passengers cool.

Rear seat room was good for a compact car, with a large bottom seat cushion angled for proper support. The hard plastic front seatback panels were a drawback, but the car accommodated both children and adults well. The Forte's trunk was large, with 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space, the biggest in the segment. Full-size suitcases could be placed flat or on their sides, and a grab handle on the inner side allowed for easy lid closure. The rear seats also folded down to expand capacity.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series came standard with Live Cockpit Professional, featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system display, and a navigation system. While the traditional round analog gauges were missed, the infotainment technology package worked well. BMW iDrive 7.0 was intuitive, with multiple control options, including a center console knob, touchscreen display, steering wheel controls, and voice recognition. Gesture control was also available but had mixed success.

The 3 Series included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a 10-speaker HiFi sound system. The Connected Package Pro technology provided BMW Remote Services and the Intelligent Personal Assistant, which responded accurately to various queries and requests. A head-up display was available but challenging to read with polarized sunglasses. The Driving Assistance Professional package added a surround-view camera system, parking sensors, autonomous parking capability, and a Back-Up Assistant for tight parking spaces.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered new Technology option packages for the LXS, GT-Line, and GT models, adding infotainment and safety systems. The GT-Line Premium Package further expanded tech features. A rear-seat USB port and remote engine starting capability were newly available. The FE and LXS trims had an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

The GT-Line and GT trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen display with more features, including SiriusXM satellite radio, voice recognition, and Kia Connect connected services. The Forte GT had standard wireless smartphone charging, and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system was available. The infotainment system was easy to use, with intuitive menu structures and control knobs. However, the voice recognition system had mixed success, and the Forte's digital assistant struggled with specific requests.

The Forte's Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system was a standout feature, notifying drivers when traffic ahead was moving again. This system was particularly useful for those distracted by their phones while waiting in traffic.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series included Active Guard, a package with forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, city-speed automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The optional Driving Assistance package added a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert. The Driving Assistance Professional package further included lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, evasive-steering assist, Extended Traffic Jam Assistant, and Emergency Stop Assistant.

The 3 Series earned a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and five-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), including for rollover resistance.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered more Kia Drive Wise technology, with standard forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver monitoring system. The GT-Line and GT trims added active blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with rear automatic braking, and a Safe Exit Warning system.

Safety-related upgrades included cyclist detection, navigation-linked adaptive cruise control, and Highway Driving Assist (HDA). The IIHS gave the Forte high marks for crashworthiness and driving assist systems, though testing for the revised LED headlights was incomplete. The NHTSA gave the Forte a four-star overall crash protection rating, with concerns about rear passenger injury in a side impact.