2023 Kia Forte vs 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback emerged as a bold contender in a market where hatchbacks were losing ground to small crossover SUVs. Despite the trend, Honda saw potential in the hatchback segment and introduced a redesigned Civic Hatchback, aiming to capture a significant share of the remaining market. Manufactured in Indiana, it was one of the few compact cars still produced in the U.S. The Civic Hatchback shared its front design with the Civic sedan but featured a unique grille pattern and wheel designs. From the rear, it maintained a distinct hatchback profile, although it still exhibited a somewhat unbalanced visual weight distribution. Inside, the Civic Hatchback mirrored the sedan's interior, with Sport Touring trim offering advanced digital instrumentation and infotainment displays. The overall design was modern and sophisticated, though the CVT shifter operation was slightly lacking in refinement.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Forte retained some of Kia's older design cues while incorporating newer styling elements. The double-tab grille and angled cutouts were familiar, while the GT trims added bold red accents for a sportier look. The Forte's design was more conventional from the side and rear, yet it maintained a graceful shape. Inside, the Forte held onto Kia's older layout, with a touchscreen atop the center dash and traditional climate controls below. The interior materials were of higher quality than many rivals, with soft-touch surfaces and sturdy construction. The GT models featured convincing synthetic leather upholstery, and despite the passage of time since its redesign, the Forte's interior remained competitive against newer sedans.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered two engine options. The LX and Sport trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT or a six-speed manual transmission in the Sport trim. The EX-L and Sport Touring trims boasted a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, delivering peak torque between 1,700 and 4,500 rpm. The Civic Hatchback was front-wheel drive, with a variable-ratio electric steering system and a suspension setup that included MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link independent design in the rear. The Sport and Sport Touring trims rode on 18-inch wheels, while the LX and EX-L had smaller wheels. The CVT worked well with the turbocharged engine, offering a smooth driving experience, while the six-speed manual transmission provided an engaging drive. The Civic Hatchback excelled in fuel economy, nearly matching EPA estimates in real-world testing.

The 2023 Kia Forte offered two engine choices as well. The base engine was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The GT trim featured a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 201 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, available with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. The base engine provided adequate acceleration, while the GT trim delivered a more exciting performance with a sport-tuned suspension. The dual-clutch automatic transmission kept power readily available, though it could be jumpy at lower speeds. The manual transmission offered a light clutch effort and precise gear shifts. The Forte GT handled well, with a sportier feel than expected, and the ride quality remained comfortable despite the sport-tuned suspension.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback excelled in functionality, offering a generous 24.5 cubic feet of trunk space and a two-piece cargo shade for convenience. The back seat featured a 60/40-split folding design, though the load floor was not flat. All seating positions were comfortable, with sufficient legroom, though the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster. The driver enjoyed an eight-way power-adjustable seat, and both front seats were heated. The Civic Hatchback featured black fabric seats in LX and Sport trims, with black leather upholstery in EX-L and Sport Touring trims. Automatic climate control was standard, with a dual-zone system in higher trims.

The 2023 Kia Forte's front seats provided ample space and comfort, with controls within easy reach of the driver. A rubberized phone tray and available wireless charger added convenience. The rear seats offered enough room for average-sized adults, with higher trims featuring separate air conditioning vents and a USB charge port. The trunk held up to 15.3 cubic feet of cargo, slightly more than some competitors, though the hatchback versions of rivals offered more space. The cargo floor had a flimsy fabric covering, but the space itself was notable for its height, allowing for bulkier items.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a new infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen in lower trims and a 9-inch display in the Sport Touring trim. The top-tier system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. Physical knobs for sound system controls improved usability, and the voice recognition system worked well. Digital instrumentation was standard, with a 10.2-inch display in the Sport Touring trim.

The 2023 Kia Forte came with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen in lower trims and a 10.25-inch display in higher trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with a wireless charging pad available in higher trims. The GT-Line added navigation and upgraded the audio system, with an optional eight-speaker Harman Kardon system. The infotainment system featured sharp graphics and quick responses, with logical menu organization and helpful shortcut buttons.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback was equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Additional features included Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Keeping Assist, and Traffic Jam Assist. Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning were available in higher trims. The Civic Hatchback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Kia Forte received four out of five stars from the NHTSA for overall protection. Standard safety features included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. Higher trims offered additional features such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, adaptive cruise control, and pedestrian/cyclist detection. The Forte received "Good" ratings from the IIHS in most evaluations, though it scored "Poor" in updated front moderate overlap and side impact tests.