2022 Kia Forte vs 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2022 Kia Forte offered four trim levels: FE, LXS, GT-Line, and GT. The Forte GT, which we evaluated, came with Steel Gray paint, the GT2 Package, and a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $26,900, including a destination charge of $1,055. This trim level featured a new grille, headlights, and bumpers, along 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 also had red-accent detailing, a gloss black lip spoiler, and larger 18-inch wheels with a machined finish.

Inside, the Forte GT retained traditional analog gauges, round outer air vents, and a thick-rimmed steering wheel with a flat-bottom design. The interior featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information display, an electronic parking brake, and an Auto Hold feature. The GT-Line and GT trims used a different kind of simulated leather than previous models. The GT’s interior had a sporty look with seat perforations, patterns, piping, and stitching that had a Germanic appearance, complemented by polished metal interior accents.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, specifically the S 580e with a plug-in hybrid powertrain and 4Matic all-wheel drive (AWD), continued the legacy of the seventh generation that debuted in 2021. The S 580e featured optional high-gloss black trim, 20-inch AMG wheels, and AMG-style front and rear bumpers and side skirts. The interior offered eight different colors of sumptuous leather upholstery and five different trim materials. Our tester had Sienna Brown and Black leather, a panoramic sunroof, and superb fit and finish, including ridiculously soft headrests.

The S 580e’s interior was luxurious, with massaging seats, heated and ventilated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and armrests. Power sunshades on the rear and side-rear windows, soft-closing doors, and 64-color ambient lighting added to the luxury. The Energizing Comfort wellness program combined interior lighting, massage, audio, fragrance, and climate controls to boost mood and spirit. However, the cargo space was limited to 8.1 cubic feet, compared to the standard S-Class’s 12.9 cubes.

The 2022 Kia Forte carried over most of its mechanical components from the previous year. The GT trim featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) with paddle shifters. The GT trim also had 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 offered Smart, Normal, and Sport driving modes, adjusting throttle response, transmission behavior, and steering feel. The car demonstrated good acceleration, passing power, and a blend of ride and handling characteristics. However, the brakes were not up to the task of demanding mountain descents, and the engine noise at 75 mph on the freeway was noticeable. The Forte GT averaged 25.8 mpg on the testing loop and 32.8 mpg during a week-long loan, falling short of the EPA’s fuel economy promises.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S 580e paired a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six-cylinder engine with a 28.6-kWh battery and an electric motor, offering 56 miles of all-electric range. The car could be charged at 11 kW for home charging or 60 kW with DC fast charging. The EPA rated the S 580e PHEV at 51 MPGe combined, but our test achieved 53.9 mpg over nearly 400 miles, with 223 miles driven without burning gasoline.

The S 580e produced 510 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, managed by a nine-speed automatic transmission, accelerating from 0 to 62 mph in about 4.4 seconds. The car featured a buttery soft air suspension, rear-wheel steering, and a smooth transition between electric and gas power in Hybrid mode. The nine-speed automatic transmission offered seamless gear shifts, though there was a slight jerk when downshifting into first gear at lights. Drivers could adjust brake regeneration and opt for a creep function for one-pedal driving.

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 car proved comfortable for long road trips, with a height-adjustable front passenger’s seat and ventilated front seats. The dual-zone automatic climate control system and rear air conditioning vents kept passengers cool.

Rear seat room was good for a compact car, with a large and angled bottom seat cushion for proper support. The Forte’s trunk offered 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space, the largest in its segment, with the ability to fold down the rear seats to expand capacity.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was packed with standard features, including massaging seats, heated and ventilated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and armrests. Power sunshades, soft-closing doors, and 64-color ambient lighting added to the luxury. The Energizing Comfort wellness program combined interior lighting, massage, audio, fragrance, and climate controls to boost mood and spirit. However, the cargo space was limited to 8.1 cubic feet, compared to the standard S-Class’s 12.9 cubes.

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 the tech 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 had a 10.25-inch touchscreen display with more features but required a cable for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Forte’s infotainment system was easy to use, with intuitive menu structures and knobs for the stereo and navigation map. The voice recognition system had mixed results, and Kia Connect’s capabilities were not fully clear. The Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system was a standout feature, alerting drivers when vehicles ahead started moving.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class featured a reconfigurable 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen center display with the latest MBUX infotainment system. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a native navigation system with augmented reality, and an optional large color head-up display. The stoplight view feature automatically turned on the forward-facing camera at intersections. The car also had wireless charging and USB-C ports, with a standard Burmester sound system.

The 2022 Kia Forte included standard forward-collision warning with 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. Optional safety features included cyclist detection, navigation-linked adaptive cruise control, and Highway Driving Assist (HDA).

The Forte received high marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for crashworthiness and driving assist systems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Forte a four-star overall crash protection rating, with a three-star frontal impact rating for the front passenger and concerns about rear passenger injury in a side impact.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class included lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and a hands-on highway driver-assist system. The car also featured Crosswind Assist and Speed Limit Assist. The S 580e and other S-Class variants had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS.