2022 Kia Forte vs 2022 Lexus ES

The 2022 Lexus ES had a long-standing reputation as a staple in the Lexus lineup, evolving over seven generations since its debut in 1990. Despite a decline in sales since its peak in 2007, the ES continued to attract a respectable number of buyers each year. However, Lexus faced a challenge with the ES's popularity among an aging demographic, which the company needed to balance with efforts to attract younger buyers without alienating its loyal customer base. This balancing act often resulted in safe and somewhat peculiar design choices for the ES.

The latest generation of the ES, launched in 2018, utilized the Global Architecture-K (GA-K) platform, shared with models like the Lexus RX and Toyota Camry. This platform supported a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout, with an option for all-wheel drive. The ES featured elegant proportions and a sleek roofline, though its prominent "spindle" grille and assertive headlamp shapes were polarizing. The interior, while precisely assembled, had an asymmetrical dashboard and bold two-tone leather seating in the F Sport model, which felt somewhat mismatched with the car's overall design.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered four trim levels: FE, LXS, GT-Line, and GT. The Forte FE was the fuel-economy leader, while the LXS provided essential features without extras. The GT-Line added sporty aesthetics without performance enhancements, and the GT was the most fun to drive. The Forte GT, priced at $26,900 with the GT2 Package, included features like Steel Gray paint, carpeted floor mats, and a destination charge.

For those on a tighter budget, the Forte's base prices ranged from $19,090 to $21,290, excluding the destination charge. The 2022 model year brought updates like a new grille, headlights, bumpers, and fresh wheel designs for the LXS and GT-Line. The GT-Line and GT received new fog lights and taillights, with the GT featuring brighter LED headlights. The GT's sportier look included red-accent detailing, a gloss black lip spoiler, and larger 18-inch wheels, though the intricate wheel design was challenging to clean.

The Forte's interior remained similar to the previous year, with a standard 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-Line and GT featured a new type of simulated leather. The Forte GT's interior had a sporty look with traditional analog gauges, round outer air vents, and a thick-rimmed steering wheel. The seats had a Germanic appearance with polished metal accents, adding a touch of sophistication to the cabin.

The 2022 Lexus ES came in three models, each distinguished by its powertrain. The base ES 250 AWD featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission, producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It achieved an EPA rating of 25 mpg city/34 mpg highway/28 mpg combined. The ES 250 AWD could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 8.6 seconds, with a top speed of 131 mph.

The ES 350, equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivered 307 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, achieving a 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds and the same top speed as the ES 250 AWD. The ES 350's EPA ratings were 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway/26 mpg combined. The F Sport trim had slightly lower fuel efficiency. The ES 300h hybrid combined a 176-hp four-cylinder engine with a 39-hp electric motor, producing a net 215 hp. It achieved 43 mpg city/44 mpg highway/44 mpg combined and had a 0-60 mph time of 8.1 seconds with a top speed of 112 mph.

Our test car, the ES 250 AWD, had a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine that felt underwhelming for a luxury sedan. While it handled well and drove smoothly, it lacked the excitement expected from a $45,000 vehicle. The ES 350's V6 offered a more engaging driving experience, and the ES 300h excelled in fuel economy.

The 2022 Kia Forte's mechanical components largely carried over from the previous year. Most trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The FE trim achieved 35 mpg combined, while the LXS and GT-Line managed 33 mpg.

The Forte GT, however, offered a more exhilarating driving experience with its turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. This engine could be paired with a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) with paddle shifters. The GT also featured a sport-tuned suspension, larger 18-inch alloy wheels, and available Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer performance tires.

The Forte GT's modifications resulted in effortless acceleration and enjoyable driving dynamics. It handled well on local mountain roads, providing a good blend of ride and handling characteristics. However, the brakes struggled during demanding mountain descents, and the engine noise at highway speeds was noticeable. The Forte GT's fuel economy fell short of EPA estimates, averaging 25.8 mpg during testing and 32.8 mpg over a week-long loan.

Despite its flaws, the Forte GT was a fun and practical daily driver, offering a zippy commute, comfortable road trips, and affordability. However, it wasn't a true performance sedan like the Hyundai Elantra N.

The 2022 Lexus ES offered a generous 13.9 cubic feet of trunk space, which remained unchanged in the hybrid ES 300h. The trunk featured a pass-through behind the center armrest for long, slim cargo, and the second row in the ES 250 and ES 350 folded flat for additional storage. The ES sedan had a lower center of gravity and ground clearance than the Lexus RX, contributing to better handling and fuel economy. It also had a tighter turning circle, making it easier to maneuver in confined spaces.

Inside, the ES provided ample storage and convenience features, including big bottle pockets, cupholders, a tablet-sized center console storage bin, and a large glove compartment. The dashboard layout was functional, with a prominent volume knob for the audio system, catering to mature drivers.

The 2022 Kia Forte GT, equipped with the GT2 option package, offered numerous features such as 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 and ventilated front seats for added comfort.

Rear seat room was impressive for a compact car, with a large and supportive bottom seat cushion. The Forte's trunk was the largest in its segment, offering 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space. The rear seats also folded down to expand capacity, and a grab handle on the trunk lid made it easy to close without getting dirty.

The 2022 Lexus ES came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa+Lexus compatibility, a 10-speaker Pioneer sound system, USB audio input connections, Bluetooth, a CD player, HD radio, and SiriusXM satellite radio with a three-month trial. Upper trims upgraded to a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Mark Levinson 17-speaker surround sound audio, and navigation. The ES used a touchpad interface for the infotainment system, which was better than the previous fixed mouse setup but still challenging to use on rough roads.

Upper trims also featured a 10-inch head-up display, a Panoramic View Monitor, and Intuitive Parking Assist with auto braking. Lexus Enform connected services included Safety Connect, Service Connect, Remote, WiFi, Dynamic Navigation, and Destination Assist.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered new Technology option packages for the LXS, GT-Line, and GT trims, 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 with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The GT-Line and GT featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with SiriusXM satellite radio, voice recognition, Kia Connect services, remote engine starting, remote climate preconditioning, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and a find-my-car feature. The GT also had wireless smartphone charging and an available eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system.

The Forte's infotainment system was user-friendly, with intuitive menus, power/volume and tuning/zoom knobs, and purple-themed graphics. However, the voice recognition system had mixed results, and Kia Connect's functionality was inconsistent. The Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system was a standout feature, notifying drivers when traffic ahead started moving.

The 2022 Lexus ES ranked highly in safety, earning the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included the Lexus Safety System+ 2.5, with a pre-collision system, lane-departure warning, road-sign assist, Enhanced Lane-Tracing Assist, adaptive cruise control, and Intelligent High Beam Control. Additional standard features were blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, 10 airbags, and three years of Lexus Enform Safety Connect service.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered more Kia Drive Wise technology, with standard features like forward-collision warning, 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, rear automatic braking, and Safe Exit Warning.

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