2022 Kia Forte vs 2022 Lexus IS

The 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance carried forward the legacy of the original 2008 Lexus IS F, featuring a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 engine that produced 472 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque. This power was delivered to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Priced at $56,500 plus a $1,075 destination charge, the IS 500 F Sport Performance offered a thrilling driving experience, blending emotional excitement with daily driving comfort. The car's design included subtle yet distinctive features like a raised hood, quad exhaust outlets, and exclusive 19-inch wheels, maintaining a stealthy and refined appearance.

Inside, the IS 500 F Sport Performance mirrored the IS 350 F Sport, with quality materials and a comfortable interior for four people. The addition of a wide touchscreen display for the infotainment system improved usability, although the touchpad on the center console remained a drawback. The Premium trim level added luxurious features such as triple-beam headlights, a navigation system, a surround-view monitoring system, and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system. Despite its higher price, the IS 500 F Sport Performance delivered a balanced mix of performance, comfort, and quality.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered four trim levels: FE, LXS, GT-Line, and GT, with the GT trim providing the most engaging driving experience. The Forte GT featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Priced at $26,900, the Forte GT included the GT2 Package, which added numerous features and enhancements.

The Forte GT's design included sporty elements such as red-accent detailing, a gloss black lip spoiler, and 18-inch wheels. The interior featured a 4.2-inch driver information display, an electronic parking brake, and improved infotainment systems. The GT trim also offered a sport-tuned suspension, larger wheels, and available Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer performance tires. While the Forte GT provided a fun driving experience, it fell short in areas like brake performance and noise levels on the highway. Despite these drawbacks, the Forte GT remained a comfortable and practical daily driver with a spacious trunk and rear seat room.

The 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance was powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine, producing 472 horsepower at 7,100 rpm and 395 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm. This engine, shared with the RC F and LC 500, delivered impressive performance, with a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds. The car featured an eight-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic transmission and a limited-slip differential, along with adaptive variable suspension and a Yamaha rear performance damper for improved ride comfort and stability. Despite its added weight compared to the IS 350, the IS 500 offered a thrilling driving experience with excellent handling and a captivating engine note.

The 2022 Kia Forte GT, on the other hand, was equipped with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Forte GT featured a sport-tuned suspension, larger 18-inch alloy wheels, and available Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer performance tires. While the Forte GT provided enjoyable acceleration and handling, it struggled with brake performance during demanding driving and had higher noise levels on the highway. The car's fuel economy also fell short of EPA estimates, averaging 25.8 mpg during testing.

The 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance offered a comfortable and well-equipped interior, with features like ice-cold air conditioning, seat heaters, and a heated steering wheel. The front seats provided excellent support and a snug fit, while the rear seats were adequate for average-height adults. However, the car's trunk space was limited to 10.8 cubic feet, and the touchpad controller on the center console took up valuable storage space. The control layout was user-friendly, with buttons and knobs for easy access to various functions.

The 2022 Kia Forte GT, especially with the GT2 option package, provided a comfortable and feature-rich interior. The package included 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 offered 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space, making it one of the largest in its segment. The car also featured a dual-zone automatic climate control system and rear air conditioning vents for added comfort.

The 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance featured a touchscreen infotainment display, solving previous ergonomic issues. The system included an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Premium trim added a 10.3-inch touchscreen, a navigation system, and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system. The dynamic voice command system was highly effective, handling voice queries and commands accurately.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered new Technology option packages for various trims, adding infotainment and safety systems. The FE and LXS trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The GT-Line and GT trims included a 10.25-inch touchscreen display with additional features like SiriusXM satellite radio, voice recognition, and Kia Connect connected services. The Forte 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 2022 Lexus IS came standard with Lexus Safety System+ 2.5, a comprehensive package of safety features including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-centering assistance, and automatic emergency braking. The system generally performed well, though some features like low-speed automatic braking could be overly sensitive. The IS received high safety ratings, earning a "Top Safety Pick+" from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Kia Forte included standard Kia Drive Wise technology across all trim levels, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a driver monitoring system. Higher trims added active blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Warning. The Forte also offered advanced features like navigation-linked adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist. The Forte received high marks from the IIHS, though the NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating due to concerns about rear passenger injury in side impacts.