2023 Kia Forte vs 2022 Nissan Altima

The 2022 Nissan Altima's design evolution has been remarkable since its debut in 1993. Initially known for its rather bland, softly rounded exteriors, the Altima underwent a significant transformation starting with its third generation in 2002, adopting a more aggressive and sporty aesthetic. By the time we reached the sixth generation in 2022, the Altima had refined its exterior look considerably. Available in five trims - S, SV, SR, SL, and Platinum - each version sported Nissan's distinctive V-Motion grille. The Altima’s design featured a low, wide stance, tall doors, and a sharply sloped "floating" roofline, the latter of which was deemed unnecessary by some critics. The optional Midnight Edition package for the SR trim amplified its sporty appeal with gloss black accents, a single panel moonroof, 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, and LED fog lights. The interior boasted comfortable Zero Gravity seats, a well-organized instrument panel, and high-quality materials that provided a near-premium feel. However, the sophistication of the materials and overall design diminished in lower trims.

The 2023 Kia Forte also embraced a combination of its older design philosophies with new elements. Redesigned in 2019, the Forte's double-tab grille remained a signature aspect while integrating angled cutouts underneath. The GT trims introduced bold red accents that added excitement to its appearance. The overall shape, especially from the side and rear, was more graceful than many competitors. Internally, the Forte retained a traditional layout with a touchscreen mounted on the center dash and conventional climate control knobs, offering a familiar and easily navigable setup. The interior materials maintained a quality feel even after several years, featuring convincingly synthetic leather upholstery in GT models. While the rear seat showed more hard plastic surfaces suitable for durability against scrapes, the Forte, overall, had aged well and stayed competitive against other compact sedans.

In 2022, the Nissan Altima offered two four-cylinder engines: a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated unit providing 188 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque, and a more potent 2.0-liter VC-Turbo with 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. The AWD option was available only with the base engine, while the sporty SR trim offered the VC-Turbo. All engines were paired with Nissan's Xtronic CVT, which included paddle shifters on the SR trim—a feature deemed unnecessary by many. The tech-savvy VC-Turbo engine could dynamically change compression ratios to enhance performance or efficiency, providing a V6-like experience in a four-cylinder format. Our test unit, equipped with the 2.5-liter engine, showed mediocre acceleration with some engine noise, but compensated with smooth and composed road manners due to its excellent suspension and quiet cabin.

The 2023 Kia Forte presented two engine choices: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, and a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder delivering 201 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. The base engine was adequate for everyday driving, achieving 0-60 mph in about 8.7 seconds, while the GT trim with the turbocharged engine and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic or a six-speed manual transmission could hit 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. The CVT in the base model was underwhelming but functional, and the dual-clutch automatic in the GT provided better performance, albeit with occasional jumpiness. The manual transmission offered maximum engagement but slightly reduced fuel efficiency. The GT's sportier suspension and handling were better suited for those seeking more excitement, although it remained comfortable for daily driving.

The 2022 Nissan Altima was a competent midsize sedan for commuting or family use, comfortably seating four or five passengers and offering straightforward controls, a user-friendly back seat, and a decent trunk space of 15.4 cubic feet. It occupied a central position among its competitors in terms of size, weight, and passenger space. However, the rear visibility was compromised by a high rear shelf, sloping roofline, and high trunk. The trunk also had design flaws where the metal support bars could crush cargo inside, requiring careful packing to avoid damage.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Forte’s front seats were spacious and comfortable even for taller occupants, with easy-to-reach controls. The rear seat space was sufficient for average-sized adults, complemented by separate air conditioning vents and a USB port in higher trims. The trunk offered 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly more than some competitors but less than hatchback versions of the Honda Civic and Mazda 3. The trunk's height was advantageous for loading bulky items, and remote seatback releases provided additional flexibility.

The 2022 Nissan Altima’s entry-level S trim had a 5-inch multi-function display and a basic 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, text-messaging assistant, and a six-speaker AM/FM radio. Higher trims featured an advanced 7-inch display, an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, dual USB ports, and a nine-speaker Bose audio system starting with the SL. Additional technologies included active noise cancellation on the SR VC-Turbo trim, traffic sign recognition, and an Around View Monitor. Nissan’s ProPilot Assist was available, offering advanced driving assistance like acceleration, steering, and braking under certain conditions.

The 2023 Kia Forte came with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard, with higher trims benefiting from a 10.25-inch display, navigation, and enhanced audio systems. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across the range, though wireless charging required a step up to the GT-Line trim. The infotainment system was characterized by sharp graphics, quick response, logical menu organization, and helpful shortcut buttons. However, the wireless phone integration showed intermittent issues in some test vehicles.

Safety features in the 2022 Nissan Altima included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, high-beam assist, driver-attention alert, and a rearview monitor. The SV trim and above had Safety Shield 360, adding rear automatic braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and a rear sonar system. The NHTSA awarded the FWD Altima five stars for overall crash protection, while the IIHS gave it a "Top Safety Pick+" accolade with "Good" ratings across all crash tests.

The 2023 Kia Forte earned a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four stars each in frontal, side, and rollover protection. The IIHS gave it “Good” ratings in most tests, except for “Poor” scores in the updated front moderate overlap and side impact evaluations. Standard safety features included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. Higher trims offered blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, adaptive cruise control, and pedestrian/cyclist detection.