2023 Kia Forte vs 2023 Nissan Altima

The 2023 Nissan Altima maintained a legacy spanning over 50 years, tracing its lineage back to predecessors like the Datsun 510 and Nissan Stanza. For 2023, Nissan revamped the Altima's front styling with a revised grille design, introducing new wheel designs and two additional paint colors. These changes provided an updated and more formidable visual presence.

The higher trim levels, especially those featuring 19-inch wheel designs, presented an enhanced aesthetic appeal. However, it appeared that the stylish wheel design of the standard Altima SL trim was susceptible to curb damage. With the Platinum trim's departure, the Altima SL became one of the two upscale trims available, followed by the sporty Altima SR VC-Turbo with a more powerful turbocharged engine, with prices ranging from $25,290 to $34,990 plus a $1,095 destination charge.

The SL trim, equipped with optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) and floor mats, showcased an MSRP of $34,755 including the destination charge. Its appearance was dovetailing with its higher price, thanks to new wheels, although vulnerable to wear. Inside, the car had a mix of appealing elements like the high-contrast two-tone Gray leather option and double-stitched seams, though hard plastic surfaces reminded of the base price proximity to $10,000.

The Kia Forte retained some older design elements while blending in newer ones, having last been redesigned in 2019. Iconic features included the double-tab grille, a staple in Kia’s design language for over a decade, mixed with converging angled cutouts giving a hint of modern aesthetics. The GT trims stood out with bold red accents, although these weren’t universally liked.

From a side and rear perspective, the Forte's design was typical of its class yet managed gracefulness over several competitors. Inside, the Forte held onto a traditional layout with a touchscreen mounted atop the central dash, flanked by conventional climate knobs. This layout made acclimatization easier, avoiding the irksome digging through on-screen menus found in many modern cars' infotainment systems.

Despite its age since the last redesign, the Forte still impressed with interior materials superior to rivals, offering soft-touch surfaces and sturdy construction. GT models featured convincing synthetic leather upholstery, markedly more substantial than the thin vinyl-like fabrics seen in competitors like the Toyota Corolla. Kids in the rear seats benefited from durable, protective hard plastic surfaces.

For 2023, the standard powerplant for most Altima versions was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque in front-wheel-drive configurations, and slightly lower figures (182 hp and 178 lb-ft) with all-wheel-drive. The AWD configuration, available with SV, SR, and SL trims, could send up to half of the engine's power to the rear wheels depending on the driving scenario.

The Altima's power was deemed adequate, with torque peaking at 3,600 rpm. Nissan adeptly programmed the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) to mimic traditional automatics. The Altima SR enhanced driver engagement with paddle shifters. EPA fuel economy ratings ranged from 30 to 32 mpg combined, though our SL AWD averaged a somewhat disappointing 27.4 mpg.

The SR VC-Turbo offered a sportier drive with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, yielding 236 hp and 267 lb-ft on regular fuel, boosting to 248 hp and 273 lb-ft on premium fuel. Fuel economy was a respectable 29 mpg combined, despite its higher output.

Performance-wise, the Altima exhibited a firm urban ride, manageable except over speed bumps or rough roads. Highway journeys brought wind and road noise, and rear visibility was limited, making features like the reversing camera and rear cross-traffic alert critical. In mountainous routes, the Altima proved competent with good grip and flat cornering, although the steering was lackluster and brakes showed signs of heat sensitivity during extended use.

For the 2023 Kia Forte, two engine options were available. The base engine, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, delivered 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque via a CVT to the front wheels. The performance-oriented GT trim offered a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 201 hp and 132 lb-ft, paired either with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission or a six-speed manual. Both engines operated in front-wheel drive.

Acceleration figures showed the base engine reaching 60 mph in 8.7 seconds, while the GT managed a brisk 6.5 seconds. While the base powertrain sufficed for daily use, the GT's turbocharged setup catered to thrill-seekers, bolstered by a sport-tuned suspension.

However, the base model's CVT sometimes made the engine feel weaker than it was, though highway merging and passing were handled easily. The GT’s dual-clutch automatic transmission maintained power effectively but felt unrefined at low speeds. The manual transmission, though slightly slower and less fuel-efficient, offered better engagement. The GT impressively handled corners, providing minimal drama or tire squeal, with light but precise steering.

Comfort-wise, the GT's sport-tuned suspension delivered a commendable balance of comfort and handling. Although not as exhilarating as a Mazda 3, the Forte's ride remained pleasant, with manageable road noise and good cabin insulation.

Despite its inexpensive interior fittings, the Nissan Altima was intuitive and comfortable. Controls were logically placed with clear analog gauges, and the Zero Gravity seats, designed to mimic astronaut support, were notably comfortable. Our SL trim included luxurious features like dual-zone automatic climate control, a sunroof, heated front seats, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat. However, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, impacting ease of entry and exit.

The Nissan Altima featured adequate rear seat comfort with generous legroom, foot room, and headroom. Although it had commendable storage solutions, like door panel bins and a large forward tray, some impractical designs, such as difficult-to-release floor mats, detracted from usability. The trunk provided 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space, smaller than some competitors, but it was usefully shaped, although the lid lacked a handle.

The Forte's front seats offered ample space and comfort even on longer drives, with a cabin layout facilitating easy reach to controls. The rubberized phone tray below the climate controls was practical, with wireless charging available in higher trims complementing the wireless Bluetooth integration.

Rear seats comfortably accommodated average-sized adults, with sufficient headroom, legroom, and under-seat foot space. Premium trims benefited from additional air vents and charging ports for rear passengers. The trunk matched the Altima’s at 15.3 cubic feet but excelled in height, accommodating bulkier items. Remote seatback releases enhanced cargo flexibility, though the floor's fabric covering seemed less durable.

Base model Altimas had limited infotainment features, with higher trims offering significant upgrades. The SV and SR trims included an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM 360L. New for 2023, a 12.3-inch touchscreen was available as an option for these trims and standard on SL and SR VC-Turbo trims, enhancing navigation, wireless smartphone integration, and presenting a superior interface with appealing graphics. Premium trims included a nine-speaker Bose audio system, although performance varied depending on music genre.

The Kia Forte came with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen in lower trims, upgrading to a 10.25-inch display in the GT-Line and above. All models featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with higher trims offering a wireless charging pad, navigation system, and a premium eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

The Forte’s infotainment system was praised for sharp graphics, quick responses, and intuitive menu organization. Shortcut buttons facilitated ease of use, maintaining a competitive edge in tech features. It met the expectations for its class, though we encountered integration issues with wireless phone features in our test vehicle.

Standard safety features on the 2023 Altima included the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and driver monitoring. Additional features included a rear-seat reminder system, Easy Fill Tire Alert, and optional ProPilot Assist, bringing adaptive cruise control and lane-centering for higher trims.

The Altima earned five-star ratings from NHTSA for overall safety and rollover resistance, although it received four stars for front passenger frontal impact. It achieved Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS for 2022 but faltered in the side-impact test with a Poor rating.

In NHTSA tests, the 2023 Kia Forte received four out of five stars for overall protection but flagged some base forward collision features for not meeting performance criteria. IIHS awarded the Forte "Good" in most categories but rated it Poor in updated collision tests.

Standard safety assists included forward collision warning, 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.