2024 Kia Forte review

When Kia introduced the all-new 2019 Forte, the small sedan moved upscale, making it more than just an economy car offering. It was no longer offered as a hatchback or coupe, and the new styling cues gave the small car a look similar to the brand’s flagship Stinger sport sedan, adding to its appeal. In the first year of the fourth generation, the Forte had one engine option—it wasn’t very powerful, but it achieved an EPA combined estimate as high as 35 mpg. In 2020, Kia added some performance to the lineup with the new GT trim. The GT had larger brakes, an independent rear suspension, dual exhaust, and a more powerful turbocharged engine. 

The Forte featured a spacious cabin for a compact sedan, with reasonable space for rear-seat passengers and a surprisingly large trunk. The standard eight-inch touchscreen display presented an intuitive infotainment system with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. The Forte was discontinued at the end of the 2024 model year, when it was replaced by the new K4.

Kia offered the third-generation Forte in three body styles when it came to market in 2014—a sedan, a four-door hatchback (known as Forte5), and a two-door coupe (known as the Forte Koup). Three different engines were offered, ranging from the base-level 1.8-liter four-cylinder to a 201-horsepower turbocharged engine in the SX coupe and hatchback trims. 

Two inches longer than its predecessor, the Forte featured one of the more spacious cabins in its class, with rear-seat legroom improving over the previous generation. An extensive standard feature list helped set the Forte apart from its competition, and the cabin had a surprisingly upscale feel for an entry-level economy car. With an extensive list of standard and available features, the Forte could be equipped with high-end features like heated rear seats, a cooling glovebox, leather seat trim, ventilated front seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control.