2020 Kia Forte Review

Redesigned just last year, the Kia Forte is one of the most compelling small sedans around. Much of that appeal stems from the car's value. Even the base 2020 Forte is equipped with plenty of the latest advanced driver safety features, for instance, and the midpriced GT-Line comes with far more equipment than similarly priced sedans. At the top of the ladder is the new Forte GT, which ups the performance quotient at a lower price than other sporty small sedans.

Under the hood of the 2020 Forte GT is a capable turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine making 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. This little power unit can be found in quite a few other Kia and Hyundai products, and in every application we appreciate its punchy output. In the Forte, it will provide a welcome bump up from the standard 147-hp engine.

The Honda Civic is one of the Forte's chief competitors. While the Forte offers some features the Civic doesn't, you will find it comes up a little short on refinement. The ride quality isn't as smooth as the Civic's, and it's a little less fun to drive. It's a similar story when cross-shopping the Mazda 3. But we're talking small degrees of difference, and the Forte's value easily makes up for it. Overall, we think the 2020 Forte is an excellent small sedan and recommend it to anyone who desires a tech-heavy small car without a sky-high price tag.

Notably, the 2020 Kia Forte is a featured vehicle in our Cheapest New Cars article.