2021 Kia Forte Review
Price Range: $7,490 - $21,444
View 194 more photos
View 194 more photos
View 194 more photos
View 194 more photos
View 194 more photos+190
The 2021 Forte is a grown-up small sedan that's a fantastic value for the money, with above-average utility. Other highlights include a comfortable, quiet interior and an extensive list of available features. However, it lags well behind top competitors in driving dynamics, ride quality and rear legroom.
Price & Payment
Changing year will take you to a new page
Average price: $16,731
$
to$
Price
Pros
- Plenty of features for the money
- Strong fuel economy estimates
- Generous warranty
- Easy-to-use tech interface
Cons
- Stiff ride
- Back seat lacks the room of some rivals
- Non-GT trims not much fun to drive on winding roads
What's new
- Minor equipment changes throughout lineup
- Summer performance tires now standard on manual-equipped GT models
- Part of the third Forte generation introduced for 2019
Overview
The small sedan market isn't as popular as it once was. Chevrolet and Ford, for example, discontinued their respective Cruze and Focus sedans to focus on selling more SUVs. But this thinning of the herd, so to speak, has actually made it a little easier to choose. And one of our favorites is the 2021 Kia Forte.
For sale near Ashburn, VA
100 listings
- $15,277good price$1,930 below market
- 42,485 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use
- 29 City / 40 Hwy MPG
- Lindsay Volkswagen of Manassas (18 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Blind Spot Monitorin...
Close
Located in Manassas, VA
REMAINING FACTORY WARRANTY!!, GT-LINE PREMIUM PACKAGE!!, Forte GT-Line, 4D Sedan, 2.0L 4-Cylinder MPI, CVT, FWD, Clear White, Black w/Cloth & Leathere...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
33 Combined MPG (29 City/40 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3KPF34AD4ME406208
Stock: MVP11315A
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 01-02-2026 - $13,981good price$1,019 below market
- 87,097 miles
- 1 accident, 1 owner, personal use only
- 27 City / 35 Hwy MPG
- MemberCar (19 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Rockville, MD
MemberCar Proudly Presents This Clean CarFax, 1-Owner 2021 Kia Forte GT, a sporty compact sedan that blends everyday practicality with exciting perfor...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
30 Combined MPG (27 City/35 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3KPF44AC8ME280469
Stock: 102362
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 10-24-2025
The Forte goes head to head with rivals such as the Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Subaru Impreza and Toyota Corolla. Even among this all-star group, the Forte stands out. We like its handsome styling, easy-to-use tech and excellent fuel economy. It's also a good value, offering plenty of features for your money, plus Kia's great warranty.
We do wish the Forte had a bit more rear-seat legroom, and its ride can be a little too stiff at times. Still, there's much to like about the Forte, especially given its price and feature list. Check out our in-depth Expert Review to help you decide if the 2021 Forte is right for you.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
by the Edmunds Experts
Good
7.9
out of 10
We drove the 2021 Kia Forte on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
Performance
7/10
How does the Forte drive? In routine driving, the Forte feels adequately punchy. At Edmunds' test track, our test Forte covered 0-60 mph in 8.7 seconds, which is an average time for the class. The CVT automatic generally works well but at times feels unpolished. It delivers power promptly when commanded, but it's too eager to drop revs when you ease off the throttle slightly. It can make for surging power delivery.
We're also not overly impressed with the Forte's handling. The steering weight is fine but offers little feedback, and the on-center feel is vague. While the Forte corners relatively flat, it can get unsettled by midcorner bumps.
We're also not overly impressed with the Forte's handling. The steering weight is fine but offers little feedback, and the on-center feel is vague. While the Forte corners relatively flat, it can get unsettled by midcorner bumps.
Comfort
8/10
How comfortable is the Forte? The Forte is more comfortable than most cars in the class. The seats are nicely contoured for long-distance comfort, and the headrests are soft and unobtrusive. Road noise is ably quelled, and only a mild amount of wind and ambient noise seeps through. The dual-zone automatic climate control works well. We also like that Kia offers ventilated front seats, although the cooling effect isn't especially powerful.
The biggest knock against the Forte here is its stiff suspension. It's OK on rough paving or shallow imperfections, but it struggles to smooth out larger bumps. The rear suspension, in particular, is especially troubled by uneven bumps.
The biggest knock against the Forte here is its stiff suspension. It's OK on rough paving or shallow imperfections, but it struggles to smooth out larger bumps. The rear suspension, in particular, is especially troubled by uneven bumps.
Interior
8/10
How’s the interior? Kia has done an excellent job designing the Forte's interior. A mix of textures makes the well-built interior look grown-up and refined. The controls are logical and easy to find, and the infotainment is easy to navigate, with physical buttons for important features. The seating position and steering wheel both offer a wide range of adjustability.
The front seat is roomy with plenty of knee and shoulder room. Taller drivers have sufficient headroom, too. Rear-seat knee room falls short compared to class leaders (and the hard plastic seatbacks don't help), but headroom is an issue only for passengers over 6 feet tall.
The front seat is roomy with plenty of knee and shoulder room. Taller drivers have sufficient headroom, too. Rear-seat knee room falls short compared to class leaders (and the hard plastic seatbacks don't help), but headroom is an issue only for passengers over 6 feet tall.
Technology
8/10
How’s the tech? Overall, the Forte offers a lot of well-integrated features. The touchscreen interface is easy to use, and the upgraded audio system sounds sharp as long as you don't turn it up too loud. Our test car didn't have the optional navigation system, but standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compensate for a lot. The native voice system recognizes basic controls with little confusion, though you have to follow a structured set of commands.
Every Forte comes with forward collision mitigation, and a blind-spot monitor is available on midtier trims and above. It's a little disappointing that adaptive cruise is only available as an option on the highest trim level. It's standard on many competitors. In testing, all systems worked well and avoided false alerts.
Every Forte comes with forward collision mitigation, and a blind-spot monitor is available on midtier trims and above. It's a little disappointing that adaptive cruise is only available as an option on the highest trim level. It's standard on many competitors. In testing, all systems worked well and avoided false alerts.
Storage
8.5/10
How’s the storage? For a small sedan, the Forte offers excellent utility. The trunk has a wide, flat load floor and a generous opening. At 15.3 cubic feet, it's also among the biggest in the class. The cabin offers several small-item storage options to help you organize your things. These include a decently sized center console box, miscellaneous storage trays and accommodating door pockets.
The anchor points for child safety seats are clearly marked, and the anchors sit close to the surface of the cushions, making them easy to access. The somewhat limited rear-seat room means bulky rear-facing seats might interfere with front seat movement.
The anchor points for child safety seats are clearly marked, and the anchors sit close to the surface of the cushions, making them easy to access. The somewhat limited rear-seat room means bulky rear-facing seats might interfere with front seat movement.
Fuel Economy
9/10
How’s the fuel economy? Fuel economy is excellent, and the EPA estimates the Forte with the base engine will get 33 mpg combined (29 city/40 highway). We fell a bit short in our real-world driving tests but saw better returns in the Forte than in most competitors.
Value
9/10
Is the Forte a good value? The Forte makes an undeniably strong value statement. It has a slightly different equipment balance than competitors, but you'll pay less for lots of features. The quality of the interior design also belies the below-average price. Cost-cutting is not all that apparent until you really start looking.
Kia and its corporate cousin, Hyundai, offer the best warranty in the business right now, with six years/60,000 miles of basic coverage and 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain. Roadside assistance, offered for five years/60,000 miles, is also good for the class, though Hyundai edges it out slightly with unlimited mileage over the same period.
Kia and its corporate cousin, Hyundai, offer the best warranty in the business right now, with six years/60,000 miles of basic coverage and 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain. Roadside assistance, offered for five years/60,000 miles, is also good for the class, though Hyundai edges it out slightly with unlimited mileage over the same period.
Wildcard
7/10
The Forte is a small car that you can show off because it doesn't give the impression of being an economy bargain pick. The strength of this car is that it's an affordable vehicle that doesn't make you feel as if you've compromised. But it also doesn't exhibit the same fun-to-drive dynamics that make the Civic and Mazda 3 so rewarding to pilot.
2021 Kia Forte trim level differences
The 2021 Kia Forte small sedan is available in five trim levels: FE, LXS, GT-Line, EX and GT. Feature highlights include: Compare the 2021 Kia Forte trim levels in-depth.
Which Forte trim does Edmunds recommend?
We suggest going with the midlevel GT-Line model. It combines a good list of standard and optional features with sporty styling, giving it a look that will stand out in the crowd.

Kia K4 vs. Honda Civic: Which One Should You Buy?

These Are the Most Anticipated New Cars of 2026

2027 Toyota Highlander vs. 2026 Kia EV9: Three-Row Family EVs Compared

These Are the Best Small SUVs for 2026
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$131/mo for Forte FE
Forte FE
vs
$181/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Reliability
The 2021 Kia Forte has a 5 years / 60,000 miles basic warranty and 2 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, ranks it #13 out of 46 among Compact Cars. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Reliability Rating by RepairPal
4 out of 5 stars4/5Excellent
#13 out of 46 among Compact Cars
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
$394/yr
vs. $416/yr
for Average Compact Car
for Average Compact Car
Frequency
0.96x/yr
vs. 1.01x/yr
for Average Compact Car
for Average Compact Car
Severity
10.3%
vs. 10.4%
for Average Compact Car
for Average Compact Car
powered by RepairPal
Recalls
2 recalls foundChecking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
- Recall Number:
- 22V304000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- SC235
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 30
- Defect Description:
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.
- Defect Consequence:
- Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
- Corrective Action:
- Dealers will tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC235.
- Recall Number:
- 21V164000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- SC207
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 142
- Defect Description:
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Defect Consequence:
- In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.
- Corrective Action:
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.
Warranty
5 years / 60,000 miles Basic Warranty- Basic Warranty
- 5 years / 60,000 miles
- Drivetrain Warranty
- 10 years / 100,000 miles
- Rust Warranty
- 5 years / 100,000 miles
- Roadside assistance Warranty
- 5 years / 60,000 miles
Kia Forte Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(68%)
4(19%)
3(3%)
2(5%)
1(5%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Incredible value ... I was so surprised
5 out of 5 starsBrian, 01/05/2021
2021 Kia Forte GT 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
After having my vehicle that I drive for work being totaled by some idiot I needed a vehicle. With the pretty hefty price increases of used vehicles I thought it might be better for something new. Did a lot of online searches looking for a solid vehicle. The GT with the Turbo 2 package just sounded like it could work. Test drove it and it was home with me in 3 hours. Technology for … the price is crazy. Ventilated seats at this price is insane. Drives nice but not to be confused with a sports car. It is sporty though. Plenty of performance for around town or the highway. My other vehicle is a BMW X3 M40I so if I want to go 0-60 in 4.5 seconds I have that. The Kia is a lot of fun to drive and you will like it the more you drive it.
2021 GT Manual - Impressed
5 out of 5 starsMemo G., 12/17/2020
2021 Kia Forte GT 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
First of all... #savethemanuals. Now that that’s out of the way, this car has been amazing! The manual GT version comes with standard summer tires which is an incredible value at about $21K USD. Kia really impressed me with the quality, technology and safety it offers. Some vehicles above the $30k mark don’t even come with some of the features the Forte GT offers. Not to mention the best … warranty in the business (10 year, 100k miles for powertrain) shows they really back their quality and reliability. The forte is also roomier than I imagined which was another pleasant surprise. Overall all smiles from the Forte! Highly recommend!
Value value value
5 out of 5 starsdoug, 12/09/2020
2021 Kia Forte LXS 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
Impressive styling, roomy interior, incredible trunk space, and a nice large infotainment screen. Got a great low mileage lease price for my father to get around town in his retirement years. Lots of standard amenities for a car at this price point. First time my father had this type of backup camera and he loved it. He said the car had much more pep than he expected. In three years I … imagine he will be leasing another one.
Unbelievable value for the money
5 out of 5 starsSteve, 05/30/2021
2021 Kia Forte LXS 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
I have a 2021 lxs model. The mileage ranges from over 40 around town to well over 45 on the highway and that's over mountains of North Carolina. I'm extremely impressed with this car. It drives very well corners very well has very good pickup. The continuous variable transmission takes a little getting used to but it's more than adequate. And of course the warranty is unreal. Out the … door for around $20,000 this value cannot be beat.
2021 Forte Features & Specs
FE
| MSRP (New) Excludes Destination Fee | $17,890 |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | Gas |
| Combined MPG | 31 MPG |
| Cost to Drive | $131/month |
| Seating | 5 seats |
| Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 15.3 cu.ft. |
| Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
| Warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the Forte models:
- Forward Collision Avoidance
- Applies the brakes automatically to avoid a collision with an obstacle in front of the vehicle.
- Blind-Spot Collision Warning
- Alerts the driver to the presence of other vehicles in the car's blind spots.
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning
- Monitors for moving traffic behind the vehicle when in reverse.
NHTSA Overall Rating
4 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall4 / 5Driver4 / 5Passenger3 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover10.7%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestGood
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedPoor
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
People who viewed this also viewed
| 4.2 average Rating out of 10 reviews. |
| Starting at $28,855 |
| 5.0 average Rating out of 6 reviews. |
| Starting at $17,795 |
| 3.8 average Rating out of 26 reviews. |
| Starting at $38,365 |
Related Used 2021 Kia Forte info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Toyota Corolla Hatchback 2021 Review
- Toyota Sienna 2021 Review
- Mazda CX 30 2020 Review
- Chevrolet Corvette 2021 Review
- Kia Stinger 2020 Review
- Kia Optima 2020 Review
- BMW I3 2020 Review
Popular new car reviews and ratings
Research other models of Kia
- New Kia Sportage Hybrid
- 2025 Sorento
- New Kia K4
- 2026 Kia Seltos
- New Kia EV9
- 2026 Carnival
- New Kia Carnival
- 2025 Sportage
- 2026 Carnival Hybrid
Other models
- Used GMC Sierra-2500Hd-Classic in Jonesborough, TN 2007
- Used Volkswagen Beetle in Norfolk, VA 2019
- Used Lexus Is-350 in Woodside, NY 2023
- Used Cadillac Escalade-Ext in Barberton, OH 2013
- Used Mercedes-Benz Glb-Class in Albany, NY 2025
- Used Kia Optima in Greensburg, PA 2020
- Used Hyundai Tiburon in Joplin, MO 2008
- Used Mazda CX-9 in Boise, ID 2024
- Used Bentley Bentayga in Pittsburgh, PA 2024
- Used GMC Canyon in Frisco, TX 2026
- New Volvo Ex30-Cross-Country for Sale in Winchester, VA
- New Hyundai Ioniq-5-N for Sale in Pullman, WA
- New Chevrolet Bolt for Sale in Norwich, CT
- New Lexus RZ for Sale in Troy, OH
- New Toyota Rav4 for Sale in Bellingham, MA
- New Mazda CX-90 for Sale in Waukegan, IL
- New Audi Sq6-E-Tron for Sale in Norwalk, CT
- New Chevrolet Blazer-Ev for Sale in Ft Mitchell, KY



