- The 2021 Kia Forte gets some trim updates for this model year.
- The Kia Forte offers civilized driving in a compact sedan body and offers plenty of standard safety equipment even at the base.
- The GT trim gets the most updates.
- Pricing starts at $17,890| Price it your way
- On sale now | See Kia Forte models for sale near you
The 2021 Kia Forte is a reasonably priced compact sedan that offers a lot of standard equipment for a really affordable price. You can option it with a manual or automatic transmission (additional cost for automatic is $900) or shoot for the top-of-the-line trim, the GT, that starts at $23,655 with an automatic transmission (manual is an extra $600).
The 2021 Kia Forte is essentially the same as the 2020 model with some trim shifts.
Passenger Room and Comfort
Agreeable and unfussy, with strong horizontal lines and a nicely contoured dash, the Kia Forte offers a lot for such a reasonable price. The dash houses neat circular vents and a standard-issue 8-inch touchscreen. The seats are comfortable and stylish, especially on the GT, which sports embroidered logos and piping.
The old story with affordably priced cars is that the center armrest (if one existed) was typically too low and too short. That’s not the case here. The front seats are also nicely supportive and have enough travel to accommodate tall drivers. The parking brake lever might seem quaintly 20th century, but many drivers prefer it over modern electric versions that just have a switch.
Features and Tech
Forward collision mitigation, lane-keeping assistance, and driver attention monitoring are standard in the entry-level 2021 Forte FE. It also comes with a steering wheel that adjusts for height and reach, power locks/windows, a trip computer, cloth upholstery, and 6-way manually adjustable front seats. Other features include air conditioning, smartphone integration, USB port, auxiliary audio input, Bluetooth, and a 4-speaker audio system.
One of our favorite features, however, is the standard 8-inch touchscreen that comes on the 2021 Forte. It’s positioned perfectly at the top of the center console and has a handy row of buttons below. This offers an effective interface for the infotainment system that offers both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, amongst other things.
Surprisingly we also really like the continuously variable transmission, or CVT. The one in the 2021 Forte does a fantastic job of mimicking a conventional 6-speed automatic. One item of note: the LXS trim adds soft-touch materials on the dash and upper and center door panels.
Materials and Design
The 2021 Forte gets a thumbs-up from most people for its aesthetics. There’s a hint of Stinger (Kia’s highly rated sports sedan) about it, which is a good thing.
Humble 15-inch steel wheels on the base FE give way to snazzier 16-inch alloys on the LXS trim. Meanwhile, the Forte GT model takes the sporty theme to another level. It boasts a dedicated grille design, red-painted brake calipers, and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Cargo Room and Flexibility
The Kia Forte is a sedan that offers 15.3 cubic feet of trunk space. Considering that the Honda Accord’s trunk space is only bigger by 1.4 cubic feet (which is generous in this class), it’s rather impressive.
At the LXS trim and up, you get a 60/40 folding rear seat. That flexibility allows for larger and longer items in the trunk, too.
More 2021 Kia Forte
Build and price your own 2021 Kia Forte to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own, and more, or see Forte models for sale near you.
