The 2023 Kia Forte is a compact sedan that competes against several highly regarded rivals, including the Honda Civic, Mazda3, Toyota Corolla, and Volkswagen Jetta. What sets the Kia Forte apart is its upscale and modern-looking interior filled with quality trim, a high degree of standard technology features, and a budget-friendly price undercutting many competitors.
Starting at $19,690, the entry-level Kia Forte in LX trim has a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that sends 147 horsepower to the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). That price is notably less than the base versions of the Civic and Corolla, with starting prices of $23,950 and $21,700, respectively.
The 2023 Forte is offered in five trims: LX, LXS, GT-Line, GT, and GT Manual. The 147-horsepower 4-cylinder is found in the lower three trims. A zippier 201-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder coupled to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) takes up residence under the hood of the GT, and a 6-speed manual transmission handles the gears in the GT Manual, naturally. But for many compact sedan shoppers, the economy-minded base powertrain fits the bill.
While the Forte LX has several desirable standard features – including an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility – it’s worth stepping up to the Forte LXS trim. For only $500 more than the LX, the Forte LXS adds a 60/40 split-folding rear seat back, 16-inch alloy wheels, and upgraded interior trim with more soft-touch surfaces.
Better still, for another $500, a Forte LXS buyer can choose the LXS Technology Package. Not available on the Forte LX, this package adds blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning, and heated side mirrors with integrated LED turn signals into one price-sensitive option bundle. With all this in mind, it should be no surprise to learn that the LXS is currently the most popular trim in the Forte lineup.
Let’s look at some of what the Kia Forte LXS has to offer compact sedan shoppers:
2023 Kia Forte LXS: $20,190
- 147-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and CVT
- Front-wheel drive
- 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Rearview monitor with dynamic parking guidance
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Bluetooth
- Cloth seating surfaces
- 4-speaker audio system
- One front USB port
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Split-folding rear seatback
- LED headlights
- Automatic emergency braking
- Lane-keeping assist
- Lane-following assist
- Rear occupant alert
- Driver attention warning
The Forte LXS is a lot of sedan for your car-buying dollar. It’s also worth pointing out some highlights that make it worth a test drive for anyone in the market for a low-cost vehicle that’s great on gas.
Fuel Economy
The downside is that the base 4-cylinder engine feels sluggish when asked for anything beyond a modest degree of acceleration. When you punch the gas pedal, you’ll get more noise than actual get-up-and-go. The upside is that this powertrain is excellent on gasoline. The Forte LXS returns an EPA-reported 28 mpg in city driving and 39 mpg on the highway, or 32 mpg combined. On a full tank, the Forte has a driving range of 448 miles, and it’s happy to run on a diet of regular-grade fuel.
8-Inch Infotainment Display
With its clear-cut menus and sharp graphics, the infotainment screen in the Forte is simple to operate after only a couple of minutes of familiarization. That it comes standard with wireless smartphone projection is another bonus. A similarly impressive and user-friendly 10.25-inch screen is standard in higher trims but requires a wired connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Kia Drive Wise
Kia Drive Wise is a suite of active safety features that comes standard on every Forte. It includes automatic emergency braking, a rearview camera, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beam headlights, and more. Despite its affordable price, the Forte doesn’t skimp on safety.
LXS Technology Package
We’ve already pointed out what a bargain this option package represents. At only $500 extra, the LXS Technology Package offers desirable safety items – like blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, safe exit warning, and heated side view mirrors with LED turn signals – for minimal expense.
Strong warranty
While this applies to every 2023 Kia Forte trim, we think it’s worth pointing out the excellent warranty. A 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty complements a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty. This is better powertrain coverage than in many luxury vehicles costing thousands more.
Trunk space
Measuring 15.3 cubic feet in capacity, the Forte has a surprisingly roomy trunk. It offers more space than sedan variants of the Honda Civic (14.8 cubic feet) and Toyota Corolla (13.1 cubic feet). The split-folding rear seat back in the Forte LXS adds extra cargo-toting flexibility, too.
Want to learn more about the Forte and how it compares to the competition? Read our complete Kia Forte review or see Kia Forte models for sale near you.
