2019 Kia Forte vs 2019 Volkswagen Jetta

2019 Kia Forte

2019 Volkswagen Jetta

Select style

EX IVT

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Forte EX IVT	30	40	$21,001	$21,990
Forte FE IVT	31	41	$18,036	$18,690
Forte FE Manual	27	37	$17,168	$17,790
Forte LXS IVT	30	40	$18,519	$19,190
Forte S IVT	30	40	$19,377	$20,290

Select style

R-Line Automatic w/SULEV

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Jetta R-Line Automatic w/SULEV	30	40	$22,316	$23,245
Jetta R-Line Automatic w/ULEV	30	40	$22,316	$23,245
Jetta S Automatic w/SULEV	30	40	$18,762	$19,545
Jetta S Automatic w/ULEV	30	40	$18,762	$19,545
Jetta S Manual w/SULEV	30	40	$17,995	$18,745
Jetta SE Automatic w/SULEV	30	40	$21,499	$22,395
Jetta SE Automatic w/ULEV	30	40	$21,499	$22,395
Jetta SEL Automatic w/SULEV	30	40	$23,707	$24,695
Jetta SEL Automatic w/ULEV	30	40	$23,707	$24,695
Jetta SEL Premium Automatic w/CWP/SULEV	30	40	$26,587	$27,695
Jetta SEL Premium Automatic w/CWP/ULEV	30	40	$26,587	$27,695
Jetta SEL Premium Automatic w/SULEV	30	40	$26,108	$27,195
Jetta SEL Premium Automatic w/ULEV	30	40	$26,108	$27,195
Jetta GLI 35th Anniversary Edition DSG	25	32	$26,683	$27,795
Jetta GLI 35th Anniversary Edition Manual	25	32	$25,915	$26,995
Jetta GLI Automaticbahn DSG	25	32	$28,795	$29,995
Jetta GLI Automaticbahn Manual	25	32	$28,028	$29,195
Jetta GLI S DSG	25	32	$25,723	$26,795
Jetta GLI S Manual	25	32	$24,955	$25,995

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$21,001

$22,316

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$21,990

$23,245

Monthly Payment Estimate

$367 / month

$387 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

6.0

Read Our Full Review

5.8

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The 2019 Kia Forte pairs stylish good looks with a lot of features, making it a compact sedan standout.

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta is a mild-mannered, well-equipped compact sedan.

TCC Likes

Long hood, short trunk shape
Lots of safety and tech for money
Good fuel economy

Docile personality
High-tech options
Good safety gear

TCC Dislikes

Not particularly quick
Some rivals are cheaper to start
Base Forte FE hardly lavish

Docile personality
Breaks little new ground
Conservative, almost to a fault

Fuel Economy

City

30 mpg

Highway

40 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Midsize Cars

Compact Cars

Interior Dimensions

Front Head Room (in)

38.8

38.5

Passenger Volume (ft³)

94.7

Second Hip Room (in)

51.1

Front Shoulder Room (in)

56.1

55.9

Second Head Room (in)

37.5

37.2

Passenger Capacity

Second Shoulder Room (in)

55.3

Front Leg Room (in)

42.2

41.1

Front Hip Room (in)

Second Leg Room (in)

35.7

37.4

Exterior Dimensions

Track Width, Front (in)

60.7

Min Ground Clearance (in)

5.3

5.6

Length, Overall (in)

182.7

185.1

Height, Overall (in)

56.5

57.4

Track Width, Rear (in)

61.3

60.4

Wheelbase (in)

106.3

105.7

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

70.9

70.8

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)

15.3

14.1

Brakes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

11.5

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

10.3

10.8

Brake Type

4-Wheel Disc

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

13.2

Steering

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

34.8

36.4

Steering Type

Rack-Pinion

Tires

Front Tire Size

P225/45HR17

P205/55HR17

Spare Tire Size

Compact

Front Tire Order Code

Spare Tire Order Code

Rear Tire Size

P225/45HR17

P205/55HR17

Rear Tire Order Code

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

2903

2970

Wheels

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Compact

Rear Wheel Material

Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)

17 X 7

Front Wheel Material

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)

17 X 7

Electrical

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

120

140

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

540

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

132 @ 4500

184 @ 1400

Engine Order Code

Displacement

2.0 L/122

1.4 L/85

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

147 @ 6200

147 @ 5000

Engine Type

Regular Unleaded I-4

Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4

Fuel System

MPI

Gasoline Direct Injection

Mileage

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Transmission

First Gear Ratio (:1)

2.68 - 0.39

5.07

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

4.89

3.23

Trans Type

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

2.82

4.00

Trans Order Code

Trans Description Cont.

CVT w/OD

Automatic w/OD

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.95

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.23

Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.67

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

2.97

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.47

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

0.81

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.00

Summary

Vehicle Name

Kia Forte

Volkswagen Jetta

Body Style

Sedan

Suspension

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

Strut

Suspension Type - Rear

Torsion Beam

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Torsion Beam

Suspension Type - Front

Strut

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

5.2

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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