The current generation of the Kia Forte lands somewhere between comfortable, value-oriented compacts like the Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra and those with more of a sporty focus -- like the Ford Focus and Mazda3.
It's a little more style-conscious and value-minded, yet performance doesn't feel like a top priority.
The Toyota Corolla was all-new for 2014, and it introduced a more refined look inside and out, as well as a new CVT and much-improved audio and infotainment.
The Honda Civic, after getting revamped again in recent years, is a refined compact sedan that in some respects, now feels like a smaller Accord.
The Forte's cousin, the Hyundai Elantra, has spread its wings to include coupe and GT models, and as a lineup, it's a worthy cross-shop, with excellent interior space and feature content.
The Ford Focus remains a tough challenger to tackle: it has excellent handling, great style, more optional features than anything in the class, and a rip-roaring ST sport edition all under its umbrella.
And there's probably one more worth considering: the Subaru Impreza, with its standard all-wheel drive and crisp handling.
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 2015 Kia ForteBrowse Used Listings |  2015 Ford FocusBrowse Used Listings |  2015 Honda CivicBrowse Used Listings |  2015 Hyundai ElantraBrowse Used Listings |  2015 Subaru ImprezaBrowse Used Listings |  2015 Toyota CorollaBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | |||||
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Reasonably well-rounded performance and attractive looks inside and out give the Forte lots of curb appeal, but disappointing safety scores and a lack of comfort mean that it isn't quite the high achiever that the larger Optima has been. |
The 2015 Ford Focus lineup gets a clean new look for 2015, as well as a high-mileage three-cylinder engine option and revamped cabin comforts. From efficiency-minded models to the high-performance ST, it remains one of the best-driving small cars on the market. |
The 2015 Honda Civic is refined, comfortable, and offers top-notch safety ratings and features. |
Snappy sheetmetal and smart packaging puts the 2015 Hyundai Elantra on most must-drive lists, though it's not as engaging to drive as some compact sedans. |
The 2015 Subaru Impreza is tough, practical, and relatively attractive, offering a small all-wheel-drive package for those who need it without the big fuel-economy penalty it used to bring. |
The 2015 Toyota Corolla maintains its reputation for low running costs and frugality, but there's not a lot more beyond that, to make this a very appealing lineup. |
| MSRP From | |||||
| $15,890 | $17,170 | $18,290 | $17,250 | $18,195 | $16,950 |
| Gas Mileage | |||||
| 21 MPG City / 39 MPG Hwy | 23 MPG City / 38 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 47 MPG Hwy | 24 MPG City / 38 MPG Hwy | 24 MPG City / 37 MPG Hwy | 27 MPG City / 42 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | |||||
| Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded H-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 |
| EPA Class | |||||
| Mid-Size Cars | Compact Cars | Compact Cars | Mid-Size Cars | Compact Cars | Mid-Size Cars |
| Style Name | |||||
| 4-Door Sedan Manual LX | 4-Door Sedan S | 2-Door Manual LX | 4-Door Sedan Manual SE (Alabama Plant) | 4-Door Manual 2.0i | 4-Door Sedan Manual L (Natl) |
| Drivetrain | |||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | |||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | |||||
| Sedan | Sedan | Coupe | Sedan | Sedan | Sedan |
| Transmission | |||||
| Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
| 2015 Kia Forte vs. 2015 Ford Focus | 2015 Kia Forte vs. 2015 Honda Civic | 2015 Kia Forte vs. 2015 Hyundai Elantra | 2015 Kia Forte vs. 2015 Subaru Impreza | 2015 Kia Forte vs. 2015 Toyota Corolla | |
