The Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla are synonymous with the compact car segment, and both offer multiple body styles, standard active safety features, and in the case of the Civic, two enthusiast-friendly sporty models.
The Hyundai Elantra shares a lot of bones with the Forte and features similar value in a more polarizing package.
The excellent Mazda 3 is great to look at and to drive and should be on any short list, while the Volkswagen Jetta offers German quality with a hotter GLI model that’s a blast to drive.
Get FREE Dealer Quotes
From dealers near you
 2020 Kia ForteBrowse Used Listings |  2020 Honda CivicBrowse Used Listings |  2020 Hyundai ElantraBrowse Used Listings |  2020 Mazda MAZDA3Browse Used Listings |  2020 Toyota CorollaBrowse Used Listings |  2020 Volkswagen JettaBrowse Used Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick Specs | |||||
|
The 2020 Kia Forte has the style and now the GT power to slot into any compact-car shopping list. |
The 2020 Honda Civic sets the pace among affordable compact cars. |
The 2020 Hyundai Elantra is a well-equipped value. |
The Mazda 3 punches above its weight class with an upmarket interior, good handling, and optional all-wheel drive. |
It’s still among the more mildly flavored mass-market sedans, but the 2020 Toyota Corolla has dropped the bland from its diet. |
The docile 2020 Volkswagen Jetta is a solid compact sedan choice; for zesty performance, opt into the Jetta GLI. |
| MSRP From | |||||
| $17,890 | $20,000 | $19,300 | $21,500 | $19,600 | $18,895 |
| Gas Mileage | |||||
| 25 MPG City / 41 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 40 MPG Hwy | 23 MPG City / 41 MPG Hwy | 24 MPG City / 36 MPG Hwy | 28 MPG City / 52 MPG Hwy | 25 MPG City / 40 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | |||||
| Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4 |
| EPA Class | |||||
| Midsize Cars | Midsize Cars | Midsize Cars | Compact Cars | Compact Cars | Compact Cars |
| Style Name | |||||
| FE Manual | LX Manual | SE IVT | FWD | L CVT (GS) | S Manual w/SULEV |
| Drivetrain | |||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | 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 | Sedan | Sedan | Sedan | Sedan |
| Transmission | |||||
| Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD | CVT w/OD | Automatic w/OD | CVT w/OD | Manual w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
| 2020 Kia Forte vs. 2020 Honda Civic | 2020 Kia Forte vs. 2020 Hyundai Elantra | 2020 Kia Forte vs. 2020 Mazda MAZDA3 | 2020 Kia Forte vs. 2020 Toyota Corolla | 2020 Kia Forte vs. 2020 Volkswagen Jetta | |
Related Head to Head
