Take a look at Drive: 2022 Kia Forte GT | The Every day Drive | Client Information® The Every day Drive
5 min read

2022 Kia Forte GT in Metal Grey
2022 kia Forte GT Automated
Class: Compact Car
Colour: Metal Grey
CG Report Card | |
---|---|
Room and Consolation | B |
Energy and Efficiency | B+ |
Match and End | B |
Gas Financial system | B |
Worth | A- |
Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different autos in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim degree evaluated, and will not mirror Client Information’s impressions of your entire mannequin lineup. | |
Large & Tall Consolation | |
Large Man | B+ |
Tall Man | B |
Large & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Large” ranking based mostly on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” ranking based mostly on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
Drivetrain | |
Engine Specs | 201-hp 1.6L |
Engine Sort | Turbocharged 4-cyl |
Transmission | 7-speed automated |
Drive Wheels | Entrance-wheel drive |
Miles pushed: 280
Noticed gasoline economic system: 28.6 mpg
Driving combine: 60% metropolis, 40% freeway
EPA-estimated gasoline economic system: 27/35/30 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)
Gas kind: Common gasoline
Base value: $23,490 (not together with $995 vacation spot cost)
Choices on take a look at car: GT2 Package deal ($2200), carpeted ground mats ($155)
Value as examined: $26,840
Fast Hits
The good: Enjoyable to drive, glorious greenback worth, straightforward on the gasoline
The great: Logical management structure, comfortable front-row seats, enticing cabin
The not so good: Pronounced engine quake at low pace and idle
Tom Appel:
Not solely is Kia’s Forte secretly well-liked, it’s additionally secretly enjoyable to drive. Widespread? The compact-sedan market is dominated by two gamers: the pleasant Honda Civic, and the very-popular Toyota Corolla. Collectively, the vehicles accounted for greater than half 1,000,000 U.S. gross sales in 2021.

2022 Kia Forte GT
The battle for third place within the phase is a brutal conflict between the Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, and Nissan Sentra, every of which notched between 115,000 and 130,000 gross sales throughout the identical interval. The likable however considerably expensive Mazda 3 trailed the compact-car pack, with simply 38,000 gross sales to its credit score. In case you’re stunned that the Forte sells about in addition to the Elantra and Sentra, you’re not alone. That’s why we are saying it’s secretly well-liked.
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2022 Kia Forte GT
As for enjoyable, In GT type the frisky Forte is a respectable and more-affordable various to the spunky Civic Si, although not completely with out its faults. We’ll get again to the GT in a minute.
Out there solely in sedan type, the Forte was freshened for 2022 and handled to revised exterior styling and upgraded tech and security options. In case you’re questioning concerning the 2-door Koup, it was quietly dropped from the Forte lineup means again in 2016.
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2022 Kia Forte GT
The Forte lineup ascends although base LX, LXS, GT-Line, and GT trim ranges. There are technically two GT trim ranges, one which features a 6-speed guide transmission, the opposite a nifty 7-speed dual-clutch automated.
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2022 Kia Forte GT
All however the GT fashions are powered by 147-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder mated to a CVT automated transmission. Go for the GT, and also you improve to a 201-horse turbocharged 1.6-liter 4. Additionally, you may benefit from the basic feel and look of the GT with the usual engine by going with the GT-Line. Client Information lately frolicked with a GT automated in Metal Grey.
Underway, the Forte GT transitions rather less fluidly than the Civic Si, and maybe feels rather less balanced and slightly extra like a front-wheel drive automotive. That’s to not say the FT isn’t enjoyable to drive, it’s, and we’re inclined to explain the little Kia’s dealing with peccadilloes as “character” quite than flaws.
The GT appears to have all of the grip a commuter would possibly ever want, and the steering is pure feeling, agency, and correct. The brakes really feel good, too. Not nice—we may do with rather less preliminary sponginess—however good.
If ever a small automotive cried out for a guide transmission, it’s the Forte GT. The small turbo mill revs freely, and works very nicely with the dual-clutch auto. Nonetheless, it might be enjoyable to return out of a nook in a gear of our personal selecting. The engine itself, although well-suited to spirited driving, is surprisingly throbby at idle and in low-speed driving. We’ll name this a personality flaw.
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2022 Kia Forte GT
We noticed virtually 29 mpg in pretty-much common driving. We suspect our gasoline economic system may need been higher if the Forte GT wasn’t as a lot enjoyable to drive as it’s.
Inside you’ll discover a tidy however sporty cabin that includes the Kia-typical glorious management structure. The seats are agency and supportive, and street, wind, and engine noise are nicely squelched at fixed pace and on the freeway.
In case you had been occupied with going with a crossover as a substitute, know that the Forte boasts a helpful 15.3 cubic really feel of trunk area. Additionally, a little bit of pricing information: the GT2 package deal, as seen on our take a look at automotive, turns into commonplace for 2023, together with a roughly commensurate base-price improve.
Concerning the Civic Si: it’s a pleasure to drive, and it’s slightly extra polished than the Forte GT. That mentioned, it additionally prices extra, and may very well be—dare we are saying it?—slightly too refined. Client Information evaluated a manual-transmission 2022 Si early this yr that got here to simply below $29,000. That’s about $2500 greater than our take a look at Kia. We would go along with the Civic, however if you happen to recognize good worth and slightly extra “character,” make sure to take a look at drive the rewarding Forte as nicely.
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2022 Kia Forte GT
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2022 kia Forte GT Gallery
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2022 Kia Forte GT
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2022 Kia Forte GT