Kia Forte vs. Honda Civic

When comparing compact sedans, the Kia Forte and Honda Civic are prominent contenders, each offering a blend of performance, features, and value. Both manufacturers prioritize driver and passenger safety, affordability, and stable performance. With comparable features and measurements, it’s a close call between these two, but here, as in most places, the Kia Forte trumps comparable cars in enough areas to seal the deal.

Overview of the Kia Forte

The Kia Forte is popular for its affordability and convenience. It makes a bold impression with its sleek lines, stylish front grille design, commanding front and rear bumpers, LED headlights, and 17- and 18-inch alloy wheel options. In the upper trims, you’ll enjoy sophisticated accents such as a leather-wrapped steering wheel, LED interior lighting, and exclusive contrast stitching. Tech-minded conveniences such as Amazon Alexa voice control integration and voice recognition help you integrate the Forte seamlessly into your everyday life.

Overview of the Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is a practical daily driver with timeless styling and a minimalist approach. Upper trims feature 18-inch alloy wheels to elevate the Civic’s appearance. Open sightlines provide a spacious feel, despite the car’s compact size. The moonroof featured on the EX-L and Sport Touring trims helps the Honda feel larger than it is as well. Though it comes at a higher price point, features and functionality position the Honda Civic as a competitor to Kia’s Forte.

Detailed Comparison: Kia Forte vs. Honda Civic

Take an in-depth dive into the Honda Civic vs. the Kia Forte to determine which affordable compact sedan is the better buy for your family.

Pricing and Value

The Kia Forte comes at a more appealing price point, with a starting MSRP of $19,990 for the 2024 Forte compared to $23,950 for the base model Honda Civic. The Kia also offers better warranty protection. You’ll enjoy limited warranty coverage for five years or 60,000 miles and a powertrain warranty for 10 years or 100,000 miles with the Forte. Honda only offers limited warranty coverage for three years or 36,000 miles and powertrain warranty coverage is limited to five years or 60,000 miles.

Comparing depreciation of the Kia Forte vs Honda Civic, Kia wins again. A Kia Forte loses just 37 percent of its value over the first five years of its life, while a Honda Civic depreciates by a whopping 42 percent. Not only will you pay less upfront for your Forte, but you’ll also get more of your investment back when it’s time to sell your car and upgrade to the next model.

Interior Space and Comfort

Exploring spaciousness in the Honda Civic vs. the Kia Forte requires a close comparison. The Forte has a 15.3-cubic-foot cargo capacity while the Civic offers 14.8 cubic feet, giving Kia the larger trunk. In most cabin measurements, the two vehicles are fractions of an inch apart. Both seat up to five passengers, so you won’t notice much difference in terms of seating space. You’re more likely to notice the finer creature comforts that distinguish the Kia Forte in comparison to others.

Though the Forte comes standard with a manual adjustable driver’s seat, a 10-way power adjustable seat with power lumbar adjustments is available in the GT-Line and GT trims. These trims also offer heated and ventilated front seats for superior comfort. All Kia Forte trims include solar control glass to help control heat and keep the interior comfortable.

The Civic only offers an eight-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat, and this is limited to the top-of-the-line Touring trim. Heated seats come in the top trims, but ventilation isn’t an option.

Performance and Driving Experience

The 2024 Forte is available with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine offering 147 hp or a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 201 hp. Behind the wheel, you’ll enjoy solid handling and impressive stability that gives you ample confidence on the road. If you’re looking for a stable daily driver, the Forte is a great pick.

The 2024 Civic comes standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that offers 158 hp. You can upgrade to a 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 180 hp, which is a slight improvement though it underperforms the comparable Kia engine. The Civic is a well-balanced ride with responsive handling that stands up comparably to the Forte.

Reliability and Quality

Reliability is a significant factor in vehicle selection. The Kia Forte outperformed the Honda Civic in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, indicating fewer reported problems and higher initial quality. This achievement underscores Kia’s commitment to producing dependable vehicles.

Technology and Features

The Honda Civic’s color touch screen is notably underwhelming, measuring just 7 inches in all but the Touring trim where you’re upgraded to a 9-inch screen. The Forte comes standard with an 8-inch touch-screen display that increases to 10.25 inches and gains navigation in the GT-Line and above. In both the Forte and the Civic, a four-speaker sound system is standard with an optional eight-speaker audio system in upper trims.

You can charge your devices with built-in USB ports in both the Forte and Civic. In upper trims, you’ll enjoy the convenience of a wireless charging pad. Kia Connect and the Kia Access app take tech-forward convenience to the next level by offering precooling and heating as well as scheduled maintenance reminders through the Kia Access App.

Take the Kia Forte for a Test-Drive at Pride Kia

The Kia Forte presents a compelling package with its affordability, ample interior space, commendable performance, and recognized reliability. While the Honda Civic is a strong contender in the compact sedan segment, the Forte’s combination of features and value position it as a superior choice for many consumers. Schedule a test-drive at Pride Kia of Lynn to make your final decision. We can walk you through your options, value your trade, and help you find competitive financing so you can take home your next Kia sedan today.