The 2024 Kia Forte makes a big impression in the ever-shrinking compact car market. With an impressive standard and optional feature roster, the Forte easily threatens long-established sedans like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. And while it doesn’t offer a hybrid engine option, fuel economy figures in the mid to high 30s should go a long way to easing the pain at the pump.
The Forte wears many hats, making it appealing to a wide swath of potential buyers. The affordable LX, nicely equipped LXS, and sporty GT-Line get a 147-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine hooked to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
The GT boasts a 201-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) or a 6-speed manual. However, unlike the Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra, the Forte doesn’t offer a hybrid engine option.
Prices are current at the time of publishing.
What’s New:
The GT-Line gets new standard features, including forward collision warning with cyclist detection, an electronic parking brake, navigation-guided adaptive cruise control, and Highway Driver Assist.
The 2024 Forte gives up one of its two 12-volt outlets, replacing it with a USB-A charging port.
Our Recommendation:
If fuel economy is a priority, we’d go with the GT-Line and its optional packages. This combination gives you a peppy but fuel-efficient sedan that’s well-equipped and priced around $25,000.
Performance junkies should go for the GT with the dual-clutch automatic. As much as we love a manual transmission, the automatic GT offers better features, such as heated and ventilated front seats and a 10-way power driver’s seat.
Forte LX
Starts at $19,790 | See listings
- 15-inch steel wheels with covers
- 8-inch touchscreen
- 4-speaker audio
- Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
- Remote keyless entry
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Air conditioning
- Forward collision-avoidance
- See more
Forte LXS
Starts at $20,290 | See listings
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- 60/40 split-folding rear seat
- Soft-touch door trim
- Available blind-spot monitor
- Available rear cross-traffic monitor
- Available heated side mirrors with LED turn signals
- See more
Forte GT-Line
Starts at $22,990 | See listings
- Navigation-based adaptive cruise control
- Highway Driver Assist
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Sport seats with SynTex and cloth upholstery
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation
- 6-speaker audio
- Front USB charging port
- Blind-spot monitor/rear cross-traffic assist with braking
- See more
Forte GT
Starts at $24,490 | See listings
- Turbo engine with 201 hp
- 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters
- Sport suspension/larger brakes
- LED headlights
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Wireless smartphone charger
- Rear air conditioning vent, USB charging port
- See more
Forte GT Manual
Starts at $25,190 | See listings
- Turbo engine with 201 hp
- 6-speed manual transmission
- Heated sport seats with SynTex trim
- Sunroof
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer tires
- Harman Kardon 8-speaker audio
- LED interior lighting
- Blind-spot warning/rear cross-traffic warning
- Rear parking warning
- See more
2024 Kia Forte LX: $19,790
The 2024 Kia Forte LX delivers an impressive feature set for less than $20,000. Toss in the standard 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and healthy resale values, and the LX looks like a penny pincher’s dream come true.
Kia puts safety front and center, giving the LX a host of standard driver aids, including forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rear occupant detection with ultrasonic sensors, a rear backup camera, and a system that alerts the driver when it senses inattentive or distracted driving.
A quick walk around the LX exterior reveals LED perimeter lighting for the door handles, auto on/off headlights with automatic high beams, 15-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, variable wipers, and body-colored power mirrors. Instead of a traditional spare tire, the LX features a tire mobility kit with sealant and an electric inflator.
The LX’s interior is well laid out and logically arranged. It includes woven fabric upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, a one-piece folding rear seatback, power windows with a driver’s side one-touch-down feature, and power door locks.
Standard amenities include manual air conditioning, cruise control, remote keyless entry, and Kia’s Drive Mode Select that reconfigures throttle and shift patterns for Normal, Sport, or Comfort modes.
Additional features worth mentioning include a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth, a 4.2-inch information display, and a trip computer.
The LX’s infotainment setup features an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 4-speaker AM/FM radio. There’s a USB data port for connecting your smartphone, one USB-A charge port, and one 12-volt outlet.
With the $1,125 destination charge, the 2024 Kia Forte LX costs $20,915. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, expect a monthly payment of $395. See 2024 Kia Forte LX models for sale near you
2024 Kia Forte LX includes:
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – Connects your smartphone wirelessly to the car; oddly, this feature is not available on the GT trims.
Automatic emergency braking – Watches for cars and people in the Forte’s path and warns the driver of a possible collision. If the driver fails to take action, the system can slow or stop the vehicle.
Lane-Keeping Assist – This system, through gentle steering inputs, will help the Forte stay in its lane.
2024 Kia Forte LXS: $20,290
The LXS costs more than the LX, but it offers more features we think most buyers will want.
Building off the LX’s standard roster, the LXS adds 16-inch alloy wheels, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, and soft-touch dash and door trim.
Unlike the LX, the LXS lets buyers add options, namely the contents of the available Technology Package. For only $500, this package adds a blind-spot monitor with collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert with emergency braking, heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals, and Safe Exit Assist that warns rear passengers of approaching traffic before opening their door.
With the $1,125 destination charge, the 2024 Kia Forte LXS costs $21,415. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, expect a monthly payment of $404. See 2024 Kia Forte LXS models for sale near you
2024 Kia Forte LXS includes:
16-inch alloy wheels – These look sharp, and the wider tires improve traction.
60/40 split-folding rear seat – Improves cargo capacity while maintaining some rear seating.
Available blind-spot monitor – Warns the driver of vehicles in the Forte’s blind spot.
2024 Kia Forte GT-Line: $22,290
The GT-Line retains the same 2.0-liter engine and CVT as the LX and LXS but has a sportier attitude and more features.
Building off the LXS with the Technology Package, the 2024 Kia Forte GT-Line adds a sport grille, extended side sills, additional gloss black exterior styling elements, 17-inch alloy wheels, and a rear trunk spoiler. Further additions include a Smart Trunk keyless trunk opener and LED lighting for fog lights, daytime running lights (DRL), and taillights.
On the safety front, the GT-Line gains navigation-based adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance with cyclist detection, Kia’s Highway Driver Assist, and an electronic parking brake with an auto-hold function that holds the car in place when stopped so you don’t have to keep your foot on the brake.
Amenities include Kia’s Smart Key keyless access with proximity key fob and push-button start, remote start, dual-zone automatic climate control, a rear-seat folding center armrest with cup holders, SynTex and cloth upholstery, alloy pedals, and a leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel.
A 10.25-inch touchscreen replaces the 8-inch unit in the lower trims but doesn’t include the wireless feature for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The GT-Line gains navigation with voice command, SiriusXM satellite and HD Radio, Kia Connect apps, and a larger screen. The audio portion gains two additional speakers for a total of six.
The GT-Line offers two upgrade packages.
The GT-Line Premium Package adds a power sunroof, LED interior lighting, a wireless phone charging pad, and a 320-watt Harman Kardon audio system with eight speakers and an integrated subwoofer.
The GT-Line Sport Premium Package adds a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support, heated and ventilated front seats, rear-seat air vents, a rear USB charging port, and sport seats with unique fabric and stitching.
With the $1,125 destination charge, the 2024 Kia Forte GT-Line costs $23,415. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, expect a monthly payment of around $442. See 2024 Kia Forte GT-Line models for sale near you
2024 Kia Forte GT-Line includes:
Smart Key – The proximity key fob allows you to unlock the doors and start the Forte without physically holding the key fob. It also opens the trunk. Simply stand directly behind the Forte for a few seconds and the trunk will open.
10.25-inch touchscreen – More screen means more room for apps and maps. The system includes built-in voice-activated GPS navigation.
Electronic parking brake – With a simple switch you can set or release the parking brake. With an auto-hold feature.
2024 Kia Forte GT: $24,490
The Forte GT gets a turbocharged engine with 201 hp, plus a 7-speed DCT with shift paddles, a sport-tuned suspension, and a sport exhaust.
Building off the GT-Line, the GT adds LED headlights, 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels, and a space-saver spare tire.
Additionally, the 2024 Forte GT gets a wireless charging pad, front and rear USB charge ports, rear air vents, GT ambient lighting, and dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors.
The GT2 Package adds a 10-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar support, heated and ventilated front seats, LED interior lighting, rear parking sensors, a power sunroof, a Harman Kardon audio system, and sport seats with red stitching.
With the $1,125 destination charge, the 2024 Kia Forte GT costs $25,615. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, expect a monthly payment of around $483. See 2024 Kia Forte GT models for sale near you
2024 Kia Forte GT includes:
1.6-liter turbocharged engine – With 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, the Forte quickly gets up to speed without a significant cut in fuel economy.
Sport-tuned suspension – The firmer offering is tuned for enhanced cornering ability. The rear suspension of the GT is a multilink design (as opposed to the torsion beam rear axle of other Fortes).
Paddle shifters – Mounted on the back of the steering wheel, these shift paddles let you select the gear you want.
2024 Kia Forte GT Manual: $25,190
The Forte GT Manual is appropriately named, as it is a sport-focused model that replaces the GT’s 7-speed automatic transmission with a smooth-shifting 6-speed manual.
It also varies the standard and optional equipment list. The Forte GT Manual gets a power sunroof, Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer tires, the Harman Kardon audio upgrade, rear parking sensors, LED interior lighting, and manually adjustable heated front sport seats.
Not found on the GT Manual are Drive Mode Select, Remote start, cyclist detection for the forward collision assist, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic braking, adaptive cruise control, Highway Driver Assist, and GT ambient lighting.
The GT Manual offers no additional option packages.
With the $1,125 destination charge, the 2024 Kia Forte GT Manual costs $26,315. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, expect a monthly payment of $497. See 2024 Kia Forte GT Manual models for sale near you
2024 Kia Forte GT Manual includes:
Power sunroof – Brings more light and air into the Forte cabin without needing to roll down all the windows.
Heated sport seats – Manually adjustable sport seats provide more lateral side support to hold you in place during spirited drives. Multi-level heating elements let you find the right level of warmth.
SynTex seat trim – This artificial leather seat upholstery comes standard on the Forte GT Manual.
