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Sporty and smartly designed are two ways to describe the 2022 Kia Forte and Honda Civic. Each subcompact comes loaded with creative tech features while providing both a comfortable and engaging ride that’s sure to please all types of drivers.

For drivers near Louisville and Elizabethtown, KY, and Clarksville, IN, considering which subcompact is the right choice for their lifestyle, the Kia Store is here to help. We’ve put the Kia Forte vs. the Honda Civic in a head-to-head challenge to help you better understand your options.

We’ll cover important features, like performance and handling, space and interior tech, active safety features, and style options. To see which subcompact takes the top spot, continue reading.

2021 Kia Forte Review
2021 Kia Forte Trim Levels
Kia Forte Maintenance Schedule
Kia Forte Dashboard Symbols

2022 Kia Forte vs Honda Civic: Performance and Handling

Kia Forte vs Honda CivicThe Kia Forte churns to life with 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque when you choose the GT or GT Manual trims. Their turbocharged 1.6L 4-cylinder engines are a blast to use.

With an optional 6-speed manual transmission and a graceful suspension, the Kia Forte offers a smooth ride that maintains steady at both highway speeds and around sharp curves in the road. It’s perfect to use for daily commuting or a fun weekend getaway.

Likewise, the Honda Civic EX trim offers a similar turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. However, it peaks at 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque and is paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Manual driving is becoming a less common feature, making the 2022 Kia Forte an exciting find. But if you want a variety of choices, the Forte does also offer a standard Intelligent Variable Transmission with Sportmatic®.

Even with the automatic transmission chosen, the Kia Forte lets you adapt your driving style to the situation at hand. With Drive Mode Select, each trip can be Normal, luxurious with Comfort, or high energy with Sport mode.

Space and Convenience

Both daily drivers offer a surprising amount of interior space while seating up to five passengers and making good use of storage and cargo areas to maximize their subcompact label.

The Kia Forte offers an impressive amount of trunk space, providing up to 15.3 cubic feet. That gives you room to tuck in more items compared to the 14.8 cubic feet of the Civic. This means you’ll have no problem moving that new dog bed home from the store or loading up the family for a trip to the city.

For cozy drives throughout the year, both the Kia Forte and the Honda Civic offer available heated front seats. The Kia’s front seats are well padded and available with ventilation, which is perfect for long, hot afternoon commutes. This is unfortunately not found on the 2022 Civic.

With the temperature right, lean back into a seat that’s configured to meet your preferences. The Kia Forte lets you make the cabin your own with its available 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and power lumbar support. An 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat is optional in the Honda Civic.

Interior Tech

2022 Kia Forte interior technologyIn terms of tech, every Forte offers a number of great standard features, including:

  • 8-inch touchscreen display
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™
  • Bluetooth® wireless technology
  • Steering-wheel-mounted audio controls

Unfortunately, the Civic’s standard screen is only seven inches and wireless phone connectivity is only an available feature.

The optional features add even more utility. Comparing the Kia Forte vs. Honda Civic, we find that both offer wireless phone charging. Without any cords, you simply place your smartphone on the model’s center console to replenish the battery.

For its part, the Civic provides its own line of advanced features:

  • 7-inch color touch-screen
  • Push Button Start
  • Speed-Sensitive Volume Compensation
  • Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™

Bluetooth® makes the Kia Forte and the Honda Civic a breeze to operate. Whether you’re setting out or are halfway through your trip, you can plan your route or pick a radio station using verbal commands.

If you’re packing for your trip, you can easily access the cargo hold with the standard remote-controlled trunk release of the Civic. But if you want an even easier time getting into the trunk with your hands full, you simply stand with your key fob behind the Kia car and let available Smart Trunk™ open the back for you. This technology is only found on the Kia Forte.

2022 Kia Forte vs Honda Civic: Safety Features

Regardless of how you intend to use either of these subcompact models, safety is the number one priority for both brands. The Kia Forte offers a suite of advanced safety features to keep you and your passengers out of harm’s way.

Standard active safety features in the Forte include:

  • Electronic Stability Control: Braking power is sent to the wheels on an individual basis for less skidding and more control.
  • Hill Start Assist Control: The Kia car maintains braking when parked on a hill, giving you enough time to move your foot to the accelerator without rolling back.
  • Vehicle Stability Management: The Forte corrects its path when stability is compromised.
  • Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection: If you cannot brake in an emergency, the Kia car can brake on its own.

The Civic also offers a number of the same standard safety features, including:

  • Vehicle Stability Assist™ with Traction Control
  • Electronic Brake Distribution
  • Collision Mitigation Braking System™

Drivers will also appreciate the standard Driver Attention Warning on the Kia Forte. If your driving starts to feature signs of fatigue, like weaving or frequent sudden braking, it issues a warning signal to let you know that it’s break time. Unfortunately, the Civic doesn’t even offer this feature as an available option.

2022 Kia Forte vs Honda Civic

Aesthetics, Inside and Out

Some aspects of selecting a new set of wheels are fun, like deciding on a paint color. On the 2022 Kia Forte, drivers can pick from a total of nine colors. In comparison, you’ll find eight selections on the Honda Civic.

There are classic choices on the Kia Forte, like Aurora Black, or you can go for something bright and bold, like Deep Sea Blue or Fire Orange.

While the Honda Civic offers stylish white and black colors, inside the Kia Forte, you’ll find exclusive options, such as black SynTex material on the seating trim, which is complemented by either gray or red stitching.
 
 

2022 Kia Forte vs Honda Civic: Which is the Best Choice for You?

While this comparison has shown that both rides possess exceptional qualities in terms of performance, space, style, and advanced safety, at the end of the day, it’s clear that the 2022 Kia Forte is the best choice for you and your family.

For drivers near Louisville and Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Indiana, who are interested in taking a closer look at the Kia Forte, stop by the Kia Store or go online and schedule a test drive today!

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