2018 Kia Forte

Sedan · 2015–2024 · Forte, Forte5, Forte Koup

Trims and features

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

What changed for 2018

Starting prices: +$100 to +$400 (3 trims; hover for each)
No longer offered: Forte Koup
Engine: 2.0L Multipoint Injection (MPI) 4-cylinder → 2.0L Multi-point Injection (MPI) 4-cylinder (LX, S)

2018 Forte trims

	EX	LX	S
Price
Starting MSRP	$21,700	from $16,800	$19,400
Powertrain
Engine	2.0L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) 4-cylinder	2.0L Multi-point Injection (MPI) 4-cylinder	2.0L Multi-point Injection (MPI) 4-cylinder
Horsepower	—	147 hp	147 hp
Torque	—	132 lb-ft	132 lb-ft
Transmission	Sportmatic	6-Speed Automatic: Sportmatic 6-Speed Manual: —	Sportmatic
Gears	6	6	6
Drivetrain	Fwd	6-Speed Automatic / 6-Speed Manual	Fwd
Fuel economy (combined)	28 mpg	6-Speed Automatic: 32 mpg 6-Speed Manual: 28 mpg	32 mpg
Size and capability
Seats	5	5	5
Trunk	14.9 cu ft	14.9 cu ft	14.9 cu ft
Ground clearance	5.3 in	5.3 in	5.3 in
Length	179.5 in	179.5 in	179.5 in
Tech
Touchscreen	7 in	—	7 in
Apple CarPlay	Wired	—	Wired
Android Auto	Wired	—	Wired
Digital gauge cluster	3.5 in + option	—	3.5 in + option
Speakers	6	4	6
Driver assistance
Lane keeping	Optional	—	Optional
Blind-spot monitoring	Blind Spot Alert	—	Optional
Automatic emergency braking	Optional	—	Optional
Rear cross-traffic	Rear Cross-Traffic Alert	—	Optional
Comfort
Seats	Leather	Cloth	Cloth
Heated seats	Front	—	—
Ventilated seats	Optional	—	—
Climate zones	2	1	1
Exterior
Wheels	17 in	15 in	16 in

Packages and options (30)

	EX	LX	S
EX Premium Plus Package $3,900	Optional	—	—
Fleet Package II $350	—	Optional	—
LX Popular Package $1,000	—	Optional	—
LX Rear Camera Package $400	—	Optional	—
S Technology Package $1,500	—	—	Optional
S Technology Plus Package $1,700	—	—	Optional
Sports Package $197	Optional	Optional	—
Mud Guards $95	Optional	Optional	Optional
Paint Protection Package $200	Optional	Optional	Optional
Rear Bumper Appliqué $75	Optional	Optional	Optional
Rear Spoiler $295	Optional	Optional	—
Wheel Locks $55	Optional	Optional	Optional
Auto-Dimming Rear-View Mirror with Compass and HomeLink $350	Optional	Optional	Optional
Cargo Mat $95	Optional	Optional	Optional
Cargo Net $50	Optional	Optional	Optional
Cargo Tray $80	Optional	Optional	Optional
Carpeted Floor Mats $125	Optional	Optional	Optional
Remote Start (Key Start) $495	—	Optional	Optional
Remote Start (Push-Button Start) $495	Optional	—	Optional
Trunk Cargo Hook $26	Optional	Optional	Optional
Aurora Black $295	Optional	Optional	Optional
Clear White	—	Optional	Optional
Currant Red	Optional	—	Optional
Deep Sea Blue	Optional	Optional	Optional
Garnet Red	—	Optional	—
Phantom Gray	Optional	—	Optional
Silky Silver	Optional	Optional	—
Snow White $295	Optional	Optional	—
Titanium Bronze	—	Optional	—
Black	Optional	Optional	Optional

Trim data from OpenSpec (ODbL 1.0), built from Oem brochure, Nhtsa vin decode, Oem order guide, Other, Other. Still partial for this year: model, trims, powertrain, fuel economy, chassis, dimensions, exterior, interior, infotainment, safety, warranty, options, option rules, vin decode. "Optional" means a package or option adds it; hover for which.

Year by year

Year	Engines	Drive	Fuel economy	Crash rating	Recalls	Owner complaints	Collision warning	CarPlay
2024	1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 201 hp 2.0L 4-cyl, 147 hp manual available	FWD	26–34 mpg	4 of 5	0	25	Some versions	Yes
2023	1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 201 hp 2.0L 4-cyl, 147 hp manual available	FWD	26–34 mpg	4 of 5	3	63	Some versions	Yes
2022	1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 201 hp 2.0L 4-cyl, 147 hp manual available	FWD	26–35 mpg	4 of 5	1	27	Standard	Yes
2021	1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 201 hp 2.0L 4-cyl, 147 hp manual available	FWD	28–35 mpg	4 of 5	2	68	Optional	Yes
2020	1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 201 hp 2.0L 4-cyl, 147 hp manual available	FWD	28–35 mpg	4 of 5	0	76	Standard	Yes
2019	2.0L 4-cyl, 147 hp manual available	FWD	31–35 mpg	4 of 5	2	147	No	Yes
2018	1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 201 hp 2.0L 4-cyl, 147–164 hp manual available	FWD	25–32 mpg	5 of 5	3	136	Optional	Yes
2017	1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 201 hp 2.0L 4-cyl, 147–164 hp manual available	FWD	25–32 mpg	5 of 5	4	303	No	Yes
2016	1.6L 4-cyl turbo 1.8L 4-cyl 2.0L 4-cyl manual available	FWD	24–30 mpg	5 of 5	2	275	No	No
2015	1.6L 4-cyl turbo 1.8L 4-cyl 2.0L 4-cyl manual available	FWD	24–30 mpg	5 of 5	1	260	No	No

Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA and aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so compare years of the same model: a tall bar marks a year owners had more trouble with. Collision warning: forward collision warning as NHTSA lists it ("Some versions": standard on some). Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.

Apple lists CarPlay for: Forte 2017–2024 (Apple).

Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints

Year	Version	Stars	Forward collision warning	Lane departure warning	Recalls	Complaints
2024	Kia Forte 4 DR FWD	4	Standard & Optional	Standard	0	25
2023	Kia Forte 4 DR FWD	4	Standard & Optional	Standard	3	63
2022	Kia Forte 4 DR FWD	4	Standard	Standard	1	27
2021	Kia Forte 4 DR FWD	4	Optional	Standard	2	68
2020	Kia Forte 4 DR FWD	4	Standard	No	0	76
2019	Kia Forte 4 DR FWD	4	No	No	2	147
2018	Kia Forte 4 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	3	136
2017	Kia Forte 4 DR FWD	5	No	No	3	303
2017	Kia Forte Koup 2 DR FWD	Not Rated	No	No	1	0
2016	Kia Forte 5 HB FWD	Not Rated	No	No	0	3
2016	Kia Forte 4 DR FWD	5	No	No	1	135
2016	Kia Forte Koup 2 DR FWD	Not Rated	No	No	1	137
2015	Kia Forte 4 DR FWD	5	No	No	1	260
2015	Kia Forte 5 HB FWD	Not Rated	No	No	1	260
2015	Kia Forte Koup 2 DR FWD	Not Rated	No	No	1	260

Source: NHTSA.

Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg

Year	EPA model	Engines	Combined
2024	Forte	Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo	26–32
2024	Forte FE	Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L	34
2023	Forte	Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo	26–32
2023	Forte FE	Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L	34
2022	Forte	Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo	26–33
2022	Forte FE	Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L	35
2021	Forte	Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo	28–33
2021	Forte FE	Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L	35
2020	Forte	Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo	28–33
2020	Forte FE	Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L	35
2019	Forte	Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L	31–34
2019	Forte FE	Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L	35
2018	Forte	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, SIDI Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L	28–32
2018	Forte 5	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo	25–28
2017	Forte	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, SIDI Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L	28–32
2017	Forte 5	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo	25–28
2017	Forte Koup	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo	26–28
2016	Forte	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L	28–30
2016	Forte 5	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo	24–28
2016	Forte Koup	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo	24–28
2015	Forte	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L	29–30
2015	Forte 5	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo	24–28
2015	Forte Koup	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo	24–28

Source: fueleconomy.gov.

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