2022 Kia Forte GT First Test: Extroverted, Eager, and Well Equipped

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The average price of a new-car transaction has been climbing higher than ever in recent years, and buying into a brand-new car that’s also fun to drive is a harder feat than ever before. Fortunately, Kia upsets that notion with the Forte GT, the highest performance variant of the automaker’s compact sedan.

The Forte GT belongs to Kia’s line of GT models, which are the sportiest versions of its cars. Kia equips the Forte GT with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine developing 201 and 195 lb-ft of torque, 18-inch alloy wheels, stiffer sport suspension, and a sport exhaust system. The dual-exit setup is startlingly loud upon cold start, which we imagine will be a draw for buyers looking for a compact with more zest than the run-of-the-mill Forte. The model we tested was equipped with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, but Kia also offers a GT Manual trim that comes standard with a six-speed manual gearbox and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer tires for $1,000 more.

How Does It Drive?

Gun the throttle, and there’s plenty of torque steer to be had, making the Forte GT feel feisty off the line. It’ll sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds, which is right where it needs to be in its segment. The power remains plentiful when called upon on the freeway even when every seat is filled with adult passengers. Under steady throttle application, the transmission provides clean, snappy shifts. However, in low-speed traffic or when driving on streets with repeated stop signs, the dual clutch gearbox’s weaknesses are revealed. It tends to buck under braking right after accelerating and also tends to hesitate in reverse.

When we sampled the Forte GT in the canyons, the transmission was in its element. Under smooth throttle inputs, it revs out to redline and delivers crisp upshifts. It preemptively shifts down under braking. Using the paddle shifters increases the driver engagement and gives further control over the dual-clutch transmission’s behavior.

Under enthusiastic cornering, the Forte GT is willing to play. Despite rolling on all-season tires, the compact sedan hangs on in the corners. This was supported by our instrumented testing where the Forte GT pulled an average of 0.87 g on our skidpad, which is better than average for compact sedans equipped with comparable tires.

The Forte GT has three drive mode settings: Comfort, Smart, and Sport. Comfort has the most relaxed steering feel and throttle responsiveness, while changing over to Sport turns up the steering weight and wakes up the drivetrain. Road test editor Chris Walton noted that the Forte GT has “talkative steering and good balance on the skidpad.” However, he also commented, “My only complaint is that the transmission isn’t quite intelligent enough to downshift and hold a gear on the skidpad even in Sport mode.”

During our instrumented testing, the Kia Forte GT stopped consistently from 60 to 0 mph in 122 feet. It has decent brake pedal feel and bite, allowing the driver to smoothly modulate the brake pedal. Under hard braking into a corner at the track, the Kia Forte GT’s tail end exhibited a tendency to skid out, but this contributes to its eagerness and playfulness on winding roads. The car’s overall communicative nature makes it easy to work the sedan into a rhythm and tackle technical routes with poise.

The Forte GT is at its best on curvy roads and at its worst in bumper-to-bumper traffic. The dual-clutch transmission copes poorly with stop-and-go jams, and the stiff suspension jars occupants when the car travels over uneven or craggy surfaces. Prospective buyers ought to bear this in mind when considering a Forte GT, as most folks likely won’t want to put up with its non-adaptive sport-tuned suspension setup.

Are Features the Forte’s Forte?

The Forte GT benefits from metal pedal covers, contrast stitching, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel that feels great in the hand. Although Forte GT’s interior looks sporty, it has already started to look dated despite the current generation’s debut for the 2018 model year. Hard plastics cover most surfaces, although the door cards and armrests have soft padding. Much of the competition has eclipsed the Forte’s interior design with cleaner, better-looking cabins.

Kia offers the GT2 package for $2,200 which includes a number of comfort, convenience, and aesthetic features that make the cabin a much more impressive space. Our GT2-equipped test car featured a 10-way adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support, an electric parking brake, auto-hold brakes, heated and ventilated front seats, LED interior lighting, rear parking sensors, a power sunroof, a premium Harman Kardon eight-speaker audio system, synthetic leather seats with GT logos, highway driving assist, and forward collision avoidance assist with cyclist detection. It’s worth noting that the GT Manual variant of the Forte cannot be equipped with this package.

Every Forte GT has a 10.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, keyless entry and push-button ignition, dual climate control, and full LED exterior lighting. We particularly enjoyed using the Forte GT’s remote start feature to enjoy the exhaust’s burbling startup from the outside. It’s a feature-rich vehicle, especially considering its affordable starting price of $24,515 relative to less sporty competitors within the compact sedan segment.

Is the Forte GT Right for Me?

All in, this 2022 Kia Forte GT stickers at $26,870 which undercuts its closest rival, the (manual only) 2022 Honda Civic Si by about $1,500. As such, the Kia makes a strong case for itself with loads of available feature content and enough sportiness to thrill when the road gets twisty. However, forking over the extra cash for the Honda could be worth it for drivers planning on regularly driving their car recreationally, especially because the Civic Si uses a standard limited-slip front differential.

The Forte GT isn’t the most hard-core sports sedan, but it can be enjoyable when driven with enthusiasm and comes with plenty of tech to serve as a well-equipped daily driver. That said, its low starting price and affordability after adding the feature-packed GT2 package leaves room for enthusiasts hungry for more to buy their own summer tires should they want to make their car even more capable. Kudos to Kia for keeping the affordable sporty sedan dream alive.

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