The 2022 Kia Forte has excellent features and warranty and takes on the practical and confident 2022 Subaru Impreza in this head-to-head. Here’s how they compare.
2022 Kia Forte
2022 Kia Forte Starting Price $19,090 | Price yours or View listings near you.
Above Average: Tons of standard features; ample interior space; user-friendly tech; IIHS Top Safety Pick.
Below Average: Some hard plastics; CVT transmission response; GT manual takes a hit on fuel economy.
Consensus: For 2022 Kia has refreshed the exterior and interior of the Kia Forte. It now offers standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus updated the driver assistance packages for this year. There’s also a new Technology Package for the GT and GT Line models, though the base EX trim has been discontinued for 2022.
2022 Subaru Impreza
2022 Subaru Impreza Starting Price: $18,795| Price yours or View listings near you.
Above Average: All-wheel drive standard; affordable; strong resale value; comes as sedan or hatchback; driver’s aids are standard with automatic transmission.
Below Average: Modest power; no hybrid; no driver’s aids with the manual transmission; ready for an update.
Consensus: The 2022 Subaru Impreza is available as a sedan or hatchback and comes with all-wheel drive as standard. It’s the most affordable Subaru and the cheapest sedan with all-wheel drive. It is getting a bit old, however. The Impreza hasn’t been updated since 2017.
Forte vs. Impreza: Compact Competence
Kia Forte
Despite the proliferation of crossover SUVs, the sedan is still alive and well at Kia. If the 2022 Forte is anything like the 2021 model, we fully expect it to provide a civilized driving experience right from the entry-level model upward. Adding advanced safety features and smartphone integration only boosts its value.
These include a generous list of standard features. The standard powertrain is a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine linked to a CVT automatic transmission. Standard features include a 4.2-inch driver information screen, air conditioning, cruise control, Sport and Comfort drive modes, automatic headlights, high-beam assist, and 15-inch steel wheels. The standard infotainment system is a user-friendly 8-inch screen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The 2022 Kia Forte also includes an impressive list of standard safety tech features. Features like driver attention warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-following assist, lane-keep assist, and rear occupant detection make the Forte a great value. All new Kias boast a warranty that includes 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain.
The sporty GT model starts at a reasonable $23,490. It gets an exciting 201-horsepower turbocharged engine, and it’s available with an engaging manual transmission.
Subaru Impreza
While the Impreza is one of the few cars that offers all-wheel drive as standard, the vehicle is aging and due for an update. The only real alternative with AWD is the Mazda3.
Engine output of 152 horsepower, combined with the added weight of all-wheel-drive hardware and the slow responses of that humblest of transmissions — the continuously variable transmission, or CVT — all conspire to keep the 2022 Impreza from lighting the fire of enthusiasts’ hearts. While we love the standard all-wheel drive, if you need more than just 5.1-inches of ground clearance, you’ll need to opt for something else, such as the Subaru Crosstrek, which is based on the Impreza 5-door.
Materials inside are of decent quality and the occupant space is ample in both body styles. For maximum versatility, we’d choose the hatchback, which has a bit more rear headroom. Moreover, the 5-door hatchback boasts nearly 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the 60/40 split-folding rear seats, with 55 cubic feet in total. The sedan’s trunk measures 12.3 cubic feet and also is practical thanks to 60/40 rear seats.
The top-line Limited trim (which we prefer) comes in hatchback only this year.
Similarities
Affordable pricing; base power; CVT transmissions.
2022 Kia Forte Advantages
Long warranty; lots of technology; optional engine; updated looks and style.
2022 Subaru Impreza Advantages
All-wheel drive standard; hatchback or sedan body styles.
Which is right for me?
The 2022 Kia Forte is a mainstream compact car with a bit of upscale flair. It offers a choice of drivetrains including a sporty GT and a long warranty.
The 2022 Subaru Impreza is one of the few cars that offers all-wheel drive as standard and can be had in either a hatchback or sedan version.
Ready to buy a Kia Forte or Subaru Impreza? Shop for one on sale now near you
| 2022 Kia Forte | 2022 Subaru Impreza | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter I4 | 2.0-liter flat-4 |
| Horsepower | 147 hp @ 6,200 rpm | 152 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 132 lb-ft @ 4,500rpm | 145 lb-ft @ 4,000rpm |
| Transmission | CVT | CVT |
| Fuel Economy | 35 mpg (31 city/41 hwy) | 32 mpg (28 city/36 hwy) |
| Also Available | 1.6-liter turbo I4; 6-spd manual; 7-spd DCT | 5-spd manual |
| Specs | ||
| Basic warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety Rating | 4 Stars | 5 Stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 106.3 inches | 105.1 inches |
| Overall Length | 182.7 inches | 182.7 inches |
| Width | 70.9 inches | 70.0 inches |
| Height | 56.5 inches | 57.3 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 34.8 feet | 35.4 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 38.8 inches | 39.8 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 37.5 inches | 37.2 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 42.2 inches | 43.1 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 35.7 inches | 36.5 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 56.1 inches | 56.7 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 55.3 inches | 55.6 inches |
| EPA Passenger Volume | 96.0 cu. ft. | 99.8 cu. ft. |
| EPA Cargo Volume | 15.3 cu. ft. | 12.3 cu. ft. |
Keyword: 2022 Kia Forte vs. 2022 Subaru Impreza Comparison