2020 Kia Forte
Starting at
$17,890
2020 Kia Optima
Starting at
$23,390
| 201 | Horsepower (HP) | 245 |
| 195 | Torque (lb-ft) | 260 |
| 29/40 MPG | Fuel Economy (city/highway) | 27/37 MPG |
While Kia offers a wide selection of sedans ranging from the subcompact Kia Rio all the way up to the luxurious Kia K900, the most popular models are the compact Kia Forte and midsize Kia Optima. Generally, a midsize sedan will be incomparably more powerful, more comfortable, and more luxurious than a manufacturer’s compact sedan. However, when comparing the 2020 Kia Forte vs 2020 Kia Optima, it becomes evident that this is not always the case, because both have a lot to offer.
The current Optima was first introduced for the 2016 model year and is set to be replaced by an all-new model for the upcoming 2021 model year. Meanwhile, the current Forte just arrived on the market for the 2019 model year, and for the 2020 model year has received a brand new sporty GT trim with an upgraded engine and other exciting new features. And while the 2020 Optima still takes the lead in terms of features, the 2020 Forte offers an extremely competitive package that is right behind the Optima at a much lower price. But, let's take a closer look at how these two sedans compare.
Performance
Of course, when looking to purchase a new vehicle, one of the first things drivers consider is performance. For good reason, the engine numbers, transmission, and fuel economy play a significant role in what cars get sold off lots the quickest. With that said, let's look at how the performance of the Forte compares to that of the Optima.
What's Standard?
The Forte comes standard with a 2.0L engine producing 147 hp, which is adequate and comparable to other compacts on the market. And while its continuously variable transmission may not be exciting, it does allow the Forte to achieve a combined fuel economy rating of 35 miles per gallon.
In comparison, the base Optima has a 2.5L engine with 185 hp, 178 lb-ft of torque, and a traditional six-speed automatic transmission. This provides noticeably better acceleration and still manages to deliver 29 miles per gallon combined. This performance increase, though, does come at a price as the Optima starts a few thousand dollars more than the Forte.
Engine Upgrades
The Forte does have an upgraded engine on its GT trim. This engine is a turbocharged 1.6L, 4-cylinder with an output of 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. And impressively, this trim is actually cheaper than the standard, base trim of the Optima. However, the Optima does have more options to pick from.
The EX and EX Premium trims come equipped with a 1.6L turbocharged engine, producing 178 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. And while the horsepower figure is slightly lower than the of the base Optima engine, the 1.6L engine has more torque. Additionally, it has a quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a superior fuel economy of 31 MPG combined, all of which are significant upgrades. Finally, the sporty Optima SX trim has a 2.0L turbocharged engine with 245 hp and 260 lb-ft.
Of course, these greater powered engines do cost more. So, if you have a large budget and want extra strength, the Optima is likely the car for you. However, if you want a budget-friendly vehicle that still produces adequate power, the Forte is a good choice.
Interior
One of the, literally, largest differences you will find in comparing the 2020 Kia Forte vs the 2020 Kia Optima, is that the Forte is a compact car while the Optima is a midsize car. This means that the Optima is overall a bigger vehicle. But what does that really mean for a driver? Well, it could mean more or less room for passengers or cargo, but we don't know that until we make the comparison.
Space for Passengers
The front seats in the Optima offer an inch more headroom and over three inches more legroom than the front seats of the Forte. This is a pretty significant difference and could mean a lot to your tall friends. However, the difference in other key measurements is surprisingly small. For example, there is less than half an inch difference in second-row headroom between the two cars is basically unnoticeable without a tape measure, and the Forte actually has a tenth of an inch more second-row legroom than the Optima.
Cargo, Cargo, Cargo
The difference in trunk space is also not particularly significant, with the Forte offering an impressive 15.3 cu.ft. against the 15.9 cu.ft. of the Optima. This small difference in cargo space is practically meaningless as both cars come with 60/40 split-folding rear seats to accommodate larger items that would not normally fit in their trunks. Overall, outside of its more generous front seats, the extra size of the Optima really does not directly translate to more comfort or utility than the smaller Forte, it seems they are on common ground in this area.
Features
When it comes to interior features, the 2020 Kia Optima has a clear edge over the 2020 Kia Forte. Trim for trim; the larger car offers more and better features. However, the Optima also costs far more than a Forte, so it really depends on your budget. But when it comes down to it, both vehicles offer great features, but there is no denying the Optima's advantage; let's see why.
Comparing the Inner Features
The most spectacular feature that is only found on the Optima is its large two-pane panoramic sunroof with power sunshade. Available on almost every trim of the car, this feature transforms your driving experience by letting in far more air and light than the smaller sunroof available on the Forte. A more subtle but also important feature unique to the Optima is the use of sound-absorbing glass for the side windows in its higher trims. This helps to cut down on road noise and makes for a quieter and more comfortable cabin.
Furthering the interior comparison of the Optima and the Forte, you will continue to find more available features in the midsize sedan. Some of the Optima’s luxury items that are not available on the Forte include a heated steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a two-setting memory function for seat and mirror positions. The Optima is also commonly offered with more basic features that are only found on a small number of Forte trims. For instance, the Forte only offers a power driver’s seat standard on a single trim, while it is standard on five of the Optima’s trims.
It is a similar story with dual-zone automatic climate control, with half of the Optima trim levels offering it against only a single Forte trim. So while a top trim Forte can provide similar features to a mid-trim Optima at a much lower price, your average Forte will be a less-equipped car, and even a top trim Forte cannot match a top trim Optima in terms of features. However, like all the categories of comparison, it is easy to correlate these feature differences with the significant cost gap.
Safety
If there is one characteristic that sets apart Kia’s vehicles, it is the level of safety technology that they offer. Kia stands out from other manufacturers, and both the 2020 Kia Forte and 2020 Kia Optima are no exception. But how do the safety features differ between these two sedans? Well, as we are about to see in the comparison, the two cars both have virtually identical systems in their top configurations, but the Optima offers more standard equipment across more trims.
Comparing Safety
All trims of the Kia Forte come standard with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, as well as lane departure warning and lane-keep assist. However, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert are only found on the higher trims. At the same time, pedestrian detection and adaptive cruise control are only optional equipment on a single trim of the Forte.
In comparison, all trims of the Kia Optima come standard with blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian detection, and a rear parking sensor on top of all of the standard systems found on the Forte. Further, half of the Optima trim levels come standard with adaptive cruise control. Overall, these additional systems make the Optima the more convenient vehicle, but both are equally safe - as Kia makes sure all of their drivers are.
