Kia Forte Model Years and History

The Kia Forte carries over with minimal changes for 2024.

The Kia Forte carries over with minimal changes for 2023.

The Kia Forte gets a few minor changes throughout the lineup for 2022, including front and rear exterior refresh. Updates to the interior adding standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear USB charging port, and electronic parking brake with auto hold. There are a few more safety features including standard lane following assist and an optional adaptive cruise control system that used navigation data. The EX-trim is discontinued, and a new Technology package is available for the GT and GT Line trims.

The Kia Forte gets a few minor changes throughout the lineup for 2021.

Kia has introduced a couple of new trims to the Forte for 2020, the GT Line and the GT are both new for this year and both have an emphasis on sporty handling and looks. The GT Line offers a sporty appearance and includes blacked out badges, while the GT brings a more powerful turbocharged engine, which can even be mated to a 6-speed manual transmission if desired.

The third generation Kia Forte has undergone an extensive makeover for 2019. The most noticeable of changes being its exterior dimensions. Growing two inches in length and the addition of nearly an inch of width help provide much improved cabin room for drivers and passengers alike. The Forte now bears a strong family resemblance to the newly minted Kia Stinger but is based on the existing Hyundai Elantra platform providing more rigidity and a better driving experience overall. Further proving the changes are more than skin deep A new Kia engineered chain driven CVT transmission and an Atkinson cycle ultra-fuel efficient 2.0L inline four-cylinder help push highway peak gas mileage at or above 40 mpg when configured together.

In 2018 the Kia Forte gets minor updates to its packages and safety features. UVO3 with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay have been added to the Popular package, the S model receives 16-inch alloy wheels, the Technology package now includes a sunroof.

The Kia Forte gets a mild refresh for 2017 with handsome new styling around the front of the car, giving it a more sophisticated and European look. Around back, the taillights are all new and can be had with LEDs. Other improvements for 2017 include a new base engine, a 2.0L 4-cylinder unit that promises to improve fuel economy. Further aiding fuel economy is a new 6-speed automatic gearbox available with either engine.

The 2016 Kia Forte is largely unchanged, with mostly minor reshuffling of standard and optional equipment from trim to trim.

The 2016 Kia Forte is largely unchanged, with mostly minor reshuffling of standard and optional equipment from trim to trim.

After a full redesign last year, the Forte returns in 2015, with only a couple of minor tweaks to the engine to further improve fuel economy.

After a full redesign last year, the Forte returns in 2015 with only a couple of minor tweaks to the engine to further improve fuel economy, as well as a minor shuffling of options on the Koup.

The Kia Forte has been completely redesigned for 2014, with longer, wider and lower proportions, improved performance and fuel economy, a more refined ride and more comfortable interior and more technology and connectivity features. Most notably, perhaps, it adopts Kia's more distinct, European-influenced design language that has helped propel the brand's sales in recent years.

The Kia Forte has been completely redesigned for 2014, with longer, wider and lower proportions, improved performance and fuel economy, a more refined ride and more comfortable interior and more technology and connectivity features. Most notably, perhaps, it adopts Kia's more distinct, European-influenced design language that has helped propel the brand's sales in recent years.

The Kia Forte has seen several updates for 2013. Styling has been improved, giving the car a more streamlined shape. More standard features have been included across all trim levels and Kia has added additional sound deadening to increase refinement levels.

The Kia Forte has seen several updates for 2013. Styling has been improved, giving the car a more streamlined shape. More standard features have been included across all trim levels and Kia has added additional sound deadening to increase refinement levels.

For 2012, the Kia Forte lineup returns for with only minor trim changes.

For 2012, the Kia Forte lineup returns for with only minor trim changes.

For 2011, an all-new 5-door hatchback, called the Forte 5-Door, joins the lineup, which last year consisted of a 4-door Forte sedan and 2-door Forte Koup. Also, an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission replaces the 4- and 5-speed automatics previously offered--improving fuel economy slightly--and a new 6-speed manual replaces the 5-speed. Otherwise, the Kia Forte lineup returns for 2011 with few changes, although steering-wheel paddle-shifters are now offered on all Forte SX models.

For 2011, an all-new 5-door hatchback, called the Forte 5-Door, joins the lineup, which last year consisted of a 4-door Forte sedan and 2-door Forte Koup. Also, an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission replaces the 4- and 5-speed automatics previously offered--improving fuel economy slightly--and a new 6-speed manual replaces the 5-speed. Otherwise, the Kia Forte lineup returns for 2011 with few changes, although steering-wheel paddle-shifters are now offered on all Forte SX models.

Intended as the replacement for the Kia Spectra, the brand new Kia Forte presents a new set of styling cues for Kia, suggesting clean European lines that are both sporty and upscale. Kia has endowed the Forte with a long list of uplevel standard features, intending it to compete with the established Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.