Our team at Norm Reeves Honda Superstore Port Charlotte is here to help you learn more about the Civic vs. Forte. This Honda vs. Kia sedan comparison will show you what these impressive cars offer and how they differ, so you can decide on the one that’s perfect for you!
The Honda Civic and Kia Forte each come equipped with respective 2.0L 4-cylinder engines under their hoods. Each engine comes mated to variable transmissions that can provide direct gear transitions and smooth accelerations, which results in each vehicle having a highly efficient performance.
However, when it comes to the performances of these Honda vs. Kia sedans, there’s a bit of a difference. The Honda Civic leads with 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. The Kia Forte falls a little short with 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque.
Drivers looking for more of a boost can always opt for the 1.5L 4-cylinder turbo engine in the Civic. This engine pushes the performance further and gives the Civic the ability to boast 174 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. This engine option also comes with direct fuel injection—a fuel delivery system that ensures no fuel is wasted by only providing the engine with what it needs based on its current level of performance.
Even though these Honda vs. Kia sedans offer a similar size, there’s a bit of a variation in the interior space that’s offered to their respective passengers.
The Civic has 97.8 cubic feet of passenger volume, while the Forte features 96 cubic feet of passenger volume. The chasm doesn’t seem huge, but there are some pretty big differences with the overall space available to the passengers in front and back.
The Civic offers more front-row headroom with 39.3 inches, while the Forte includes 38.8 inches of front headroom. In the rear, the Civic offers 37.4 inches of legroom, while the Kia Forte only offers its rear passengers 35.7 inches of legroom.
The new Honda Civic offers its driver and front passenger 57 inches of shoulder room and 53.7 inches of hip room. The Forte, however, only offers its driver and front passenger 56.1 inches of shoulder room and 53 inches of hip room. Each vehicle offers more than 15 cubic feet of trunk space.
Each new sedan includes dashboard-mounted displays that you can use to select your media options. These include the AM/FM radio, USB and auxiliary input for portable media devices, and Bluetooth® technology for both hands-free calling and audio streaming. The Civic also offers Speed-Sensitive Volume Compensation (SVC). This feature recognizes when the sound of the engine is loud and interfering with your listening and will automatically raise the audio level of the stereo system.
The Civic and Forte each offer connectivity features like Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. These features will integrate your phone into the dashboard display, so you can access your apps, contacts, text messages, and media library from the road!
The Honda Civic also offers HondaLink® on its Sport trim and higher. This feature connects your vehicle to an app on your phone. From the app, you can remotely start and unlock your vehicle, as well as locate it in a crowded parking lot. This feature gives you access to your car from the palm of your hand.
The 2020 Civic and 2020 Forte also offer respective driver-assisting technologies that can provide assistance and mitigation to help you avoid a potential collision.
Each vehicle includes exterior-mounted sensors that measure the speed of the vehicle and its distance from the ones ahead to provide warnings in real time. When a potential collision or mishap is predicted, the systems will provide brake pressure to reduce the force or impact while giving you a window of time to react and prevent the accident from occurring.
Each vehicle includes collision warning systems and lane-keeping systems to help reduce the risk of crashes. The Honda Civic also features Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow, which will help reduce its cruising speed to keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. It allows the car to adapt to the flow of traffic without you having to turn the system off and slow down manually.
The Civic also includes a Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM). This feature can recognize when the vehicle is veering off the road. It can provide steering or braking assistance to help you with returning to the road.
If you’re in the midst of deciding on the Honda Civic vs. Kia Forte, there’s a lot to consider. Another option you’ll have to factor into your decision making is whether to buy vs. lease. There are quite a few differences between these avenues, so we’ll break it down to give you a better sense of how they vary.
When you lease a Honda Civic or Kia Forte, there’s a down payment you’ll need to make. However, if you lease, the down payment isn’t as high. You may even benefit from lower monthly payments than if you purchased the vehicle.
Of course, when you lease, you don’t own the vehicle. This could prevent you from customizing the car to your liking or adding any accessories to personalize it. This may even make you hold off on any lengthy road trips due to the mile limitations included with both leasing options.
When you lease a vehicle, though, you’ll have a set of wheels for the next few years that can give you time to think about what your future will look like and what you’ll need in terms of a car. The term lasts for a few years and then ends—basically like an extended rental.
When your Kia Forte or Honda Civic lease ends, you’ll have a few options to consider for your next steps. You can always turn the vehicle back in and walk away. Of course, if you thoroughly enjoyed your experiences behind the wheel and wish to continue them, you can always opt to buy the Civic or Forte out of the lease and keep the wheels rolling.
However, you do have a third option to consider: You can lease a newer model or updated version of the Civic or Forte. When you lease regularly—every few years—it allows you to stay current with your vehicle and enjoy the up-to-date engineering, style, and technology that each vehicle offers!
If you’re planning to buy a Honda Civic or Kia Forte, you’ll want to consider what to do with your current vehicle. You can always post ads online and try to sell it to an interested driver. On the other hand, that can be time consuming, and you may not get the price you were looking for.
You have the option to trade in your car to us! Our team will appraise your vehicle and offer its Blue Book value based on mileage, age, and condition. You can then use that value toward the down payment on your next car. That way, you can save on your pocket cash and drive off happy with the deal! You can even use the excess funds toward an available package or an extended warranty to keep up with your vehicle’s recommended service schedule.
At Norm Reeves Honda Superstore Port Charlotte, we hope this 2020 Civic vs. Forte comparison has helped you learn more about these respective sedans, how they differ, and what they offer with their features, engineering, comfort, and safety technology. Nevertheless, it’s clear that the Honda Civic has a bit more to offer than the Kia Forte in all these categories.
Why not learn more—like how the 2020 Honda Civic handles on the road or what its features can do—by scheduling a test drive with us? We’re happy to help drivers throughout Venice, Punta Gorda, and North Port, Florida, when it’s time to find their new car.
Schedule your test drive with us today, or get started on your journey from home and buy your Honda Civic online. It’s quick, easy, and convenient! We’re also here to help you take care of your vehicle in line with its service schedule. Our team will make sure that your vehicle gets the care and attention it needs to tackle the roads and perform at its best for the miles to come!
