2023 Kia Forte vs 2023 Toyota Corolla

2023 Kia Forte vs 2023 Toyota Corolla View Inventory

2023 Kia Forte Overview

The team at Arapahoe Kia is excited to compare the 2023 Kia Forte vs 2023 Toyota Corolla and to highlight the main differences that consumers should consider before choosing one or the other. Both of these models are popular options among compact sedans, which is an automotive segment that is hotter right now than it has been since the crossover craze began. The Forte is impressive as its been somewhat of an underdog that has had to elbow its way into a market long dominated by the likes of Honda and Toyota. Toyota, on the other hand, has faced challenges as the sedan market changed faster than perhaps anyone saw coming.

Centennial CO - 2023 Kia Forte's Overview

Exterior - Kia Dealer serving Centennial CO

One of the complaints about small sedans over the years is that they’ve been a bit boring to look at, and Kia is one of the car companies that has helped changed that perception. The 2023 Kia Forte is sleek and sporty even if you opt for the base model. Most automotive critics agree that Toyota has fallen behind in this area, and the latest model is an attempt to course correct, so be sure to compare the 2023 Toyota Corolla to the previous model year. Both models are practically identical when it comes to ground clearance, wheelbase and length. Kia offers 15 to 18-inch wheels. Toyota offers 16 to 18-inch wheels. In both cases, the base models have steel wheels and are other trim levels are upgraded to alloy.

Centennial CO - 2023 Kia Forte's Exterior

Interior - 2023 Kia Forte in Centennial CO

Interior design and material quality are areas where Kia really distinguishes the 2023 Kia Forte not only from the 2023 Toyota Corolla but almost every other vehicle in the class. That isn’t to say that the competitors don’t have upscale cabins with their top trim levels, but Kia delivers it with the base FE, which has the lowest starting MSRP in the segment. Something else that stands out in comparing the 2023 Kia Forte vs 2023 Toyota Corolla is that Kia simply does more with the space available despite these both being five-passenger sedans that are very similar in size. Kia offers more overall passenger volume. The Forte provides more headroom and legroom in both rows, and trunk space is among best in class at more than 15 cubic feet whereas the Corolla is among least in class at about 13 cubic feet.

Centennial CO - 2023 Kia Forte's Interior
Kia Forte Mechanical specs

It’s worth noting that Kia offers a sportier sedan option with its GT, but since there is no equivalent with the 2023 Toyota Corolla, we’ll ignore it for the sake of this comparison. Both automakers take a similar approach in that they power their vehicles with a fuel-efficient 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and they pair it with a continuously variable transmission that sends power to the front wheels. The Kia engine has a strong reputation for responsiveness and peppiness. The Toyota engine didn’t but it’s been replaced this year. Professional road tests were not yet available at the time we made this comparison, so our best advice is to test-drive them yourself and see how they feel out on an actual road.

Centennial CO - 2023 Kia Forte's Mechanical
Technology - 2023 Kia Forte dealer

Both automakers include an 8-inch infotainment touch screen with all the bells and whistles, including wireless versions of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A robust suite of driver-assistance technologies are included with the base model in both cases as well, and in terms of ticking boxes, the models are comparable. The one thing we’d like to see changed about the 2023 Kia Forte available at Arapahoe Kia is the addition of adaptive cruise control to the standard equipment as opposed to it being a standalone option. The biggest concern with the Corolla is that its tech hasn’t fared well with critics, and it remains to be seen if the updates made with this model year will make a difference.

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If you have any questions not answered in our 2023 Kia Forte vs 2023 Toyota Corolla comparison, we encourage you to reach out to us. Our team can assist you by phone, through email or via the live chat feature on the Arapahoe Kia website, and we’re happy to discuss current brand incentives, finance and lease options, personalized quotes, your trade-in and much more.

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