Compare the2022 Toyota CorollaVS 2022 Kia Forte

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Toyota Corolla has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Forte doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Corolla has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Forte doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Compared to metal, the Corolla’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Kia Forte has a metal gas tank.

Both the Corolla and the Forte have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Corolla is safer than the Kia Forte:

	Corolla	Forte
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Corolla is safer than the Kia Forte:

	Corolla	Forte
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	92	153
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	129 lbs.	282 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	137	286
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	89 G’s
Hip Force	367 lbs.	735 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	239	367
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	38 G’s
Hip Force	623 lbs.	750 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Corolla its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 80 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Forte has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The Corolla’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Forte runs out after 100,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Corolla for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Forte.

There are over 59 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Corolla’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Corolla’s reliability 68 points higher than the Forte.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Kia is ranked 15th.

Engine

The Corolla SE/XSE’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 22 more horsepower (169 vs. 147) and 19 lbs.-ft. more torque (151 vs. 132) than the Forte’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Corolla SE/XSE 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder is faster than the Kia Forte 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

	Corolla	Forte
Zero to 60 MPH	8.2 sec	8.7 sec
Quarter Mile	16.3 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	86.4 MPH	85.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Corolla gets better mileage than the Forte:

			MPG
Corolla
	Manual	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/36 hwy
		2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/36 hwy
	Auto	SE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	31 city/40 hwy
		XSE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	31 city/38 hwy
		L/LE 1.8 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/38 hwy
		XLE 1.8 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/37 hwy
Forte
	Manual	1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/31 hwy
	Auto	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/39 hwy
		1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/35 hwy

Transmission

The Toyota Corolla has a downshift rev synchronizer that automatically raises engine speed to make downshifts perfectly smooth. This keeps the car from lurching during downshifts, preventing loss of control during cornering. The Forte doesn’t offer a downshift rev synchronizer.

Brakes and Stopping

The Corolla stops shorter than the Forte:

	Corolla	Forte
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Toyota Corolla has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Forte has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Corolla XSE handles at .83 G’s, while the Forte pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Corolla Apex is quieter than the Forte GT (77 vs. 79 dB).

Passenger Space

The Corolla has .9 inches more front hip room and .2 inches more rear hip room than the Forte.

Cargo Capacity

The Corolla’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Forte FE’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

Ergonomics

The Corolla’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Forte has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Corolla’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Forte’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Corolla the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Forte can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Corolla XLE/XSE offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Forte doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Model Availability

The Toyota Corolla comes in sedan, four door hatchback and four door bodystyles; the Kia Forte isn’t available as a four door hatchback or wagon.

Economic Advantages

The Corolla will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Corolla will retain 52.08% to 53.88% of its original price after five years, while the Forte only retains 43.17% to 44.2%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Corolla is less expensive to operate than the Forte because it costs $37 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Corolla than the Forte, including $26 less for a water pump and $14 less for front brake pads.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Corolla as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Kia Forte isn't recommended.

The Toyota Corolla outsold the Kia Forte by almost three to one during the 2021 model year.