Compare the2023 Toyota Corolla HybridVS 2023 Kia Forte

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Toyota Corolla Hybrid 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 Hybrid 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.

The Corolla Hybrid offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Forte doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Compared to metal, the Corolla Hybrid’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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid is safer than the Kia Forte:

	Corolla Hybrid	Forte
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	187	245
Neck Compression	50 lbs.	50 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	1.1 inches
Neck Injury Risk	27%	49.1%
Neck Compression	86 lbs.	99 lbs.

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 Hybrid is safer than the Kia Forte:

	Corolla Hybrid	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.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota Corolla Hybrid is much safer than the Forte:

	Corolla Hybrid	Forte
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	MARGINAL
Head Injury Criterion	99	812
Head Peak Forces	no contact	104 G’s
Neck Tension	201 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Shoulder Deflection	1.1 in	2.4 in
Shoulder Force	268 lbs.	759 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.61 in	2.4 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	13 MPH
Pelvis Force	1339 lbs.	1762 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	150	398
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	156 lbs.
Neck Compression	89 lbs.	134 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.38 in	1.85 in
Shoulder Force	312 lbs.	424 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.1 in	1.81 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	11 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Corolla Hybrid the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Forte last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

The Corolla Hybrid’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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

The Forte’s redline is at 6800 RPM, which causes more engine wear, and a greater chance of a catastrophic engine failure. The Corolla Hybrid has a 4000 RPM redline.

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 Hybrid’s reliability 49 points higher than the Forte.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Kia is ranked 9th.

Engine

The Corolla Hybrid’s 1.8 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 24 lbs.-ft. more torque (156 vs. 132) than the Forte’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Corolla Hybrid
FWD	Auto	1.8 4-cyl. Hybrid	50 city/43 hwy
AWD	Auto	1.8 4-cyl. Hybrid	47 city/41 hwy
Forte
FWD	Manual	1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/31 hwy
	Auto	FE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/41 hwy
		2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/39 hwy
		1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/35 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Corolla Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Forte doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Corolla Hybrid’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The Forte doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Corolla Hybrid has larger standard tires than the Forte (205/55R16 vs. 195/65R15).

The Corolla Hybrid’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Forte LX’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Corolla Hybrid has standard 16-inch wheels. Smaller 15-inch wheels are standard on the Forte LX.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid 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.

Passenger Space

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

Cargo Capacity

The Corolla Hybrid’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Forte LX’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 Hybrid’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 Hybrid’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 Hybrid 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.

The Corolla Hybrid’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Forte’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Corolla Hybrid’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Forte’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Corolla Hybrid 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 2022.