Compare the2023 Nissan VersaVS 2023 Kia Forte

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Versa SV/SR are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Forte doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Nissan Versa has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Versa has standard Rear Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Forte doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Versa 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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

	Versa	Forte
	Passenger
STARS	4 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 Nissan Versa is safer than the Kia Forte:

	Versa	Forte
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	145	153
Chest Movement	1 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	216 lbs.	282 lbs.
Hip Force	318 lbs.	325 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	250	286
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	89 G’s
Hip Force	461 lbs.	735 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	10 inches	12 inches
HIC	232	367
Spine Acceleration	29 G’s	38 G’s
Hip Force	481 lbs.	750 lbs.

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

Warranty

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

There are over 38 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Versa’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 Versa’s reliability 47 points higher than the Forte.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 2 places higher in reliability than Kia.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Versa
	Manual	1.6 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/35 hwy
	Auto	1.6 DOHC 4-cyl.	32 city/40 hwy
Forte
	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

Brakes and Stopping

The Versa stops shorter than the Forte:

	Versa	Forte
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Versa has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Forte doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The Versa SR handles at .84 G’s, while the Forte pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Chassis

The Versa is 5.7 inches shorter than the Forte, making the Versa easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Versa has .7 inches more front headroom and 2.3 inches more front legroom than the Forte.

Cargo Capacity

The Versa S Auto/SV/SR’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.

Towing

The Versa Manual can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Versa can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Forte can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Ergonomics

The Versa SV/SR’s standard wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Forte’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Versa owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Versa with a number “1” insurance rate while the Forte is rated higher at a number “3” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Versa is less expensive to operate than the Forte because typical repairs cost less on the Versa than the Forte, including $100 less for a water pump and $64 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Nissan Versa will be $514 to $5653 less than for the Kia Forte.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Versa first among small cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Forte isn’t in the top three in its category.

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