Compare the2023 Kia ForteVS 2023 Nissan Versa

The Forte has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Versa doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Forte and Versa offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the Forte with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning (except Manual) has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Versa’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The Forte offers optional 911 Connect, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Versa doesn’t offer a GPS response system, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Forte and the Versa 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 blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

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

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Forte is 1.1% less likely to roll over than the Versa.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Forte the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 234 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Versa has not been fully tested, yet.

The Forte comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Versa’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Forte 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Versa. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Versa ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Forte first among compact cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Versa isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 10th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 60 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 20th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 6 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

The Forte’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 25 more horsepower (147 vs. 122) and 18 lbs.-ft. more torque (132 vs. 114) than the Versa’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Forte GT’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 79 more horsepower (201 vs. 122) and 81 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 114) than the Versa’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Kia Forte 4 cyl. is faster than the Nissan Versa (automatics tested):

The Forte has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Versa (14 vs. 10.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Kia Forte comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Versa.

A six-speed manual is standard on the Kia Forte GT, with closer gear ratios for better performance and a lower final drive ratio for quieter highway operation, less engine wear and better fuel mileage. Only a five-speed manual is available for the Versa.

The Forte offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is more internally efficient than a CVT but just as easy to drive. The Versa doesn’t offer an SMG.

For better stopping power the Forte’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Versa:

The Kia Forte has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the Versa. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The Forte stops much shorter than the Versa:

For better traction, the Forte GT Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Versa (225/45R17 vs. 205/55R16).

The Forte GT’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Versa SR’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Forte GT has standard 18-inch wheels. The Versa’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

The Kia Forte’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Nissan Versa only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

For superior ride and handling, the Forte GT 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 Nissan Versa has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Forte’s wheelbase is 3.2 inches longer than on the Versa (106.3 inches vs. 103.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Forte is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Versa.

The Forte GT handles at .93 G’s, while the Versa SR pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Forte executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Versa SR (27.5 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Forte a Mid-size car, while the Versa is rated a Compact.

The Forte has 7.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Versa (96 vs. 88.9).

The Forte has 2.1 inches more front hip room, 3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 4.7 inches more rear legroom, 1 inch more rear hip room and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Versa.

The Forte has a larger trunk than the Versa (15.3 vs. 14.7 cubic feet).

The Forte’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Versa S Manual doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Forte GT Line/GT’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Versa doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The power windows standard on both the Forte and the Versa have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Forte is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Versa prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Forte GT Line/GT’s driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control. The Versa’s driver’s power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

In addition to a parabolic reflector, optical-grade lenses in the Forte’s standard projector headlights precisely focus the beam, providing more even illumination of the road for better visibility and a sharp cut-off that prevents blinding oncoming drivers. The sharp cutoff allows the use of a stronger light. The Versa’s standard uses a simple reflector to direct its standard headlights.

Consumer Reports rated the Forte’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Versa’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Forte GT Line/GT Auto keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Versa doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Forte GT Line/GT has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Versa doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Forte GT Line/GT’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Versa doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Forte has available rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Versa doesn’t offer rear vents.

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address, a GPS navigation system is standard on the Forte GT Line/GT. The Forte’s navigation system also has a real-time traffic update feature that offers alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Versa doesn’t offer a navigation system.

The Forte will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Forte will retain 47.73% to 47.79% of its original price after five years, while the Versa only retains 44.29% to 46.42%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Forte is less expensive to operate than the Versa because it costs $9 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Forte than the Versa, including $53 less for a muffler, $30 less for front brake pads, $202 less for a starter, $85 less for fuel injection, $200 less for a fuel pump, $22 less for front struts and $111 less for a power steering pump.

The Kia Forte outsold the Nissan Versa by over 8 to one during 2022.