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One of the few remaining small sedans on the US market enters the 2023 model year, though no upgrades are offered over the 2022 model. Despite the lack of significant new features, the 2023 Kia Forte is slightly more expensive across the board. More on that later, but first, let’s look at what the entry-level South Korean sedan has to offer.
The automaker refreshed the Forte last year with a more pronounced front fascia with a fresh new take on the company’s “tiger nose” corporate grille. Other visual tweaks included a sportier-looking front bumper with three-point LED fog lights arranged diagonally in the GT trim level, also available for the GT-Line grade with different LED taillights. New 16- and 17-inch wheels complemented the visual improvements over the pre-facelift model.
The Forte remains available in four trim levels for the 2023 model year – FE, LXS, GT-Line, and GT – as it did last year. The GT Technology Package has been discontinued, and the FCA Fusion safety pack has been added to the GT model with a dual-clutch automatic transmission. Furthermore, all 2.0-liter engine-equipped LX, LXS, and GT-Line models are now SULEV30 compliant.
In terms of powertrains, the 2023 Forte’s engine lineup remains unchanged, with either a standard naturally aspirated 2.0-liter unit or a turbocharged 1.6-liter mill available. The base engine produces 147 horsepower (110 kilowatts) and 132 pound-feet (179 Newton-meters) of torque, while the 1.6, which is available on GT models, produces 201 hp (150 kW) and 195 lb-ft of torque (265 Nm). If you choose the sportier model, you can choose between a manual transmission and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The 2023 Forte LX starts at $19,490 (excluding $1,095 destination), which is $400 more than the 2022 Forte LX. The top GT models start at $24,190 (DCT) and $24,890 (automatic) (MT). The LXS falls somewhere in the middle, costing at least $19,990, and the GT-Line costs at least $21,690.
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