The 2021 Kia Forte is one of the least expensive compact sedans. Plus, it gives you more for your money than most others in its class. It also offers great fuel economy, a long list of standard features, and a safe ride. In fact, the Kia Forte appears on a recent U.S. News list of the safest small cars. With an overall score of 8.2 out of 10 and a safety score of 9.3 out of 10, the Forte is an excellent choice. 

What makes the 2021 Kia Forte so safe?

The 2021 Kia Forte boasts an impressive safety suite that comes standard on every trim. Features include automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, and a rearview camera.

Plus, one feature that’s standard on the Forte but not on many other inexpensive cars is driver attention monitoring. This system will alert you if the car detects unusual movements and suspects you might not be paying attention. 

You can also add several optional features to your Forte for an up-charge. They include blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-change assist. You can also choose adaptive cruise control, which automatically speeds up or slows down depending upon the speed of the vehicle in front of you. 

The Kia Forte’s crash test scores

Crash testing went well for the 2021 Kia Forte. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave it 5 out of 5 stars for the side crash test and 4 stars for frontal and rollover tests. It earned an overall 4 stars. 

But the Forte didn’t perform well in a few areas. The front passenger tests received only 3 stars, but the driver’s side got 4. Scores for the 2020 model are the same. 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2021 Forte a rating of Good. It also earned a Superior rating for its effectiveness in preventing frontal crashes. The IIHS awarded the Forte a Top Safety Pick designation. It could’ve won the highest honor of Top Safety Pick+ had its halogen headlights performed better. 

What else can you expect with the 2021 Forte?

The Kia Forte packs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with your choice of a manual gearbox or continuously variable transmission. You can also get a dual-clutch option on the highest trim. Prices start at $17,890, U.S. News reports. The highest level trim costs around $22,790 with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission or $23,290 for the stick shift.

Cargo space isn’t bad, at 15.3 cubic feet in the trunk. U.S. News says it’s the most you can get in the compact class. There’s also enough room in the cabin to seat five passengers comfortably. 

Fuel economy, too, is great. With the manual model, expect 27 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. If you opt for the CVT, you’ll get even better fuel efficiency: 31/41 mpg city/highway. With its 1.6-liter engine, the GT trim gets a predictably lower 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. 

Overall, the 2021 Kia Forte is a well-rounded compact sedan. You’ll get the most out of your money with everything this car offers, including plenty of safety features for peace of mind.