If you’re looking for a sedan, the 2021 Kia Forte and 2020 Ford Fusion are two cars worth your consideration. Both of these sedans offer a smooth ride, comfortable cabin, and great safety features, but they’re different in many ways. If you want to know whether the 2021 Kia Forte or 2020 Ford Fusion is more suitable for you, then take a look at this detailed comparison between each of their specifications and features:
Trim Levels and Prices
Starting at only $17,890, the 2021 Kia Forte is a compact sedan that comes in five trim levels, including the base FE, LXS, GT-Line, EX, and the top-spec GT. The 2020 Ford Fusion, on the other hand, is a mid-size sedan with a starting price tag of $23,170. It’s available in four trims: the entry-level S, SE, SEL, and the range-topping Titanium. With its much lower pricing, the Kia Forte is a better option if you want to save on your new car.
Exterior
The Kia Forte and the Ford Fusion are both good-looking cars. They have a low-slung stance, plunging hood, and swooping roof that give them a sleek and sporty appearance. However, the Forte is more eye-pleasing and elegant with its well-balanced styling and smooth curves. In contrast, the Fusion features sharply creased lines, a dominant grille, and squinting headlamps that make it look more aggressive.
As a compact car, the Kia Forte has a significantly shorter and narrower body than the Ford Fusion. Therefore, it’s easier to maneuver in confined situations such as congested traffic and parking lots, making it an ideal car for city dwellers.
Engines
If you decide to buy the 2021 Kia Forte, you have two engines to choose from. Most models are equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that generates 147 horsepower and works with either a six-speed manual or continuously variable transmission. For more power, you can opt for the top-of-the-line GT, which comes with a 1.6-liter turbo-four rated at 201 horsepower. This engine can be paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic or a six-speed manual transmission.
The 2020 Ford Fusion offers three engine options, including a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 175 horsepower, 1.5-liter turbo-four with 181 horsepower, and a 2.0-liter turbo-four with 245 horsepower. Regardless of which engine you choose, this sedan uses a six-speed automatic transmission.
While its engines aren’t as powerful as those of the Ford Fusion, the Kia Forte delivers a comparably energetic driving experience because of its lighter weight. When fitted with the turbocharged engine, this compact sedan is one of the most fun-to-drive cars in its segment.
Handling
Both the Kia Forte and Ford Fusion are capable of delivering a comfortable and composed ride in most driving situations. They do a good job of preventing vibrations and jolts from being felt in the cabin when moving over potholes and bumps. Additionally, their low center of gravity enables them to stay well-planted around sharp turns and along winding roads. Both sedans provide a great blend of comfort and sportiness.
Fuel Efficiency
If you’re concerned about fuel costs, you should definitely choose the 2021 Kia Forte. A Forte model with the continuously variable transmission returns an impressive 31/41 mpg (city/highway). The most efficient Ford Fusion manages only 23/34 mpg.
Interior
The Kia Forte and Ford Fusion both have a seating capacity of five. They’re fitted with cushioned and supportive seats that provide ample legroom and headroom for most adults. Nonetheless, the Kia seems to have the upper hand in terms of interior design and materials. It features an aesthetically pleasing cabin with many soft-touch materials, high-quality trim pieces, and stylish touches. The Ford has a nice and solidly built cabin with mixed-quality materials.
Cargo Space
Despite being a compact car, the Kia Forte provides almost as much cargo space as the mid-size Ford Fusion. It has 15.3 cubic feet of storage space in its trunk, while the Fusion offers 16 cubic feet.
Infotainment Features
The 2021 Kia Forte features a nice selection of infotainment features to help you stay connected, informed, and entertained on the road. It comes standard with the easy-to-use UVO infotainment system, an 8-inch touch-screen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a four-speaker sound system, and a USB port. If that isn’t enough, you can opt for a higher trim level or purchase an optional package to get available features such as wireless device charging, navigation, HD radio, satellite radio, an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and two additional USB ports.
In comparison, the base model of the 2020 Ford Fusion has a less generous list of tech features. It’s fitted with a basic SYNC infotainment system, a 4.2-inch display, and a four-speaker sound system. However, the upper trims are better-equipped, offering features such as the SYNC3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen, a Wi-Fi hot spot, navigation, satellite radio, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a six-speaker, 11-speaker, or 12-speaker audio system.
Safety
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the 2021 Kia Forte an overall score of four out of five stars for crash safety. This sedan did better in crash tests with the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, earning the highest rating of “good.” The 2020 Ford Fusion hasn’t undergone crash tests with either of these organizations.
Both the Kia Forte and Ford Fusion come with a long list of driver-assistance technologies to help reduce the risk of accidents. The Forte offers a rearview camera, forward-collision alert, automatic emergency braking, driver-attention monitoring, lane-departure alert, and lane-keeping assistance as standard equipment. Additionally, it has a number of available safety features to further enhance your safety, such as lane-changing assistance, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, high-beam assistance, pedestrian monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, and rear parking sensors.
Standard active safety features in the Fusion include forward-collision detection, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, pedestrian monitoring, blind-spot detection, a rearview camera, and rear cross-traffic warning. Available features include adaptive cruise control and rear parking sensors.
Overall, the 2021 Kia Forte is a better choice if you’re looking for an affordable car that delivers great value for money. The 2020 Ford Fusion, on the other hand, may be more suitable for you if you want a larger sedan with more power. To find out whether the 2021 Kia Forte is the right car for you, stop by Huffines Kia Corinth for a test drive. Contact us today to make an appointment.
Image via Kia.com