Toyota Camry vs Kia Forte
Toyota Camry vs Kia Forte: Performance
Before you take to the road, you’ll want to know which model is going to give you the most power. While they’re both good vehicles, it’s easy to spot where one stays good and the other becomes great.
The Toyota Camry is that latter vehicle, as it is equipped with a 2.5-liter Dynamic Force 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve D-4S Dual Injection engine with Dual VVT-i. That’s a long way of saying that the Camry packs a powerhouse under the hood. As far as performance output, it produces 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque.
On the other hand, the Kia Forte puts forth a good effort, equipped with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine. As you can see, it lacks the extended features of the Camry. For its own performance output? It produces 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque.
It is very clear which of these vehicles is the greater drive; however, let’s look a little further. A powerful engine is second only to what kind of fuel economy it offers. This area gets a little tricker, so we’ll go slow and start with the Forte.
The Forte’s fuel economy is split into two categories, depending on the transmission. The 6-speed manual transmission provides an EPA-estimated 27 city/37 highway/31 combined MPG. Those numbers increase when you choose a different transmission. What that means for you is extra work deciding on different transmissions and options.
However, the Camry comes right out of the box with a Direct Shift-8AT 8-speed Electronically Controlled automatic transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) with sequential shift mode. This transmission achieves an EPA-estimated 28 city/39 highway/32 combined MPG.1
In the end, the Camry edges out the Forte.
Toyota Camry vs Kia Forte: Safety Suites
Safety is another of those features that drivers feel strongly about and for good reason—you’ll spend a significant amount of time in your vehicle. In this case, both vehicles come equipped with a suite of safety features unique to their specific brands. While there might be overlap, we’ll be focusing on the differences.
The Kia Drive Wise Driver Assist Technology suite is rather limited, only proclaiming five driver-assistive features:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
- Forward Collision Warning
- Lane Departure Warning
- Lane Keeping Assist-Line
- Driver Attention Warning
While not the most robust safety suite, it will help prevent collisions and other issues from occurring.
Let’s see what the Camry has to offer. It comes equipped with Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+, which has exciting features through Safety Connect®, the dedicated app, such as:
- Automatic Collision Notification
- Enhanced Roadside Assistance
- Stolen Vehicle Locator
- Emergency Assistance Button
That’s just from being connected to the app! The active features in your Camry include:
- Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
- Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
- Lane Tracing Assist
- Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that in this case, the Forte is buried by the avalanche of features in the Camry.
Toyota Camry vs Kia Forte: Style
Last but not least, we have the unofficial number one comparison point. Let’s be honest—when you streak down the street, no one is going to wonder what your car’s MPG is. No—they’re going to be thinking, “Wow, that’s a beautiful car.” So, it’s important not to neglect that first impression.
In terms of being close—as in neck and neck—the Camry and the Forte share a lot of similar design options. While the base Camry isn’t fully kitted for a fashion show, it has a number of luscious trims for you to explore. The different levels offer a variety of cosmetic appliques and additional helpful features.
With the Forte, you also have a range of trims to choose from. However, style is subjective. While we can provide hard numbers on performance, we can’t do the same with what is or isn’t in fashion. So, think of this section as a positive vote for each model, giving you options to make your new vehicle you.
Toyota Camry vs Kia Forte: the Verdict
We hope our mini-comparison was helpful, showing you the ins and outs of what you can expect when behind the wheel of either vehicle.
Now, it’s time for our friends around Lincolnton, Charlotte, and Gastonia, NC, to contact us here at Toyota of Gastonia to schedule your Toyota test drive today!
1 2021 EPA-estimated mileage. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary for many reasons, including your vehicle’s condition and how/where you drive.