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The Honda Civic has gained a foothold across the world as one of the best compact cars on the market. Currently, on the 11th generation, the 2023 Civic continues to be a best-seller in the USA, offering a fantastic value proposition of space, practicality, tech, and Honda's renowned performance. Of course, it faces many competitors for the title of the best compact car.
One of those competitors is the 2023 Kia Forte. Now on the third generation, the Forte received an update in 2020 and has gained a reputation for offering similar specifications to the big boys but at a more wallet-friendly price.
How will the 2023 Forte stack up against the 2023 Civic? In this Honda vs. Kia matchup, we will compare them in terms of performance, interior, and safety features. But if you want to learn more about the new Civic, contact Bob Brady Honda in Decatur, IL, and arrange a test drive.
The 2023 Civic and 2023 Forte offer cabins for up to five adults and are very close in volume, with the Honda packing just 0.6 cubic feet more than the 96 cubic feet of the Forte. However, Honda’s supremely comfortable seats and better packaging grant 2023 Civic occupants more room. The 2023 Civic also has a 14.8 cubic foot trunk, which is slightly less than the 15.3 cubic feet offered by the 2023 Forte, but it’s negligible in practice.
The 2023 Civic and 2023 Forte both have standard automatic climate control with dual-zone on higher trims, Apple CarPlay®, and Android Auto™ compatibility. The base Civic has a 7-inch touch screen, but it can go up to 10.2 inches further up the range. The Forte offers an 8-inch touch screen. The Honda can also be availed with a Bose sound system upgrade and an optional wireless phone charging pad.
You can have your 2023 Civic with a choice of up to four powertrain options. The base engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that offers a decent 158 horsepower. Step up to the next level, and you’ll get a 1.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder that develops a healthy 180 horsepower. These engines are coupled to a CVT automatic transmission with paddle shifters, and front-wheel-drive is standard.
Want more power? Check out the 2023 Civic Si, which offers 200 horsepower from the 1.5-liter turbo engine, or go to the truly manic 2023 Civic Type-R that packs a 2.0-liter turbo four with a truly amazing 315 horsepower. Both come with a six-speed manual as standard and front-wheel-drive.
In contrast, the 2023 Forte range can’t compare. The base engine is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, but it only makes 147 horsepower and is coupled to a CVT automatic transmission. There's also a 1.6-liter turbocharged option with a better 201-horsepower, but it's nowhere near as nice to drive as the Civic Si, despite coming with six-speed manual transmission or DCT automatic transmission options.
The 2023 Civic and 2023 Forte offer an impressive set of standard safety features. They’ve each got eight airbags, stability control, rear parking sensors, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, automated emergency braking, and child safety locks. Furthermore, the 2023 Civic also adds adaptive cruise control to the standard feature set, which is optional on the 2023 Forte.
The 2023 Civic really is the best compact car out there, and it’s no surprise that US News ranks it at No. 1 in its compact cars list. The 2023 Civic offers a great range of powertrains, an excellent cabin, an impressive array of technology, and a comprehensive set of safety features. So drop by Bob Brady Honda in Decatur, IL, and get to know the new Civic.
