DoubleClutch.ca
  • New Vehicle Test Drives
    • All
    • #SaveTheManuals
    • Crossovers
    • Electric Vehicles
    • First Drives
    • Green Cars
    • Long-Term Tests
    • Luxury
    • Mainstream
    • Motorcycles
    • Performance Cars
    • Road Trips
    • Supercars
    • Tire Tests
    • Trucks

    2023 Honda Civic Sport Touring Hatchback

    2024 BMW X6 M60i

    2023 Toyota Crown

    2024 Subaru Crosstrek

    First Drive: 2024 Hyundai Kona

    2023 Acura RDX Platinum Elite A-Spec

    2024 Kia Seltos SX

    2023 BMW R18 Bagger

    2023 Chevrolet Silverado High Country

    2024 BMW X5 xDrive50e

    2023 Mazda MX-5 RF GT

    2023 BMW CE-04

    The 2024 BMW M3 CS makes you feel superhuman

    2024 Lexus RZ 450e

    2023 Toyota GR Corolla Circuit Edition

    • Supercars
    • Performance Cars
    • Luxury
    • Mainstream
    • Trucks
    • Green Cars
    • Road Trips
    • Long-Term Tests
    • Tire Tests
  • First Drives
  • #SaveTheManuals
  • Motorcycles
  • Newsdesk
    • Lifestyle
      • Car/Tech World
      • Events
      • Galleries
  • Meet our Team
No Result
View All Result
  • New Vehicle Test Drives
    • All
    • #SaveTheManuals
    • Crossovers
    • Electric Vehicles
    • First Drives
    • Green Cars
    • Long-Term Tests
    • Luxury
    • Mainstream
    • Motorcycles
    • Performance Cars
    • Road Trips
    • Supercars
    • Tire Tests
    • Trucks

    2023 Honda Civic Sport Touring Hatchback

    2024 BMW X6 M60i

    2023 Toyota Crown

    2024 Subaru Crosstrek

    First Drive: 2024 Hyundai Kona

    2023 Acura RDX Platinum Elite A-Spec

    2024 Kia Seltos SX

    2023 BMW R18 Bagger

    2023 Chevrolet Silverado High Country

    2024 BMW X5 xDrive50e

    2023 Mazda MX-5 RF GT

    2023 BMW CE-04

    The 2024 BMW M3 CS makes you feel superhuman

    2024 Lexus RZ 450e

    2023 Toyota GR Corolla Circuit Edition

    • Supercars
    • Performance Cars
    • Luxury
    • Mainstream
    • Trucks
    • Green Cars
    • Road Trips
    • Long-Term Tests
    • Tire Tests
  • First Drives
  • #SaveTheManuals
  • Motorcycles
  • Newsdesk
    • Lifestyle
      • Car/Tech World
      • Events
      • Galleries
  • Meet our Team
No Result
View All Result
DoubleClutch.ca
Home Reviews Mainstream

2022 Kia Forte GT-Line

Nathan Leipsig by Nathan Leipsig
July 12, 2022
in Mainstream, Reviews
0 0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

In today’s car market, the crossover SUV is king, dominating sales to such an extent that a lot of companies have been forced to put their traditional car-shaped cars on the back burner, or abandon them altogether. In and amongst the sea of tall, awkward hatchbacks masquerading as “adventure vehicles,” the 2022 Kia Forte GT-Line sedan is a refreshing look at how things could be if we weren’t all so collectively obsessed with looking more interesting than we actually are.

Since its debut in 2019, the Kia Forte has always been a smart, well executed little car that’s every bit as good as its more established rivals, and for 2022 it gets some spiffy new athleisure wear. The new for 2022 GT-Line hits all the athletic style marks, sporting contrasting gloss black and matte red highlights, aggressive front and rear fascias, a tidy decklid spoiler, and sparkling satin 17” wheels. Our test car’s metallic Hyper Blue paint injects some additional personality and sets the whole outfit off nicely.

However, like so many of us rocking the athleisure style, the Forte GT-Line isn’t actually much of an athlete; it’s just an outfit. It makes do without the turbocharged muscle of the Forte GT, making do instead with the base Forte’s naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline four, routing all of its 143hp to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission. Suspension remains unchanged from the base car as well, with no firmer this or stiffer that to reign in the extra power it doesn’t have.

Okay, so maybe the Forte GT-Line is also a little fixated on looking more interesting than it actually is, but it opts for sweats and sneakers in lieu of the stilts and shoulder pads everyone else is posing with nowadays. In lieu of genuine sporting character, for $26,795 you get a sharp little sedan with everything and the kitchen sink when it comes to frills and features. 

The GT-Line package includes all the aforementioned athletic wear, as well as leatherette seats with white stitching and firm bolstering, power adjustment for the driver, ventilation for both front seats, and heating for front and rear. You get a black headliner, moonroof, leather trimmed shifter and flat bottom steering wheel. You get dual zone automatic climate control, a 10” touch screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a wireless phone charger, as well as the full suite of Kia’s driver assists, including blind spot detection, steering assist, and full speed range radar cruise, and collision prevention.

Perhaps more impressive than the laundry list of content is how well it all works together. The Forte’s interior space and user experience is a shining example of good design. The appearance is clean and attractive, with good materials on all touch points, and very little in the way of gloss black trim to gather greasy fingerprints. 

All controls are logically laid out and intuitive, and, being that they are honest-to-god buttons, easy to find and use while on the move. The touch interface is crisp and wonderfully intuitive, augmented with volume and tuning dials, with a very here-and-now neon sunset aesthetic. Steering wheel controls are similarly intuitive, and work well with the center display. Job well done here.

While it may not be winning any awards in track and field, the Forte GT-Line is a good sport and knows how to play ball on the road. The engine has eager response, and the CVT does a great job of both making use of the engine’s power and hiding the fact that it’s a CVT. It uses eight “gears” to disseminate its meager power, and it’s surprisingly good in sport/manual mode, rifling off immediate gearchanges up and down with almost no nannying to get in the way when you’re trying to have fun. They say it’s more fun to drive a slow-car-fast than a fast-car-slow, and being able to regularly delve deep into the throttle and snap through the “gears” without worrying about getting arrested every time is indeed entertaining.

The Forte GT-Line’s chassis supports the athletic motif, with quick, communicative steering and decent body control and grip. The brakes are a hair on the overeager side, typical for Kia/Hyundai, but reassuring and fairly easy to modulate. The whole package works well when driven playfully, but begins to unravel and reveal its econobox roots when pushed hard, with lots of front end plow on display. Athleisure is the name of the game for a reason.

Leisure is where the Forte GT-Line excels. That non-sport tuned suspension provides good ride comfort, and the seats are supportive and comfortable over long trips in any conditions with heating and ventilation on tap. The cabin is well insulated, and the engine is quiet and smooth with linear response. Leg, head and knee room are generous in front and rear, and outside visibility is excellent in all directions – you don’t even need the backup camera to park this thing. The radar cruise and lane keep assist work together very effectively, allowing you to really embrace leisure if you only feel like pretending to drive. 

Not actually being a real athlete works for the 2022 Kia Forte GT-Line. Swapping out cleats for sneakers makes it comfy and casual to drive. Not having to maintain muscle mass means it can keep a skinny fuel diet, using just 6.5L/100km in our testing. It looks sharp and ready to get sweaty, without any of the fuss of actually being sweaty. Very much like skipping the gym, it’s an easy sell every day.

 

1 of 23
- +

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

See Also:

2022 Honda Civic Touring

2021 Mazda3 Sport GT

2022 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

Tags: 20222022 forte2022 Kia Forte GT-Line2022 Kia Forte GT-Line reviewcompact sedanForte GTForte GT-LineKiaKia Fortekia forte reviewmainstreamReviews

Recent Test Drives

2023 Honda Civic Sport Touring Hatchback

2 days ago

2024 BMW X6 M60i

3 days ago

2023 Toyota Crown

4 days ago

Vehicle Specs

Segment
Compact Sedan
Engine Size
2.0L inline-four
Horsepower (at RPM)
147 at 6,200
Torque (lb-ft.)
132 at 4,500
Fuel Efficiency in L/100km (City/Highway/Combined)
8.8/6.1/7.4
Observed Fuel Efficiency (L/100km)
6.5
Cargo Capacity (in L)
433
Base Price (CAD)
$26,795
As-Tested Price (CAD)
$26,795

Categories

Copyright 2023 DoubleClutch.ca Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

Website developed & maintained by Ararat Works.

www.doubleclutch.ca IONOS2
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
  • New Vehicle Test Drives
    • Supercars
    • Performance Cars
    • Luxury
    • Mainstream
    • Trucks
    • Green Cars
    • Road Trips
    • Long-Term Tests
    • Tire Tests
  • First Drives
  • #SaveTheManuals
  • Motorcycles
  • Newsdesk
    • Lifestyle
      • Car/Tech World
      • Events
      • Galleries
  • Meet our Team

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

I was looking for a reliable bank that could offer competitive rates on products and services, and Charter Oak exceeded my expectations. Their customer service has consistently been top-notch. Even when I have had difficulty understanding something or needed help with setting up my account, they were there for me every step of the way. Charter Oak has become an integral part of my finances and I'm so glad I chose them!

I switched to charter oak login recently and it has been an absolute blessing. It's a secure and easy way to access my online banking account whenever I want, without having to wait ages for the page to load. They also have great customer service, which is always available if needed. Overall, it's one of the best online banking experiences I've had!

istanbul escorts istanbul escorts istanbul escorts istanbul escorts istanbul escorts istanbul escorts
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.