DecodedCars2018 Kia Forte
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2018 models.
- Class
- Midsize Cars
- Body styles
- 4dr Sedan, Koupe EX 2dr Coupe, Koupe Sx/Sx Luxury 2dr Coupe, LX 4dr Sedan
- Engines
- 2.0L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 32 combined · 29 city / 37 hwy
- Length
- 171.3–179.5 in
- Curb weight
- 2,804–3,025 lb
- NHTSA rating
- ★★★★★
- Recalls
- 3 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 32 MPG combined — 18% better than the average 2018 midsize car (27.2 MPG).
- 5-star NHTSA safety ratingTop overall score in federal crash tests.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 24 similar 2018 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2018 Kia Forte is a midsize car offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl and 1.6L 4-cyl turbo) and front-wheel drive.
It measures about 180 inches long and 70 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 2,906 lb (4dr Sedan).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 32 MPG combined (29 city / 37 highway), 18% better than the 2018 midsize car average of 27.2 MPG, for an estimated $2,100 a year in fuel.
In NHTSA crash testing it earned the top 5-star overall rating.
It has 3 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 136 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the engine.
What changed for 2018
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2017 Forte — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2017; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2017 Forte →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr Sedan | 179.5 in | 70.1 in | 56.3 in | 106.3 in | 61.4 / 61.8 in | 2,906 lb | 62/38 |
| Koupe EX 2dr Coupe | 178.3 in | 70.1 in | 55.5 in | 106.3 in | 61.4 / 61.8 in | 2,870 lb | 63/37 |
| Koupe Sx/Sx Luxury 2dr Coupe | 178.3 in | 70.1 in | 55.5 in | 106.3 in | 61.4 / 61.8 in | 2,983 lb | 63/37 |
| LX 4dr Sedan | 179.5 in | 70.1 in | 56.3 in | 106.3 in | 61.4 / 61.8 in | 2,804 lb | 62/38 |
| 5 LX/EX 5dr Hatchback | 171.3 in | 70.1 in | 57.1 in | 106.3 in | 61.4 / 61.8 in | 2,912 lb | 62/38 |
| 5 Sx/Sx Luxury 5dr Hatchback | 171.3 in | 70.1 in | 57.1 in | 106.3 in | 61.4 / 61.8 in | 3,025 lb | 62/38 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forte | 2.0L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 / 37 / 32 | +18% | $2,100 | 279 |
| Forte | 2.0L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 34 / 28 | +3% | $2,400 | 314 |
| Forte | 2.0L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 33 / 28 | +3% | $2,400 | 318 |
| Forte 5 | 2.0L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 34 / 28 | +21% | $2,400 | 317 |
| Forte 5 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 30 / 27 | +17% | $2,500 | 332 |
| Forte 5 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 29 / 25 | +8% | $2,700 | 353 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2018 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Driver / passenger | Side | Side pole | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 4★ / 4★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 10.3% |
Similar 2018 midsize cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Kia Forte (this car) | 32 MPG | ★★★★★ | 3 |
| 2018 Toyota Corolla | 34 MPG | ★★★★★ | 3 |
| 2018 Honda Civic | 36 MPG | ★★★★★ | 6 |
| 2018 Nissan GT-R | 18 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2018 Toyota Prius | 56 MPG | ★★★★★ | 1 |
| 2018 Mazda 3 | 32 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2018 Subaru Impreza | 32 MPG | ★★★★★ | 5 |
Recalls (3)
Air Bags · Jan 25, 2022
NHTSA campaign 22V031000 · 410,619 vehicles
- Problem
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
- Risk
- Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Trunk Lid › Latch · Aug 9, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V622000 · 253,074 vehicles
- Problem
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
- Risk
- A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216.
Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine › Oil/Lubrication › Pump · Apr 13, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V260000 · 4,069 vehicles
- Problem
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage.
- Risk
- A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pan, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC210.
Not every 2018 Kia Forte is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2018 Kia Forte buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 3 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Engine — 57 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Air Bags — 16 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Electrical System — 14 owner reports. Test every window, lock, light, screen and USB port; check the battery age.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 33,937 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2018 Kia Forte. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Forte years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Forte | 34 | 182.7 in | ★★★★★ | 0 | 26 |
| 2023 Forte | 34 | 182.7 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 66 |
| 2022 Forte | 35 | 182.7 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 28 |
| 2021 Forte | 35 | 182.7 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 69 |
| 2020 Forte | 35 | 182.7 in | ★★★★★ | 0 | 78 |
| 2019 Forte | 35 | 182.7 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 150 |
| 2017 Forte | 32 | 179.5 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 305 |
| 2016 Forte | 30 | 179.5 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 138 |
| 2015 Forte | 30 | 179.5 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 260 |
| 2014 Forte | 29 | 179.5 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 421 |
| 2013 Forte | 30 | 178.3 in | Not rated | 5 | 197 |
| 2012 Forte | 30 | 178.3 in | Not rated | 4 | 283 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Kia. How we calculate this →