Kia Forte GT vs. Civic SI: A Comprehensive Comparison

Suppose you have decided to buy a car but need clarification on the Kia Forte GT and the Civic Si. These are both very nice compact cars. But you don’t have to stress out anymore. 

In this article, I will talk about the history and features of the Kia Forte GT vs. Civic SI. These are all the points which I am going to discuss: 

• Introduction to Kia Forte GT and Civic SI
• The history of Kia Forte GT and Civic SI
• Overview of Kia Forte GT features
• Overview of Civic SI features
• Comparing Kia Forte GT and Civic SI: Performance
• Comparing Kia Forte GT and Civic SI: Comfort and Interior Design 
• Comparing Kia Forte GT and Civic SI: Safety features
• Comparing Kia Forte GT and Civic SI: Price and value for money
• Customer reviews and testimonials: Kia Forte GT vs Civic SI
• My Opinion: Which one is the best for you?

Introduction to Kia Forte GT and Civic SI

Both the Kia Force GT and Civic SI are compact cars. They have unique characteristics and features.

The Kia Forte is the best affordable compact car. It has a 201 hp Horsepower, 195 foot-lbs. Torque 0.067 hp per pound power to weight ratio. Its body style is a sedan. This vehicle offers a gasoline drivetrain option, has GT line, LX, and LXS trim levels, and features an impressive five-year bumper-to-bumper warranty: a year powertrain warranty and five years of roadside assistance.

Civic SI is another affordable car. It boasts 200 hp horsepower with 6000 rpm torque and 192 foot-lbs, yet has a shorter warranty period than the Kia Forte GT, offering a three-year bumper-to-bumper warranty—5 years of powertrain warranty, and three years of roadside assistance.

History of Kia Forte GT and Civic SI

The history of Kia Forte GT:

Kia Forte G3 is famous for the K3 in South Korea. Kia Forte stepped into the automobile industry for the first time in 2008. Now it has a 2-door, 4-door, and 5-door hatchback version. It is improving every year. 

The first-generation Forte was introduced in 2008. In North America, the Forte replaced the Kia Spectra, while the Forte retained the Cerato name in many markets. It shares the same platform as the Hyundai Avante and Elantra (HD). However, it uses a torsion beam rear suspension instead of the Elantra’s multi-link design. Kia has announced that the Forte has been designed to target younger buyers.

The history of Civic SI:

Kia’s full form is Kia Corporation. Kia entered the automobile industry on June 9, 1944. Kyung sang Precision Industries changed its name to Kia Industries. Kia first produced a bicycle in 1952. After that, in 1957, he made a small motorcycle under license from Honda. After that, it produced Mazda licensed trucks and cars.

Kia completed its line of passenger cars with two foreign models, 132 and the Peugeot 604. Only 26 cars were produced in 1986, and over 95,000 were produced the following year. Kia rejoined the automobile industry in cooperation with Ford. Kia produced several Mazda-derived vehicles for domestic sales in South Korea and export to other countries.

Overview of Kia Forte GT features

Let’s have a look at its features and specifications. If we talk about its engine, its size is 1.6 liters. Inline engine configuration, automatic transmission, 378 / 490 miles range, regular unleaded fuel type, and 4 number of cylinders.

Kia forte standard and optional Features: 

• adaptive cruise control
• android auto
• apple car play
• keyless entry
• keyless ignition
• heated seats
• wireless smartphone charging
• cooled and ventilated seats,
• navigation system,
• heated steering wheel,
• leather upholstery,
• sunroof or moonroof.

Dimensions of the Kia Forte interior: 38.8 inches front headroom,

• 42.2 inches front leg room,
• 56.1 inches front shoulder room,
• 37.5 inches rear headroom,
• 35.7 inches rear legroom,
• 55.3 inches rear shoulder room,
• 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space,
• 96.0 cubic feet interior volume.

Overview of Civic SI features

Let’s have a look at its features and specifications. If we talk about its engine its size is 1.5 liters. Inline engine configuration, manual transmission, 335 / 459 miles range, Premium Unleaded fuel type, and 4 number of cylinders.

Civic SI features:

Let’s have a look at its features and specifications. If we talk about its engine, its size is 1.5 liters. Inline engine configuration, manual transmission, 335 / 459 miles range, Premium Unleaded fuel type, and 4 number of cylinders.

Civic SI features: 

• Cruise control with adaptive features
• Compatibility with Android Auto
• Support for Apple CarPlay
• Entry without requiring a key
• Keyless ignition system
• Steering wheel with heating functionality
• Sunroof or Moonroof option

Dimensions of the Civic SI interior: 

• Front headroom: 37.6 inches
• Front legroom: 42.3 inches
• Front shoulder room: 57 inches
• Total interior volume: 96.6 cubic feet
• Cargo space capacity: 14.4 cubic feet
• Rear shoulder room: 56 inches
• Rear headroom: 37.1 inches
• Rear legroom: 37.4 inches

Comparing Kia Forte GT and Civic SI: Performance

Comparing Kia Forte GT and Civic SI: Comfort and Interior Design

Comparing Kia Forte GT and Civic SI: Safety features

Comparing Kia Forte GT and Civic SI: Price and value for money

Customer Reviews and Testimonials: Kia Forte GT vs Civic SI

Now, I am going to show you the original reviews on the Kia Forte GT and Civic SI: 

Kia forte GT reviews: 

• Expert Cat Juggler

I own a 2023. So far, I have no regrets. It performs well enough but not to the point I’ll get myself in trouble, and the interior is good enough that non-car enthusiasts think it’s something more expensive than what it is. The stock brakes are not the best. It also sounds way better than a 4banger should.

• Danger

It was a good car for the price. I paid MSRP, no add, just ttl, and was okay with that price. VW and Honda in my area were outrageous with markups, so it had no competitors.

I felt I had to leave it in sports mode all the time to feel like a “fun” car, but it was capable and comfortable.

Civic SI reviews: 

• It should be faster than it is—the interior rattles for days. If you can touch a surface, it probably has a rattle. It makes the experience a cheap feeling. The passenger door rattles badly from bass, so the Bose system is useless on anything besides low to med volume—the steering wheel sticks, a major safety issue. I can’t fathom how Honda didn’t test the steering in this car.
• Acceleration and handling are excellent, with great shifter and tech features. Ride harsher than expected on nonperfect road surfaces. The driver’s seat is cramped and uncomfortable on long trips.

My Opinion: Which one is the best for you?

Suppose you need clarification on the Kia Forte GT and Civic SI. They both are nice cars. You can read all its specifications and features. If you prioritize safety, the Honda Civic SI is best for you. It has earned many more ratings than the Kia Forte GT. 

I suggest you have a test drive before purchasing a car. A test drive is the best way to analyze your comfort.

Courtney D. Sanderson

I am an Automotive specialist. I graduated from Michigan with Bachelor in Automotive Engineering and Management. Also, I hold degrees in Electrical and Automation Engineering (BEng), Automatic and Industrial Electronic Engineering, and Automotive Technology. I have worked at General Motors Company for over five years as the Marketing Operations Production Coordinator. Now, I own my garage in Miami, Florida. I love cars and love to share everything about them with my readers. I am the founder of the Automotiveex blog, where I share everything about automotive, like car news, car mechanical issues, and anything else that comes up in my blog posts.

Check my details