2020 Kia Forte
Fuel economy, running costs, emissions and safety · from U.S. EPA and NHTSA data
The 2020 Kia Forte is sold in the U.S. with gasoline power. The EPA lists 5 configurations for this model year, with combined economy from 28 to 35 MPG and an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,850 to $2,300 at 15,000 miles.
Key numbers
| Model year | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle class | Midsize Cars |
| Fuel type(s) | Gasoline |
| Combined economy | 28-35 MPG |
| Best / worst combined | 35 / 28 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $1,850-$2,300 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 256-326 g/mi |
| EPA smog rating | 5-5 / 10 |
| NHTSA overall | 4 / 5 stars |
What it costs to fuel
Across its configurations, the 2020 Forte costs about $1,850 to $2,300 a year to fuel at the EPA's 15,000-mile basis, averaging roughly $2,070. Over five years that is about $10,350 in fuel alone before maintenance, insurance and depreciation — which is why the running cost, not just the price, decides what a car really costs.
Relative to an average new vehicle, the most efficient Forte configuration saves about $2,250 in fuel over five years; less efficient versions spend more.
For context, the average combined economy of midsize cars in this dataset is about 32 MPG. The Forte sits roughly 1 MPG below that mark at its midpoint, making it thirstier than average for its EPA class.
Configurations and fuel economy
| Version | Engine | Drive | Trans | Fuel | Combined | Annual fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forte FE | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 35 MPG | $1,850 |
| Forte | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 33 MPG | $1,950 |
| Forte | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel | Manual | Gasoline | 31 MPG | $2,100 |
| Forte | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 30 MPG | $2,150 |
| Forte | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Manual | Gasoline | 28 MPG | $2,300 |
Emissions, safety and size
The 2020 Forte records tailpipe CO₂ of 256-326 g/mi, an EPA smog rating of 5-5 out of 10, a 4-star NHTSA overall crash rating. The EPA classifies it as midsize cars.
Compare this car
Open the comparison tool to line this 2020 Forte up against any other vehicle in the database, or jump to other years and trims from the 2020 Kia Forte overview.
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Data: U.S. EPA FuelEconomy.gov (public domain) and NHTSA SafetyRatings. Figures are EPA estimates; real-world results vary.