2020 Kia Forte problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

Q: What gas mileage does the 2020 Kia Forte get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2020 Kia Forte at about 31 mpg combined (27 city / 36 highway).

Q: How much is a 2020 Kia Forte worth?

Comparable 2020 Kia Forte listings run roughly $17,399–$21,998, typically around $18,925 (from 9 vehicles).

2020 Kia Forte at a glance

Safety recallsNone

Owner complaints69

Combined31 mpg

Typical price$18,925

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2020 Kia Forte recalls 0

No NHTSA safety-recall campaigns are on record for the 2020 Kia Forte.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2020 Kia Forte common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine

Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

Power Train

Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.

Air Bags

Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

Fuel/propulsion System

Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.

Steering

Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.

Tires

Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.

2020 Kia Forte MPG & running costs

Combined31 mpg

City27 mpg

Highway36 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$2,025

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2020 Kia Forte worth?

Low

$17,399

Typical price

$18,925

High

$21,998

From 9 comparable 2020 Kia Forte listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2020 Kia Forte costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$10,125

Depreciation (5 yrs)$7,250

Total$17,375

Per mile$0.23

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($18,925) with the same model 5 model-years older ($11,683), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.