Models, Pricing, Features, And Performance

Summary

• Kia had a successful year in 2023 with its highest-ever sales in the U.S., showing that the automaker has overcome its reputation for low-quality cars.
• The Kia sedan lineup had mixed sales in 2023, with the Kia Forte seeing an increase in sales while the Kia Stinger saw a significant drop.
• The Kia Rio, which is the cheapest offering in the sedan lineup, will be discontinued after the 2023 model year. It offers basic features and a small engine but has limited standard safety features.

2023 was a record-breaking year for Kia in the U.S.: The automaker recorded its highest-ever sales stateside and saw a 13 percent increase in sales from 2022. The Korean manufacturer has come a long way since it began operations in America back in the mid-1990s, selling the sub-compact Kia Sportage and the Sephia sedan. Thanks to those woeful early offerings, Kia gained a reputation for offering cheap, low-quality cars.

But Kia has worked hard to change the public’s perception of its models, thanks to attributes like striking exterior designs, vastly improved feature-packed interiors, and industry-leading warranties. While the automaker’s current offerings, continue to remain affordable, they are no longer associated with low quality. In terms of value for money, Kia vehicles are right up there.

The company’s sedan lineup experienced a mixed 2023, in terms of sales. For instance, Kia Forte sales increased by 14 percent, while Kia Stinger sales dropped by 30 percent. The other two sedans – the K5 and the Rio – recorded slight drops in annual sales. Let’s explore the Kia Sedan lineup in greater detail and what the Korean automaker has in store for 2024.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Car And Driver and Edmunds. The models below have been ranked based on their starting MSRP.

2023 Kia Rio

MSRP: $16,750 – $17,390

The cheapest offering in the Kia sedan lineup is the soon-to-be discontinued Kia Rio. 2023 will be the last model year for the Rio, which, along with the Nissan Versa and the Mitsubishi Mirage, are three of the cheapest new subcompact cars in the market. It’s offered in two trims – the LX and the S – and in two body shapes – sedan and hatchback. The sedan features what Kia calls a ‘tiger-nose’ grille, halogen headlights, and prominent body lines.

Standard features on the base LX variant include an 8.0-inch infotainment display and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. You really don’t get much with the entry-level trip. Therefore, it’s probably wiser to spend extra for the top-ranked S trim, which adds remote keyless entry, cruise control, a sliding center armrest, and a rear USB outlet. The S variant also has more optional extras, including the Technology Package. Acres of plastic line the Rio’s simple, but neatly organized interior.

The climate controls are well laid out, and the tilt steering wheel features audio controls. Tall passengers may feel cramped in the rear, but considering the Rio is one of the smallest new cars available, it is pretty roomy. It offers a commendable 13.7 cubic feet of cargo space; you can increase the cargo area by folding the seats.

Key Features

• Wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay
• 8.0-inch infotainment display
• Folding rear seats
• Roomy interior
• Cruise control and keyless entry on the S variant

Performance And Specifications

All Kia Rios feature a 1.6-liter inline-four engine that put out 120 horsepower and 112 pound-feet of torque. Power goes to the front wheels via a CVT. 120 horsepower is relatively low, even for a car that weighs around 2,900 pounds. Therefore, take extra care when lining up an overtake or merging onto the freeway. One benefit of such a small engine is that the Rio is very economical, sipping a gallon of fuel every 32 miles in the city and consuming a similar amount after every 41 miles of highway driving. The Kia Rio has a combined MPG rating of 36 miles.

(Specs: Kia)

Pros

• Frugal engine
• Well-organized interior
• Affordable sticker price

Cons

• Few standard safety features
• Lethargic engine
• Cramped rear seats

2024 Kia Forte

MSRP: $19,790 – $25,390

The Kia Forte comes in four trims: LX, LXS, GT-Line, and GT. The Forte has a sporty front end and demeanor that gets sportier as you climb the trim ladder. Luxury and standard equipment also increase as the trims get more expensive. The base LS trim features an 8-inch infotainment screen as standard, as does the LXS variant.

The top two models, GT-Line and GT, have a larger 10.3-inch display with SiriusXM and in-dash navigation. As with the smaller Rio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard. The interior is well laid out, with the most essential functions controlled by physical buttons and dials. Given the price of the Forte, you shouldn’t expect a cabin with premium materials. However, the Forte’s interior is so skilfully put together that you may forgive the dearth of quality inside the cabin.

Key Features

• 8-inch or 10.3-inch infotainment screen
• Sporty exterior
• Neat and functional interior
• Ample passenger and cargo space
• Many standard features

Performance Specifications

The base LX and the mid-range LXS and GT-line feature a 2.0-liter inline-four engine good for 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. It’s not fast, but it offers excellent fuel economy. The top-of-the-line GT trim gets a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four churning out 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The difference in performance between the two engines is stark – the turbocharged Forte hits 60 MPH from zero 1.5 seconds faster than the naturally aspirated Forte.

(Specs: Kia)

The naturally aspirated power unit pairs with a CVT, while the turbocharged engine pairs with a seven-speed automatic or a six-speed manual. The manual gearbox costs $700 more than the dual-clutch auto, a small price to pay for the driving engagement that a stick shift provides.

Pros

• Availability of a manual gearbox
• Sports-tuned suspension and dual exhaust on the GT trim
• Large trunk for its class

Cons

2024 Kia K5

MSRP: $25,590 – $31,990

Kia offers four K5 variants: LXS, GT-Line, EX, and GT. The K5 shares plenty with its Korean sibling, the Hyundai Sonata. The K5’s exterior features bold lines, a sporty front end, a fastback roofline, artistic headlights and taillights with snaky elements, and a tall rear trunk lid. Like the cheaper Forte and Rio, the K5 has a well-organized interior, with buttons and dials controlling essential functions.

Unlike its more affordable siblings, however, the K5 sports upscale materials and features like wood trim and ambient interior lighting, justify its higher sticker price. An 8.0-inch infotainment screen offering wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay sits next to the gauge cluster of the base LXS variant. The other trims get a bigger 10.3-inch screen, which, weirdly, requires cables to integrate Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

Key Features

• A sporty exterior
• Standard wired or wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay
• Two engine options
• Standard FWD and available AWD on GT-Line trim
• Well-organized interior with high-quality materials

Performance And Specifications

The base engine is a 180-horsepower turbocharged inline-four, which produces less power than the turbocharged inline-four powering the Kia Forte GT. As such, variants powered by the inline-four are slower to 60 MPH than the top-of-the-line Forte. All variants come standard with front-wheel drive; Kia offers all-wheel drive as an option with the GT-Line trim.

(Specs: Kia)

The most expensive GT variant features a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine churning out 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of twist. Other unique features of the GT include a specially-tuned suspension, large 19-inch rims with wide tires, bigger brakes, and an exclusive eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Pros

• Sporty exterior and classy interior
• Powerful GT trim
• Optional AWD with the GT-line variant

Cons

• All-wheel drive only offered on the GT-line trim
• Underpowered base engine
• No optional summer tires

2023 Kia Stinger

MSRP: $36,690 – $51,890

It’s surprising that arguably the most attractive and certainly the most powerful sedan in the Kia lineup, the Stinger was a significant model for Kia, but it failed to live up to its potential. Sales dipped massively in 2023, suggesting that Kia was right to discontinue the Stinger after a six-year run. It comes in two trims – the GT-line and the GT2.

The wide Stinger featured a long, sculpted hood, raked windscreen, and a sleek, aerodynamic body.

Dark chrome accents, dual twin-exit exhausts, and bulging fenders accentuate the Stinger’s sporty looks. The optional Grand Tourer and Apex aesthetic packages add black side view mirrors and exhaust tips. Inside, you get a leather interior as standard and optional Nappa leather seat trim.

Rising from the center of the dashboard is an 8.0-inch or 10.3-inch touchscreen, depending on the trim chosen, and a nine-speaker audio system is standard. Tech options include a Harman/Kardon audio system with 15 speakers, in-dash navigation, and wireless smartphone charging.

Key Features

• Sleek, sporty exterior
• Hatchback rear door
• Leather-lined interior
• Optional V-6 engine
• Spacious interior

Performance And Specifications

The base Stinger mill is a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four engine producing a decent 300 horsepower. It is powerful enough for the Stinger, but not the ideal choice for buyers looking to exploit its full sporting potential. A 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6 delivering 368 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque caters to the performance sedan enthusiasts.

(Specs: Kia)

Both engines channel power to the rear wheels through an eight-speed autobox. All-wheel drive is optional on both trims. On the base GT-line, opting for AWD also adds a heated steering wheel; the AWD package on the top-ranked GT2 variant adds a heated steering wheel and 19-inch all-season tires.

Pros

• Powerful engine options
• Optional AWD
• Hatchback rear door

Cons

• Sloping roofline reduces rear headroom
• The top GT2 trim may be too expensive
• AWD option replaces summer tires with all-season tires on the GT2 variant