Model Year | 2012 | 2020 | |
Model | Kia Forte | Toyota Highlander | |
Engine | 2.4L I4 DOHC-4v 173 hp@6000 168 lb-ft@4000 |
3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 295 hp@6600 263 lb-ft@4700 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed manual | 8-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr Hatch | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 104.3 in | 112.2 in | -7.9 in |
Length | 170.9 in | 194.9 in | -24 in |
Width | 69.9 in | 76.0 in | -6.1 in |
Height | 57.5 in | 68.1 in | -10.6 in |
Curb Weight | 2896 lb. | 4145 lb. | -1249 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 13.7 gal. | 17.9 gal. | -4.2 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 40.0 in | 41.2 in | -1.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.7 in | 59.0 in | -3.3 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 53.0 in | 57.2 in | -4.2 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 43.3 in | 42.0 in | 1.3 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 38.4 in | 39.4 in | -1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 54.7 in | 58.7 in | -4 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 53.3 in | 57.0 in | -3.7 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 35.0 in | 41.0 in | -6 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 36.1 in | -36.1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 55.0 in | -55 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 45.6 in | -45.6 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 27.7 in | -27.7 in |
Total Legroom | 78.3 in (over 2 rows) | 110.7 in (over 3 rows) | -32.4 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 19.4 ft3 | 16.0 ft3 | 3.4 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 19.4 | 48.4 ft3 | -29 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 0.0 | 84.3 ft3 | -84.3 |
2012 Kia Forte Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2011 | 4dr Sedan 156-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Plenty of room, indeed there may be too much room as it is a bit of a reach to unlock the passenger side door, almost impossible to adjust the passenger door mirror and lower the passenger window? Forget it. Plenty of elbow room. see full Kia Forte review |
2011 | 4dr Sedan 156-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
My Jazz Bass, in its case, fits on the floor between the front and rear seats. Just like the front seats, there is plenty of room for two and adequate room for three. see full Kia Forte review |
2012 Kia Forte Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2011 | 4dr Hatch 156-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
I feel the seat is to far away from the wheel and the pedals are angled to steeply. The dead pedal is perfect though. see full Kia Forte review |
2020 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
2020 | With each redesign (for 2008, 2014, and 2020) Toyota has enlarged the Highlander, yet the crossover's third-row seat remains uncomforably low and tight. For adults to be even passably comfortable in the way-back the second row must be slid forward, rendering legroom there also marginal. Some three-row crossovers have much roomier and more comfortable third-row seats. But if you want to be able to squeeze in eight people, Highlanders with a second-row bench can do this. Because they have significantly narrower third-row seats, the Ford Explorer and Kia Sorento cannot fit three people back there even in a pinch, so in hybrid form the former has a maximum capacity of seven people and the latter only six. (The Sorento PHEV will be able to seat seven.) This noted, if you want your adult passengers to have plenty of room, the practical capacity of each is four people. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2020 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2020 | 4dr SUV 295-horsepower 3.5L V6 8-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
The 3rd row seating is just not for adults at all, and I'm not certain that children would be easy to fit back there as well. I'm not sure what Toyota was thinking, even making the 2020 longer didn't make any difference at all. My one complaint is it is just TOO SMALL! see full Toyota Highlander review |