Model Year | 2013 | 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 | 2901 lb. | 4145 lb. | -1244 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 |
2013 Kia Forte Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2014 | People who need a roomy rear seat don't often buy coupes. So with the Civic Si the coupe is an inch and a half shorter (in both height and length) than the sedan, which translates to nearly three inches less headroom and nearly five inches less legroom in back, making it a very tight fit for even modestly sized adults. Those who do want a roomy rear seat in their coupe will be much happier with the Forte. Compared to the sedan, Kia shaved the Koup's roofline an inch but kept the wheelbase the same. Sitting behind my 5-9 self, I had about an inch of clearance over my head and a hand's-width ahead of my knees. Switch to the four-door body styles, and both cars are about equally roomy in back. But only Forte rear seat passengers enjoy rear air vents--in every body style. see full Kia Forte review |
2013 Kia Forte Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2014 | 4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
One of the best of his kind. Almost unbeatable for a car of this price. 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 |