Our long-term Honda Civic is getting much more use this summer as competitors flow into our test fleet. While a few may have grumbled about us pitting the redesigned 2013 Civic against the outgoing and outdated 2013 Toyota Corolla, they shouldn't have much to complain about with us pitting it against the even more thoroughly overhauled 2014 Kia Forte. Follow Our Long-Term Test Fleet However, there was a bit of a disparity this time around too. Our Forte test car was a fully loaded EX trim with a 173-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder. The base Forte comes with a 148-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder that is more comparable to the Civic's 140-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder, the car's only engine apart from the hybrid and Si versions. If the engine wasn't a big enough difference, the nearly $6,000 bump in the Forte's MSRP and all the associated goodies arguably didn't make for a fair fight. Would the results of driving the two be as one-sided as the numbers implied? Editors David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder took the two on a loop of city, suburban and highway driving to find out.
Interior quality: Forte Joe Wiesenfelder: I'm favoring the Forte. The 2013 Civic's interior is definitely improved over the 2012, and it's elevated overall by the bright displays, but the Forte's interior quality is evenly high in all directions. I compensated for the additional features; we've seen more modest versions of the Forte, too, and it's damn nice. Acceleration: Forte DT: There were only a few times I thought the Forte actually "blew away" the Civic, but it was clearly faster in most situations. Braking: Forte JW: Though this is a clear improvement over the previous-generation Forte, I agree the matchup here is pretty close. The only difference I felt was under heavy braking where the Forte retained better pedal feel and linearity than the Civic, possibly because of our Civic's rear drum brakes. A Civic EX might fare better with its four-wheel discs, which are standard on the Forte. Handling: Civic DT: I was utterly confounded by the Forte's selectable steering modes. The most confidence-inspiring in tight turns was the Comfort setting, while Sport didn't add anything to the handling dynamics. Overall, the poor steering feedback on any of the settings had me choosing the more predictable Civic. Noise: Forte JW: Forte has this one. Even though its engine is a little raspy at high revs, it seldom intrudes — sort of the opposite of the smooth-revving but audible Civic. I noticed the tires singing pretty loudly, but it was only on certain surfaces and was probably more noticeable because the noise signature was inoffensive overall. Ride: Forte DT: I drove my parents in the Forte the following weekend, and they were impressed that a compact Kia had such a smooth ride. Compared to the Civic there was no question it won out. Mileage: Civic During our drive, the Civic's trip computer read 35.5 mpg while the Forte displayed 32.6 mpg. The difference is smaller than the EPA suggests. Combined EPA mileage is 14% better for the Civic, and in our driving we saw only 9% better. But since both were showing returns between combined and highway ratings — which are closer to 8% better for the Civic — the results seem quite accurate. *We filled up both cars at the same gas station at the same time and reset trip computers before this test. Weather was mild. Seats: Forte DT: If they were base model to base model it might be a hard choice, but if we're comparing the cars as-tested, the heated and cooled driver's seat in the Forte has to win out even if comfort wasn't its strong suit. Multimedia: Forte JW: This is the unfair part of the fight. Of course the Forte was better. As for the stereo, I'd have to test a base Forte to know for sure, but it's hard to imagine it's as bad as the Civic's. ... Results Related from KickingTires http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/ | |||
| |||
| |||
|
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
2013 Honda Civic Versus 2014 Kia Forte
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Archive
-
▼
2013
(7180)
-
▼
June
(604)
- How To Find The Right Car Loan
- The Continental: Le Mans Drama, Political Feuds, a...
- LeMons Button-Turrible Day 1: Model T, Harlequin G...
- Would License Plate Reader Jammers Work And Be Legal?
- Do I Really Want One of These? Kandi Viper 250cc R...
- Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week
- Vellum Venom Vignette: Auto Dealership Design? (Pa...
- Tips to Navigate the Dealer Finance Room
- LeMons Button-Turrible Inspections Wrap-Up: The Ho...
- I’m Here to Say, I Was Drivin’ that Model A: The 2...
- The Pitstop
- Most-Watched Videos of the Week
- Crapwagon Outtake: Propane And Propane Accessories
- 2014 Volkswagen GTD First Drive: GTI + TDI = A Lot...
- 2015 BMW X4 Spy Photos: The Little X6 Gets Its Pro...
- The Well-Equipped Garage: Tips and Tricks for a Ve...
- Free-Trade Cars: Why a U.S.–Europe Free-Trade Agre...
- The 10 Best Cars in Which to Get Gay Married
- Alleged Photos of Next-Generation Honda Fit, Fit H...
- Recall Alert: 2007-2008 Honda Fit
- Lock Up Your Daughters, Because The Cops Are Looki...
- Ford Shocks Renault With EcoSport Price In India
- Lock Up Your Daughters, Because The Cops Are Looki...
- 2014 Nissan Pathfinder: What's Changed
- 2014 Corvette Stingray Premiere Edition, Er, Premi...
- First Drive: 2014 Nissan Versa Note Hatchback (Video)
- 2014 Ford F-150 Tremor: Pickuptrucks.com Coverage
- Could Cyber-Terrorists Seize Control of Your Car?
- 2013 Mazda CX-5 AWD Long-Term Update: Lots of Love...
- Germany Looking To Torpedo EU CO2 Rules
- Ram 1500 Diesel Engine To Carry $2,850 Premium
- Ram Prices 1500 EcoDiesel, Adds 6.4-Liter V-8 and ...
- 2013 Toyota Camry SE: Test Car Gallery
- Stow ‘N’ Go (To Jail): Ohio Criminalizes “Traps” i...
- Derek And Doug’s Fantastic Crapwagons: Land Rover ...
- Shaq’ed Up: Can Shaquille O’Neal Even Fit in a Bui...
- 2013 Chevrolet Spark Manual Hatchback Tested: Tiny...
- Ford F-150 Tremor Vs Ram Express: Battle Of The St...
- 2013 Buick Enclave: Family Checklist
- Now Racing in the 24 Hours of LeMons: The Homer!
- Ford Introduces EcoBoost V-6–Powered F-150 Tremor ...
- 2014 Range Rover Sport First Drive: More Sport, Mo...
- Hatching a Revolt: 2015 Volkswagen GTI vs. 2013 Fo...
- That Chrysler/Fiat Headquarters-in-Tennessee Rumor...
- Put a Bo on It: Smart Bringing BoConcept to Produc...
- Afghanistan Loves Their 4-Speed Automatics
- Stuff We Drove in the Office: Rokon Trail-Breaker ...
- Midwest Finally Gets Gas Relief
- Aaron Robinson: They Have Eyes, But They Cannot Be...
- Parisian Palace Whispers: Penniless PSA Wants To S...
- Thank You, Thank You Very Much
- Tennessee Prepares For An Onslaught Of Rogues
- Craigslist Crapwagon Outtake: Mitsubishi Galant VR-4
- Peugeot Family Willing To Relinquish Control Of PS...
- John Phillips: Pay No Attention To That Man Behind...
- Interview: Race-Car Designer Adrian Reynard Talks ...
- Recall Alert: 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
- Head of Cadillac and Buick Design Moved to Oversee...
- A Look Back At The History Of Auto Financing
- Sensory Overload: How the New Mercedes S-class See...
- Volkswagen Passat Sets Guinness Record for U.S. Mi...
- Bankruptcy Expert To Run Chevrolet Europe
- Junkyard Find: 1979 Datsun 210
- ...
- 2013 BMW 3 Series: Car Seat Check
- 2015 Lexus NX Spy Photos: Toyota’s Luxury Division...
- TTAC Giveaway: Bob Lutz’s New Book
- Evo Finds Out What’s Faster: Fiesta ST Or FR-S
- LaHood Calls For VMT, New Taxes To Raise Funds For...
- 2014 Mazda3 Hatchback: First Look
- Pandora Hits 2.5 Million In-Car Users
- Audi Opens First e-gas Synthetic Fuel Production F...
- 2013 Lexus RX450h Tested: Efficiently and Anonymou...
- Cars.com Reviews the 2013 Infiniti FX37
- QOTD: Alfa Romeo In North America – What’s The Point?
- Generation Why: Honda Goes After Millennials On Tw...
- Teens: Slow Down, Stay Alive
- 2014 Mazda 3 Photos Hit the Internet Early, Info C...
- 2015 Mazda3 Revealed
- Drive-ins Dwindle But Nostalgia Is Still Strong
- Junkyard Find: 1992 Geo Metro LSi Convertible
- Piston Slap: M45 DOA…or VIP?
- California Residents Ask 'Dude, Where’s My Car?'
- First Drive: 2014 Buick LaCrosse
- The Story Behind the Lambrecht Chevrolet Collection
- Hackenberg: Carbon Fiber Still To Slow For Mass Pr...
- Hackenberg Hints At New Small Volkswagen Using XL1...
- 2013 Fiat 500E EV Tested: A Reluctant EV Turns Out...
- Volkswagen’s Hackenberg Welcomes GM’s Diesel Cars ...
- 2015 Acura TLX Spy Photos: The TL Gets a New Name ...
- Lincoln “Dog” Commercial: At Least They Titled It ...
- New Mazda3 to Be Revealed Tomorrow
- Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 189
- Name That Shifter, No. 134
- Swap Meat: How to Get Out of a Car Lease
- 2014 Honda Odyssey Priced: Potentially the World’s...
- Car Meets Road: 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish vs. the...
- Cars.com Reviews the 2014 Acura RLX
- Look What I Found!: A JDM R34 Nissan Skyline in De...
- BMW Prices Redesigned 2014 X5 at $53,725
-
▼
June
(604)
No comments:
Post a Comment