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2021 Kia Forte

small car / 4-door sedan

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

2021 Kia Forte 4-door sedan
2019 Kia Forte shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Side: updated test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system
Superior
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Optional system
Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning & prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Kia Forte S 4-door

The Kia Forte was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Two driver-side small overlap frontal tests of the Forte were conducted, one by the Institute and the other by Hyundia/Kia. Ratings are based on both tests.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the Institute's driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well (Institute test car shown).

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury (Institute test shown).

The driver's space was maintained well in both tests, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1811 VTN1811
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 6 3
Footrest (cm) 6 3
Left toepan (cm) 3 1
Brake pedal (cm) 2 1
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2 1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 2 2
Upper dash (cm) 4 2
Lower instrument panel (cm) 3 2

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1811 VTN1811
Head
HIC-15 400 361
Peak gs at hard contact no contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2 1.4
Extension bending moment (Nm) 6 10
Maximum Nij 0.22 0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm) 28 30
Femur (kN)
Left 0.3 0.5
Right 0.2 0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0 0
Right 0 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0 0
Right 0 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.39 0.52
Right 0.53 0.45
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.2 2.8
Right 1.1 1.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 54 92
Right 53 60

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Kia Forte EX 4-door

The Kia Forte was redesigned for the 2019 model year.

Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Hyundai/Kia.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but slid off toward the right side, leaving the head vulnerable to contact with forward structure. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag also deployed.
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP1827
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 11
Footrest (cm) 8
Right toepan (cm) 4
Center toepan (cm) 2
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 3
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Upper dash (cm) 6
Right lower dash (cm) 6

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1827
Head
HIC-15 220
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.6
Extension bending moment (Nm) 8
Maximum Nij 0.27
Chest maximum compression (mm) 30
Femur (kN)
Left 0.6
Right 0.9
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.50
Right 0.47
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.5
Right 2.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 57
Right 59

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1827
Head
HIC-15 208
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 19
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 35
Femur (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.36
Right 0.18
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.6
Right 1.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 47
Right 46

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Kia Forte EX 4-door

The Kia Forte was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Hyundai/Kia.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1823
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 3
Left (cm) 6
Center (cm) 4
Right (cm) 4
Brake pedal (cm) 6
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -3
Rearward (cm) 5
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1823
Head
HIC-15 296
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 8
Maximum Nij 0.29
Chest maximum compression (mm) 37
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.2
Femur force - right (kN) 0.1
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1
Maximum tibia index - left 0.31
Maximum tibia index - right 0.50
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.3
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 1.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 84
Right 42

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Kia Forte FE 4-door

The Kia Forte was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Hyundai/Kia.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1821
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -16.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1821
Head HIC-15 492
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 51
Lateral force (kN) 1.7
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 45
Average deflection (mm) 37
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.40
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.71
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 2.2
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.9
Combined force (kN) 3.9
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.8
L-M moment (Nm) 152
A-P moment (Nm) -63

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1821
Head HIC-15 148
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 0.7
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 23
Lateral force (kN) 1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 31
Average deflection (mm) 25
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.03
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.44
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.1
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.0
Combined force (kN) 1.1
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.6
L-M moment (Nm) 142
A-P moment (Nm) -42

About the original side crash test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Kia Forte LXS 4-door

The Kia Forte was redesigned for the 2019 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
The dummy's head contacted the window sill hard, through the side curtain airbag. The head protection is inadequate.
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

The driver dummy's head contacted the window sill through the side curtain airbag.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES2230
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -10.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES2230
Head
HIC-15 812
Peak gs at hard contact 104
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.7
Compression (kN) 0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 61
Lateral force (kN) 3.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 61
Average deflection (mm) 55
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 5.94
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 2.24
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 7.9

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES2230
Head
HIC-15 398
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 47
Lateral force (kN) 1.9
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 46
Average deflection (mm) 38
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.90
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 1.18
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 4.4

About the side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2019-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Kia Forte S 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight2,821 lbs
Peak force13,619 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio4.83

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Manual cloth seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 32
Distance below top of head (mm) 0
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 12.1
Head contact time (ms) 56
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 525

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • GT trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • GT trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2019-21 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 131.7 m None
Straightaway left edge 68.3 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 68.9 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 63.8 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 60.9 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 54.7 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 137.8 m
Straightaway left edge 128.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 64.9 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 61.3 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 53.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 51.4 m

Trim level(s)

  • FE trim
  • LXS trim
  • EX trim
  • GT-Line trim
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen projector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • FE trim
  • LXS trim
  • EX trim
  • GT-Line trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2019-21 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 96.3 m None
Straightaway left edge 22.5 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 42.9 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 31.0 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 33.0 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 26.8 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 174.7 m
Straightaway left edge 126.2 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 58.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 54.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 43.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 41.1 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

Ratings are given for 2 different trim variations available on this vehicle.

System details

  • Optional Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection

Package name

  • Optional GT2 package on GT trim

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2020-21 models

Superior
Superior
with optional equipment
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

System details

  • Standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2019-21 models

Superior
Superior
  • This system does not meet the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • optional Forward Collision-Assist with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to 2019-24 models of the following trim lines: GT trim equipped with GT2 package

Advanced
Advanced
with optional equipment

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 8 mph.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 16 mph.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 10 mph.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 29 mph. A warning was issued 1.8 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimS
Seat type cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimS
Seat type cloth
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 16
Clearance angle (degrees) 78
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 16
Clearance angle (degrees) 88
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 21
Clearance angle (degrees) 85
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 21
Clearance angle (degrees) 85
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation