Used Nissan Sentra or Kia Forte: which to choose?
Looking for a good compact sedan? Year after year, the Toyota Corolla, Mazda3 and Honda Civic regularly rank inThe Car Guide's top 3 best buys. Occasionally, a Korean model such as the Hyundai Elantra or Kia Forte also features.
The latter testifies to the rising quality of Kia products in recent years. At the same time, it has the advantage of being more affordable than the average, like the Nissan Sentra. Yet these are two cars that have failed to become best-sellers. But why not? And which would be the better choice for a used car buyer?
Before going any further, let's remember that the Forte and Sentra were renewed a year apart, for 2019 and 2020 respectively.
Neither of them does anything exceptional or generates much satisfaction among the majority of drivers. They're both compacts that we choose for the sake of economy, both at the pump and on the move from A to B. That said, the current Forte is still available with a turbocharged four-cylinder. That said, the current Forte is still available with a 201 hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine that adds a little spice to the drive (the same engine previously existed, but only in the Forte5 and Forte Koup). The opposite is true of the Sentra: its 188-hp turbo engine has been dropped after 2019.
Average fuel consumption is generally between 7 and 8 L/100 km in both cases. Nissan has long relied on a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in most versions of the Sentra. However, problems with this transmission have been numerous and well-publicized. However, things have started to pick up since 2020. Not to be outdone, the Forte is also part of an unenviable list of 10 vehicles with major transmission problems according to Consumer Reports.
The Sentra offers more space and comfort on the road, while its standard safety equipment is often more comprehensive. But in all other respects, on the whole, a pre-owned Forte is a wiser choice. And let's not forget Kia's excellent 5-year/100,000 km warranty (vehicle and powertrain), part of which may be left on the model you're considering.
One thing's for sure, a test drive of both is recommended to better compare them and see which one best suits your needs. For greater peace of mind, opt for either of the rivals listed in the introduction.
