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The Toyota Corolla and the Kia Forte are solid choices for the compact car segment. Both small cars are affordable, have many standard features, and get high fuel economy. However, there’s a key factor about the Corolla that gives it an edge. The 2023 Toyota Corolla has one crucial strength over the 2023 Kia Forte: It’s more reliable.

2023 Toyota Corolla is more reliable than the 2023 Kia Forte

Rear angle view of red 2023 Toyota Corolla compact car
2023 Toyota Corolla | Toyota

Reliability is an important factor in deciding which car to buy. A reliable vehicle means fewer mechanical issues and other problems, resulting in less money you have to pay for repairs. There’s also a greater likelihood that it will last longer. A reliable car also performs better and is safer. Additionally, it provides the peace of mind that you won’t get stranded on the side of the road.

And for reliability, the 2023 Toyota Corolla is one the best. Unlike the 2023 Kia Forte, the Corolla made the Consumer Reports top 10 list of most reliable new cars — placing seventh. Also, Consumer Reports ranked the Corolla Hybrid as the most reliable vehicle of all. If you place a premium on reliability, then the Corolla is the way to go.

Unlike the 2023 Forte, the 2023 Corolla has a complimentary maintenance plan

Side view of silver 2023 Kia Forte compact car
2023 Kia Forte | Kia

Another aspect of reliability is keeping a vehicle well-maintained. It’s important to follow a car’s maintenance schedule to ensure that it operates in peak condition. And for the 2023 Toyota Corolla compact car, this is a more affordable endeavor with its complimentary maintenance plan. Conversely, the 2023 Kia Forte doesn’t offer a free maintenance plan. 

The ToyotaCare complimentary maintenance plan, which is good for two years or 25,000 miles, covers factory-scheduled maintenance. This includes oil changes, multipoint inspections, tire rotations, and topping off the fluids. 

Furthermore, there are more Toyota dealerships than Kia dealerships. As a result, servicing the Corolla is more convenient than the Forte for the majority of owners. Also, Toyota provides very responsive customer service in addressing problems. The automaker is one of the best in the industry for quickly resolving issues. 

Other advantages of the Toyota Corolla over the Kia Forte

In addition to its reliability and complimentary maintenance plan, the 2023 Corolla compact car has some other advantages over the 2023 Forte. Unlike the Forte, the Corolla offers an all-wheel drive system. This makes it a better option for driving in adverse weather conditions, such as snow

Also, as mentioned earlier, there’s a hybrid variant of the Corolla. However, the Forte doesn’t offer a hybrid. With its efficient hybrid powertrain, the Corolla Hybrid gets an estimated fuel economy of up to 53 city/46 highway. In comparison, the highest gas mileage for any Forte model is 31 city/41 highway mpg.

Furthermore, the Corolla is safer than the Forte. For the previous model year, it earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. However, the Forte didn’t get a safety honor from IIHS.

With its high-level reliability, the 2023 Toyota Corolla has a crucial strength over the 2023 Kia Forte. If you’re deliberating about which compact car to buy, the reliability is an important thing to consider.

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