Kia Forte to be Refreshed, Possibly Renamed for 2022

The Kia Forte was completely redesigned for 2019 (the Forte5 hatchback followed in 2020) and the 2022 model year will likely see a mid-cycle update. A name change could also be in store.

Of course, Kia still hasn’t made an official announcement in Canada or the U.S. (the company is pretty tight-lipped about future products), but its compact car has just been revealed with a number of tweaks and modifications in South Korea, where it’s called K3 in four-door configuration and K3 GT in five-door trim.

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Much the same way the Optima midsize sedan became the all-new K5, the Kia Forte could be rebranded pretty soon, even though we’re not talking about a new generation.

Pictures of the refreshed Kia K3 show various similarities with the K5, most notably the front grille and headlights, the latter sporting a new LED signature and a zigzag-shaped accent emulating the larger sedan.

Kia’s new logo can be found at both ends of the car. Revised air intakes adorn the lower front bumper, while the taillights have a fresh look. We expect some new body colours and wheel designs to be part of the mix, too.

Inside, the biggest change is the available 10.25-inch displays for the instruments and infotainment system. In the current Forte, those are limited to 4.2 and 8 inches, respectively.

The engines are carried over, namely a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder with 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft. of torque, and a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder producing 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft.

Keep following The Car Guide in the next few months as we’ll surely have more details about the upcoming 2022 Kia Forte/K3.