Compare repair costs, reliability, and owner reviews
Kia Forte
$451
Average Annual
Repair Cost
Mazda 3
$433
Average Annual
Repair Cost
Overall Reliability Rating
4
1
2
Excellent
The Kia Forte Reliability Rating is 4.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 6th out of 36 for compact cars. The average annual repair cost is $451 which means it has excellent ownership costs. The severity and frequency of repairs are both much lower than other vehicles, so the Forte is one of the more reliable vehicles on the road.
4
Excellent
The Mazda 3 Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 9th out of 36 for compact cars. The average annual repair cost is $433 which means it has excellent ownership costs. The severity of repairs is low while frequency of those issues is average, so major issues are uncommon for the 3.
“I LOVE my Kia Forte! Everything is wonderful, including the price I paid for it: $15k at The Kia Depot. The no-cost "extras" like Bluetooth, 3 months of Sirius radio and the manual shift option...”
“I LOVE my Kia Forte! Everything is wonderful, including the price I paid for it: $15k at The Kia...”
“Bought new in 2004. Have 61000 miles now. Have owned 4 Hondas before this since 1977.
Would NOT buy another Mazda.
1. Transmission had "hard shifting" from 1st-2nd gear. Required 3 trips to dealer...”
“Bought new in 2004. Have 61000 miles now. Have owned 4 Hondas before this since 1977.
Would NOT...”
The Kia Forte and the Mazda 3 are two compact cars. The Kia Forte is a compact four-door sedan, while the Mazda 3 is available as a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback. Both come with front-wheel drive.
The Mazda 3 comes out ahead in terms of standard engine power, while the Forte leads in the optional engine area. The Mazda 3 packs 155 horsepower as standard, while the Forte has 147. But the Forte’s optional engine produces 201 horsepower, while the Mazda 3’s top engine trials with 184.
The Kia Forte has 96.2 cubic feet of interior space, nearly identical to the Mazda 3 and its 96.3 cubic feet. In the trunk, the Forte’s 14.9 cubic feet takes a comfortable lead over the Mazda 3’s less spacious 12.4 cubic feet. If you need maximum hauling ability, the Mazda 3 hatchback’s 47.1 cubic feet of space with the back seats folded down trumps both sedans.
Each of these vehicles has a unique feature that may be a tie-breaker for you. For the Forte, it’s Kia’s excellent 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. For the Mazda 3, it’s an exceptional blend of ride, handling and fun-to-drive qualities. Which of these is more important to you?