For all the recent strides in quality and content taken by the Korean powerhouse that is Hyundai/Kia, performance cred still remains largely elusive. The compact 2020 Kia Forte hopes to help change this with the all-new GT model.

The GT goes about its mission seriously: a 201-horsepower ,1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and more sophisticated multilink rear suspension are all part of the package. A flat-bottomed steering wheel and optional six-speed manual transmission drive home the intentions of this car.

A new GT-Line trim doesn't have the hardware of the GT, but gets all its glossy-black exterior trimmings and sporty interior touches, including the flat-bottomed tiller.

For those not so interested in performance, a new Special Edition Package for the EX will be offered in late 2020. It will come loaded up all the luxuries one can imagine in a car of this class, including Harman Kardon audio, a sunroof, two-tone interior, navigation, and wireless charging.

The Forte is offered in five trims: FE, LXS, GT-Line, EX, and GT. Pricing starts at $18,715 for the base FE and climbs to $23,815 for the manual-equipped GT.

All US-market Fortes are front-wheel-drive sedans, but fingers are crossed the Forte5 hatchback returns to do battle with the Honda Civic Hatchback and Toyota Corolla Hatchback.

All Fortes but the GT will be sporting a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Most come paired with a continuously variable transmission; the only exception is the base FE, which comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission, but the CVT. The GT spices things up with a 1.6-liter turbo-four.

Coupled to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the turbo engine promises to offer better acceleration than the base engine's 8.2-second 0-60 mph time.

As a five-passenger compact sedan, the Forte is about as spacious as can be expected but by no means a limousine. Leg room in the rear beats out the Toyota Corolla and Mazda Mazda3, but falls a good 2 inches short of the Honda Civic.

The large trunk offers 15.3 cubic feet of space, which is better than all three of its Japanese competitors.

The Forte comes with plenty of standard active safety features. These include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and driver attention warning. The GT-Line and EX also get blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert as standard.

Only the GT offers any optional safety equipment. It's all bundled within the $2,200 GT2 Package and includes blind-spot monitoring, lane change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, audible parking sensors, and adaptive cruise control.

Even the base FE includes an 8-inch color touchscreen, though it offers limited functions beyond AM/FM/MP3 compatibility. High-trim cars also use an 8-inch screen but offer additional features such as cloud services and satellite radio. All trims include standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Depending on trim level, other amenities include one or two 12-volt outlets, multiple USB ports, and four or six speaker audio. Optional on the GT-Line, EX, and GT is a Harman Kardon audio system with eight speakers and 320 watts.

Wireless charging, a luxury not normally found in the compact class, is optional on the EX and GT.

The base Forte FE isn't lavish but is nonetheless well equipped for the price point. Unlike some loss leaders, the FE gets body-color mirrors and door handles, and also wears 15-inch steel wheels with hubcaps.

Standard convenience features include remote keyless entry, an alarm, and cruise control. Six-way manual seats, cloth upholstery, and single-zone manual climate control keep passengers comfortable.

The only option on the FE is the $900 automatic transmission, which also comes with a three-option drive mode selector.

One step up from the FE is the LXS. Upgrades over the FE include split-folding rear seats, more soft-touch materials, and 16-inch wheels. The automatic transmission and its drive mode selector have also been made standard equipment.

While the new GT looks to bring real performance to the Forte lineup, the GT-Line model is tasked with the less daunting order of merely looking good. To that end, the GT-Line cribs all its gloss-black trim from the GT, including accents, side sills, grille, mirrors, and spoiler. Unique 17-inch wheels set it apart from its more powerful sibling.

The interior takes a leap upscale when compared to the FE and LXS trims. To begin with, there's push-button start, cloth-and-leatherette seats, a six-speaker audio system, and a leather-wrapped gear shifter. The steering wheel is the flat-bottomed leather-wrapped piece also found in the GT. Rear passengers enjoy additional storage space.

If that's not enough, the GT-Line Premium Package is available. For $1,500, this package adds a sunroof, cloud services and satellite radio functionality, Harman Kardon audio, wireless charging, and LED interior lighting.

The most luxurious Forte is the EX. This is the trim where passengers enjoy heated and cooled front seats with 10-way power adjustment, dual-zone automatic climate control, and the upgraded 8-inch touchscreen found in the GT-Line's Premium Package. Additional standard features include rear air conditioning vents, an illuminated glovebox, a front-console sliding armrest, and dual USB ports in the center console.

There are currently no optional packages to choose from, but later in the year Kia will offer the EX Special Edition Package. It's expected to include a black spoiler, two-tone red interior with leatherette seating, navigation, Harman Kardon audio, and a sunroof. Pricing will likely be in the ballpark of $1,500 to $2,000.

The performance GT aspires to woo shoppers with its 201-hp turbo engine and exclusive multi-link rear suspension. Eighteen-inch wheels, sport seats, red stitching, and its flat-bottomed steering wheel all play up the theme of performance.

Presumably to keep costs down, the luxuries found in the EX have been stripped away. Climate control is again single-zone manual, seats revert to manual adjustment and cloth upholstery, and rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring are also left at the factory.

All this de-contenting can be negated by opting for the $2,200 GT2 Package. It essentially adds back all the luxuries found on the EX as well as those offered in the GT-Line's Premium Package. Along with all this, there's also adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors, and leatherette sport seats.

Compare Forte Trims Side-By-Side