Used 2014 Kia Forte for SaleNationwide

How much does the 2014 Kia Forte cost?

Prices have softened 6.32% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 241 listings available, which gives you a modest amount of inventory to compare before you buy.

Is the 2014 Kia Forte a good car?

Yes — the 2014 Kia Forte earns a 4.6/5 user rating and a 7.8/10 expert rating. The model scores 9/10 across Look and feel and Cost effectiveness.

Owners consistently praise its reliability, fuel efficiency, and comfort, and they also like the spacious trunk. That lines up with the Forte’s use case as a practical compact car that feels more polished than a basic bargain model, with a cabin and feature set that make it appealing for everyday commuting and first-car duty. 32.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals, which suggests there are still worthwhile opportunities in the market.

Is the 2014 Kia Forte reliable?

Owners rate it 4.6/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner feedback repeatedly points to reliability, and it also describes the car as a practical choice that many drivers would recommend as a great first car. The expert review also emphasizes that Kia has closed the gap with competitors, which supports the idea that this generation is more mature and dependable than the earlier Forte. Kia’s long warranty reputation and the car’s solid feature content add to the sense that it was built for long-term use.

For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is that some examples may have been driven hard enough to amplify the car’s lightweight feel, noise, and fragility concerns.

What should I look for when buying a used 2014 Kia Forte?

At 48.1% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the car has been in a collision or shows signs of uneven wear. Focus on body condition, panel alignment, tire wear, and any evidence that the car’s lightweight structure may have taken a hit. If you are comparing multiple listings, the cleanest history and best-maintained example should usually win over a slightly cheaper one with unclear records.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The LX is the value play, but the EX adds a more upscale interior, faux carbon-fiber accents, leather seating, and a more polished overall feel. The base trim is also the one that misses out on the UVO infotainment system, so you should expect a more basic tech experience there.
• Powertrain: The base LX uses a 1.8-liter inline 4-cylinder with 148 horsepower and either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. The EX steps up to a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 173 horsepower and a 6-speed automatic, giving you noticeably better passing power without a major fuel-economy penalty.
• Safety package: The Forte includes front impact and side curtain airbags, 4-wheel antilock disc brakes, electronic stability control, traction control, braking assist, hill assist control, electronic brakeforce distribution, front and rear crumple zones, side-impact door beams and a tire pressure monitoring system. The safety content also notes that the IIHS rated it Good in side impact, roof strength and moderate frontal offset tests, but Poor in small-overlap frontal offset testing.
• Infotainment: Bluetooth is standard, and UVO is standard on the EX but unavailable on the LX. The system uses a vibrant color touchscreen and supports voice-activated navigation with detailed destination entry.
• Fuel efficiency: The 1.8-liter engine returns 25 mpg city and 37 highway with the manual, or 25/36 with the automatic. The 2.0-liter EX is rated at 24/36.

Which 2014 Kia Forte trim should I buy?

The 2014 Kia Forte is offered in 2 trim levels: LX and EX.

Here's the short version:

• LX: This is the budget-friendly choice if you want the lowest entry price and are fine with a simpler feature set. It gives you the core Forte experience, but you give up the more upscale cabin touches and the UVO infotainment system.
• EX: This is the best-value trim if you want the Forte to feel more complete. It adds the stronger 2.0-liter engine, standard UVO, and a more premium interior, making it the trim most likely to satisfy you if you care about comfort and tech as much as price.

The safety content highlights a strong standard safety equipment list, but also notes the IIHS small-overlap frontal offset weakness.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2014 Kia Forte?

This is a moderate buyer’s market, so you can shop selectively without expecting every listing to be a bargain.

• Deal availability: 32.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 241 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.32% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 48.1% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $6,328, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2014 Kia Forte's resale value?

The current average of $6,404 sits slightly below last year's $6,836.

That decline suggests the Forte has softened in the used market, which can be good news if you are buying now but less ideal if you are planning to sell soon. If you own one, the current pricing trend means you should expect a modest resale environment rather than a strong appreciation story. Well-kept examples with clean history and desirable equipment should still do better than average.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.6/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2014 Kia Forte safe?

The 2014 Kia Forte earns a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, but it also received a Poor result in the small-overlap frontal offset test.

It earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

The Forte comes with a broad standard safety package that includes front impact and side curtain airbags, 4-wheel antilock disc brakes, electronic stability control, traction control, braking assist, hill assist control, electronic brakeforce distribution, front and rear crumple zones, side-impact door beams and a tire pressure monitoring system. The key caveat is the small-overlap frontal offset result, which is the main safety weakness you should keep in mind when shopping used examples.

Should I buy a 2014 Kia Forte or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2014 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2014 if:

• 32.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 48.1% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.32% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.6/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2014 model brings a much more complete redesign with stronger style, space, efficiency and in-car tech.

Consider the 2015 if:

• At $7,032, the 2015 costs more than the current year's $6,404 average.
• It offers more equipment if you are willing to spend more.

The bottom line: If you want the better value, the 2014 is the smarter buy because it combines a lower average price with strong owner satisfaction and a more polished redesign. If you are willing to pay more for a newer model and potentially more equipment, the 2015 is worth a look, but the 2014 remains the more compelling price-first choice.

How does the 2014 Kia Forte compare to the 2014 Hyundai Elantra?

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 10, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.