2022 Kia Forte vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class retained its fantastic look from the previous year’s complete makeover. Despite the growing popularity of SUVs, the S-Class sedan continued to tell a compelling story of elegance and luxury. With its roots tracing back to the 1954 “Ponton” models, the S-Class has evolved into Mercedes-Benz’s flagship sedan, now in its seventh generation, code-named “W223.” The sleek exterior, characterized by a long distance between the front axle and the dashboard, exuded elegance. The proud Mercedes-Benz grille and star hood ornament added to its distinguished appearance.

Inside, the S-Class dashboard featured a waterfall of open-pore wood trim and a 12.8-inch touchscreen in the center stack, complemented by a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. The cabin was dressed in high-quality materials, meticulously fitted and assembled, ensuring a luxurious experience for all occupants.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered four trim levels: FE, LXS, GT-Line, and GT. The Forte GT, evaluated for this review, came with Steel Gray paint, the GT2 Package, and a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $26,900. The GT trim stood out with its sporty look, red-accent detailing, gloss black lip spoiler, and larger 18-inch wheels. The new grille, headlights, and bumpers for 2022, along with fresh wheel designs, added to its appeal.

Inside, the Forte GT featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information display, a revised center console, and improved infotainment systems. The sporty interior included traditional analog gauges, round outer air vents, and a thick-rimmed steering wheel with a flat-bottom design. The seat perforations, patterns, piping, and stitching had a Germanic appearance, and polished metal interior accents dressed up the otherwise simple cabin.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was designed for both serene weekday commuting and weekend pleasure driving. The S500 model featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid engine with EQ Boost, providing up to 21 additional horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, supplementing the engine’s 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. The S580 model came with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine, also benefiting from the EQ Boost system. Both models used a nine-speed automatic transmission with available paddle shifters and standard 4Matic AWD. The S500 accelerated from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds, while the S580 did it in 4.4 seconds. The S500 delivered up to 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/24 mpg combined, and the S580 was rated at 16 mpg city/25 mpg highway/19 mpg combined.

The 2022 Kia Forte GT offered a more engaging driving experience with its turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. This engine paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) with paddle shifters. The GT trim featured a sport-tuned suspension with an independent rear design, larger 18-inch alloy wheels, and available Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer performance tires. The Forte GT demonstrated good ride and handling characteristics, but its brakes struggled during demanding mountain descents. The car averaged 25.8 mpg in combined driving with the manual transmission and 32.8 mpg during a week-long loan.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class excelled as an executive sedan, offering a roomy and comfortable cabin with ample storage and cargo space. Second-row passengers enjoyed powered sun blinds and a Panorama Sunroof. The 13.8-cubic-foot trunk provided plenty of space for luggage. The cabin featured six USB-C ports, a 115-volt power supply, and standard heated and ventilated front seats with massage. The Luxury Line added a heated steering wheel, heated front and rear armrests, and rear-seat heating. The Executive Line, exclusive to the S580, upgraded the rear seats and included the MBUX high-end rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2022 Kia Forte GT, equipped with the GT2 option package, offered a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, a power sunroof, and upgraded LED interior lighting. The Forte GT proved comfortable for long road trips, with a height-adjustable front passenger seat and a standard dual-zone automatic climate control system. Rear seat room was good for a compact car, and the trunk offered 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space, the largest in its segment.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class featured a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen interface with the latest MBUX infotainment system, offering superior image quality and energy efficiency. The 12.3-inch LED virtual instrument panel provided crisp imagery and customizable visual themes. The optional 3D instrument cluster added depth and visual interest. The standard augmented video for navigation and available augmented reality head-up display (HUD) enhanced the driving experience. The audio system included a standard Burmester 3D Surround sound system, with an available Burmester 4D Surround system. The EQ Boost system and available rear-axle steering added to the car’s technological prowess.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered new Technology option packages for the LXS, GT-Line, and GT models, adding infotainment and safety systems. The FE and LXS trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The GT-Line and GT trims had a 10.25-inch touchscreen display with additional features, including SiriusXM satellite radio, voice recognition, and Kia Connect connected services. The Forte GT also had standard wireless smartphone charging and an available eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system. The infotainment system was easy to use, but the voice recognition capabilities were hit-and-miss.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was loaded with standard and available safety and advanced driver assistance systems. Significant features included Magic Vision Control, active distance assist Distronic adaptive cruise control, active stop-and-go assist, active steering assist, active brake assist, active speed limit assist, active blind-spot assist, active lane-keeping assist, active parking assist, Pre-Safe Plus, and car-to-x communication. The S-Class also offered available rear-passenger airbags and rear-seat belt bag for added safety.

The 2022 Kia Forte came with standard Kia Drive Wise technology, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver monitoring system. The GT-Line and GT trims added active blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Warning. Additional safety features included cyclist detection, navigation-linked adaptive cruise control, and Highway Driving Assist (HDA). The Forte received high marks from the IIHS for crashworthiness and driving assist systems, while the NHTSA gave it a four-star overall crash protection rating.