2022 Kia Forte Kingston: A Pre-Owned Compact Car Buyer's Guide to Trims, Trade-Ins, and Financing
Every September, Kingston fills up with new drivers: students settling in near Queen's and St. Lawrence College, new staff starting shifts at the hospitals, and commuters who just took a job an exit or two down Highway 401.
Many of them want the same kind of car, something compact that is easy to park downtown, and a pre-owned 2022 Kia Forte often lands on that shortlist.
At Jim Thompson Chrysler on Gardiners Road, we are a Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram dealership that also sells quality pre-owned vehicles of other makes.
This guide covers what Kia changed for 2022, the trims you will meet, what to check on a used one, when a Dodge Hornet is the better fit, and how trade-ins and financing, O.A.C., work at our desk.
Key Takeaways
Kia Canada's release for the 2022 model year lists the Forte sedan in LX, EX, EX+, EX Premium, GT-Line, and GT Limited trims, and the Forte5 hatchback in EX, GT, and GT Limited.
Kia Canada lists a 2.0-litre four-cylinder on the LX through GT-Line sedans, and a turbocharged 1.6-litre on the GT Limited sedan and the Forte5 GT and GT Limited.
On any pre-owned Forte, ask for the vehicle history report, the service records, an open-recall check, and whether the car is sold with a Safety Standards Certificate.
If all-wheel drive for Kingston winters is on your list, look at the Dodge Hornet: Dodge Canada's 2023 launch release and Stellantis Canada's 2025 fact sheet list it as standard on the Hornet GT and R/T.
We appraise your current vehicle in writing, and financing is available on pre-owned vehicles, O.A.C., through a quick online credit application.
Is a Used 2022 Kia Forte in Kingston a Smart First Car or Commuter?
For many Kingston drivers, yes, because a compact sedan fits the life most first-car buyers and commuters actually lead.
Picture the drive from a west-end apartment to campus, a parking spot on a downtown side street, and a Friday night run home to Napanee or Belleville on the 401.
A sedan's trunk takes a hockey bag or a week of groceries, and the Forte5 hatchback gives you a wider opening for move-in weekend.
If you are a new driver with a G2 licence, a compact car is an easy size to learn on, from parallel parking on Princess Street to merging onto the 401.
It also works as the second car for a family posted to CFB Kingston, when one partner commutes and the other needs the bigger vehicle.
Kia has since replaced the Forte with the K4, so every Forte you shop today is a pre-owned car.
The Kia Forte 2022 Kingston drivers ask us about is usually the car that has to do everything: school, work, and the first long drive home for the holidays.
Our used lot changes often, so see whether a Kia Forte is on our lot right now before you visit, and call ahead about any car you want to drive.
If the Forte you want is not there, browse our used Kia inventory for other models from the same make.
What Did Kia Change for the 2022 Forte, and Which Trims Will You Find?
The 2022 model year was a refresh, and Kia Canada announced new front and rear styling, a newly available widescreen navigation display, and an expanded set of driver-assistance technology.
Kia Canada's release names Lane Following Assist, Highway Driving Assist, Navigation-Based Smart Cruise Control, and Safe Exit Warning among the new systems, with availability that varies by trim.
The same release lists wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard through the base touchscreen on trims like the LX and EX, and says the available Smart Key added remote start, which you will appreciate on a January morning.
Here is how the 2022 lineup breaks down, per Kia Canada.
LX and EX
The LX is the entry sedan and the EX builds on it, and Kia Canada lists both with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder and an Intelligent Variable Transmission.
For a first car or a campus commuter, this is the sensible place to start looking.
EX+ and EX Premium
These sedans keep the same 2.0-litre engine and add comfort and convenience equipment as you move up the ladder.
If heated seats or a heated steering wheel matter to you, confirm them on the specific car rather than assuming by the trim name.
GT-Line
Kia Canada describes the GT-Line as new for 2022 and exclusive to the sedan, combining sport styling with premium features.
It keeps the 2.0-litre engine, and Kia Canada lists the widescreen navigation touchscreen as standard, which makes it the looks-and-technology pick without the turbo.
GT Limited and the Forte5 GT
Kia Canada lists a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission on the GT Limited sedan and on the Forte5 GT and GT Limited.
If you searched for a Kia Forte GT, this is the one with the turbo, so drive it back to back with a GT-Line before you decide which suits your commute.
What Should You Check Before Buying a Pre-Owned 2022 Kia Forte in Kingston?
Check the paperwork first, then the car, then how it drives on the roads you actually use.
Here is the checklist we suggest for any used compact car:
The vehicle history report, for past collisions, registration history, and whether the car spent time out of province.
The service records, especially regular oil changes against the maintenance schedule in the owner's manual.
An open-recall check on the vehicle identification number (VIN), which you can run through Transport Canada's Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.
Whether the car is sold with a Safety Standards Certificate; ask the question and get the answer in writing.
The tires, for tread and age, and whether a set of winter tires comes with the car.
Any remaining manufacturer coverage on that specific car; ask rather than assume.
On the test drive, take it along Gardiners Road and onto the 401 so you hear it at highway speed, and try the driver-assistance features the trim is supposed to have.
The car should track straight, brake evenly, and pull smoothly through the transmission without shudder or hesitation.
One winter note before the first snow: Ontario insurers are required to offer a discount for winter tires, so ask your broker.
Is the Dodge Hornet the Better Fit If You Want All-Wheel Drive?
If all-wheel drive is a must for Kingston winters, yes, because the Forte is a front-wheel-drive sedan and the Hornet is a compact SUV.
Dodge Canada's launch release for the 2023 Hornet and Stellantis Canada's 2025 Hornet fact sheet both list all-wheel drive as standard on the Hornet GT and R/T.
Stellantis Canada's 2025 fact sheet also lists heated front seats and a heated steering wheel among the features the Hornet GT Plus adds.
Be clear on the trade-off: the Hornet is a bigger vehicle and a bigger step for the budget than a used compact sedan.
For a student who mostly drives across town and parks on a tight street, the Forte often makes more sense.
For a commuter on Highway 15 or the back roads north of the city before the plows come through, the Hornet is the step up worth a test drive.
As a Dodge dealership, we sell the Hornet new, and our factory-trained technicians service it with Mopar parts.
Browse our new vehicle inventory online, then ask to drive a Hornet and a used compact sedan on the same visit.
What Is Your Current Vehicle Worth on Trade?
It is worth what the market will pay for it today, and we put our appraisal in writing after we see the vehicle.
The year, kilometers, condition, service history, and what similar vehicles are selling for in Eastern Ontario all go into it.
Many 2022 Kia Forte Kingston shoppers have something to trade, even if it is an older first car handed down from home.
Two things lift a trade value more than people expect: a complete service record, and a car cleaned out before the appraisal.
If you still owe money on it, that is common, and with your permission we request the payout from your lender and show you both amounts on one page.
See what your current car is worth online first, so you arrive with a starting point.
Not ready to buy? We also buy cars outright, so you can get an appraisal without committing to anything.
Financing a Used 2022 Kia Forte in Kingston
Financing is available on pre-owned vehicles, O.A.C., and the easiest way to start is our quick online credit application.
Approval depends on the application, income, credit history, the vehicle, and lender requirements, so we do not promise an outcome before we see the file.
First-time buyers often have a short credit history rather than a poor one, and our finance team works with a range of lenders, O.A.C.
Some students and new drivers apply with a co-applicant, such as a parent, and that is a normal conversation at our desk, O.A.C.
Pre-approval is available, O.A.C., and it does not commit you to a vehicle.
If this is your first car loan, ask how the length of the term changes the total you pay over the life of the loan, not just the payment.
Bring a driver's licence and recent proof of income, such as pay stubs. If you are new to Canada, ask us what else a lender may want to see.
We will lay the financing options out side by side in plain language so you can choose, O.A.C.
Why Buy Your Pre-Owned Car at Jim Thompson Chrysler Kingston?
Because we are a Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram dealership rooted in Kingston, and the team that sells you a car is the team you call afterward.
What we do:
Put the appraisal, the payout, and the finance options on one page, in plain language.
Answer the history, recall, and safety certificate questions on the specific car before you sign.
Sell and service the Dodge Hornet, so the sedan-or-SUV question has an answer under one roof.
Give students, first-time buyers, and newcomers to Canada the same straight answers we give everyone.
We would rather help you choose the right car than rush you into the first one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a used 2022 Kia Forte good on gas for a Kingston commute?
It is a compact front-wheel-drive sedan with a four-cylinder engine, the kind of car commuters pick when fuel costs matter.
For the official rating on the exact trim and engine, check Natural Resources Canada's Fuel Consumption Guide, which covers past model years, before you buy.
What trims did the 2022 Kia Forte come in?
Kia Canada's release for the 2022 model year lists the Forte sedan in LX, EX, EX+, EX Premium, GT-Line, and GT Limited trims.
The Forte5 hatchback came in EX, GT, and GT Limited, and the GT-Line was new for 2022 and offered on the sedan only.
What is the difference between the 2022 Kia Forte GT-Line and GT Limited?
The engine is the key difference: Kia Canada lists the GT-Line with the 2.0-litre four-cylinder and Intelligent Variable Transmission, and the GT Limited with a turbocharged 1.6-litre and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Drive both on Highway 401 before you choose, because the turbo changes how the car pulls when merging.
Can I trade in a car I still owe money on at Jim Thompson Chrysler?
Yes. With your permission we request the payout from your lender, appraise your car in writing, and show you both amounts on one page.
If there is a gap, it can sometimes be carried within new financing, O.A.C., or closed with money down, and if waiting is smarter we will say so.
Can a student or first-time buyer finance a used 2022 Kia Forte?
Students and first-time buyers can apply for financing, O.A.C., and approval depends on income, credit history, the vehicle, and lender requirements.
A co-applicant such as a parent is a common option, and our quick online credit application lets you start before you visit, O.A.C.
Find Your Used 2022 Kia Forte in Kingston
Start by valuing your trade online, then send our quick online credit application so the finance side is moving before you arrive, O.A.C.
Use the checklist above on any car you shortlist from our pre-owned inventory, and bring your questions about history, recalls, and the safety certificate.
If the Hornet turns out to be the better fit, the same appraisal and application carry over, O.A.C.
Whether you are coming from campus, downtown, Amherstview, Odessa, or off the Wolfe Island ferry, you will find us on Gardiners Road just off Highway 401.
Take your time, drive what you are considering on the 401, and decide on your own schedule.
Visit us at 805 Gardiners Road, Kingston, ON K7M 7E6
Browse inventory online, value your trade, get pre-approved on approved credit, book service, or contact our team.
Sales: (877)-251-9249 Parts: (888)-711-5309 Service: (888)-713-0742
About the Author:
Kerry Irven is the Vice President of New and Used Automotive Operations for Heighton Automotive Group, a family-owned and operated automotive group serving communities across Eastern Ontario. Kerry began his automotive career in new-car sales, building his experience on the showroom floor and working his way through multi-store dealership operations.
With over 25 years in the automotive industry, Kerry has helped grow automotive businesses from one location with 40 to 50 vehicles in stock to more than 500 vehicles across 10 rooftops. His hands-on background in both new and used-vehicle operations gives him a practical understanding of what customers look for when shopping for their next vehicle.
Throughout his career, Kerry has always been actively involved in staff coaching and in understanding customer wants and needs, helping ensure the businesses he works with continue to adapt to what customers are truly looking for.
One of the most exciting chapters of his career has been the shift into modern automotive marketing, embracing new technology, transparent pricing, customer-first inventory strategies, and new ways to create a better vehicle-shopping experience.
Kerry has completed extensive automotive training, including certification through the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council, involvement with the Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario, Canadian automotive dealer training, and multiple customer service courses.
Born and raised on a farm, Kerry has always valued family, hard work, and a practical, down-to-earth approach. Joining Heighton Automotive Group and working alongside Thomas Heighton and family, along with managing partners Kyle Lothian and Martin Gougeon, has allowed him to bring those same values into the car business. It has also allowed Kerry to continue following a simple philosophy: treat every customer exactly the way he would want to be treated.
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