Rent Kia Forte 2020 in Dubai

We rent the Kia Forte 2020 from age 18, which is younger than most of the Dubai market allows, and we'll bring it to your door in one to two hours with a no-deposit plan if you'd rather not tie up your card. It's an easy economy sedan to live with here: five seats, a proper boot, and running costs low enough that a week barely dents your budget. The one real choice this page helps you make is which engine to take, because this year the Forte comes two very different ways, and only one of them makes sense for most rentals.

Which engine, and why it matters

Most Forte 2020s on the road run a 2.0-litre petrol making 147 hp through a six-speed automatic, sent to the front wheels. That's the version we'd hand nearly everyone. It's smooth in traffic, cheap to fuel, and has enough for confident city driving and steady highway cruising. There's also a 1.6 turbo with 201 hp and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which is quicker and thirstier. For a rental it's beside the point: you pay more to feed it and the extra pace sits idle in Dubai traffic. Unless you specifically want the turbo, take the 2.0 automatic and spend the saving on fuel.

Spec at a glance

A week between fill-ups

The 53-litre tank is what most renters actually care about, and the Forte does well by it. Steady highway running with the 2.0 returns strong economy, close to 6 litres per 100 km, while city driving with the AC working lands nearer 8. That translates to a genuine week of ordinary Dubai driving on a tank, and a highway-heavy trip can stretch the range close to 900 km. You spend less time at the pump and more doing whatever you came here for.

Boot and back seat

The 434-litre boot is roomy for an economy car, and being a deep square space behind a lid, it swallows luggage better than a hatch of the same size. Two big suitcases plus a couple of soft bags go in easily. The deciding case is the airport run: pick up three or four people with full cases from DXB or DWC and the Forte manages it without anyone nursing a bag on their knees. The rear seat is roomy enough that adults aren't cramped back there, which you don't often get at this price.

Cooling and Dubai roads

Every car here needs covering on the heat, because a cabin left in the sun climbs past 45 degrees by mid-morning in summer. The Forte's air conditioning is dependable economy cooling: the front vents hit hard and the cabin is comfortable within a couple of minutes of moving. There are no rear vents at this level, so give the back a head start on the hottest days. On the move it's quiet around town and settled on the E11, though it wants a run-up to overtake above 120. The 135 mm clearance takes speed bumps and mall ramps in stride, and it's front-wheel drive, so keep it on tarmac.

Costs that fall to you

A few charges are the renter's to carry. Salik tolls register automatically as you pass the gantries, and any RTA fines during your rental pass to you. A child under four needs a child seat by law, and we can fit one on request. Basic insurance is included, with fuller cover available if you want it. None of this is unusual for Dubai, but it's better known before you set off.

Our recommendation

Take the Forte 2020 if you want a cheap, comfortable automatic that carries people and luggage across a Dubai week without fuss, and book the 2.0 unless you have a specific reason to want the turbo. It's the right call for airport transfers, small families and anyone who finds a hatch too tight. If you're mostly solo or a couple doing short city hops, a smaller car is easier to park and cheaper again, and if your plans involve soft sand or a heavy load over rough ground, you want a 4x4. For everyday Dubai driving on a budget, the Forte is hard to argue with.