2009 Land Rover Defender vs. 2012 Kia Forte
To start off, 2012 Kia Forte is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 2009 Land Rover Defender. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 2009 Land Rover Defender would be higher. At 2,402 cc (4 cylinders), 2009 Land Rover Defender is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2012 Kia Forte (156 HP @ 6200 RPM) has 36 more horse power than 2009 Land Rover Defender. (120 HP @ 3500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2012 Kia Forte should accelerate faster than 2009 Land Rover Defender. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2009 Land Rover Defender weights approximately 1420 kg more than 2012 Kia Forte.
Because 2009 Land Rover Defender is four wheel drive (4WD), it will have significant more traction and grip than 2012 Kia Forte. In wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2009 Land Rover Defender will offer significantly more control. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 2009 Land Rover Defender (360 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 165 more torque (in Nm) than 2012 Kia Forte. (195 Nm @ 4300 RPM). This means 2009 Land Rover Defender will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2012 Kia Forte. 2012 Kia Forte has automatic transmission and 2009 Land Rover Defender has manual transmission. 2009 Land Rover Defender will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2012 Kia Forte will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2009 Land Rover Defender | 2012 Kia Forte | |
| Make | Land Rover | Kia |
| Model | Defender | Forte |
| Year Released | 2009 | 2012 |
| Body Type | SUV | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2402 cc | 2000 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 120 HP | 156 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3500 RPM | 6200 RPM |
| Torque | 360 Nm | 195 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4300 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Diesel | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | 4WD | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | 6-speed shiftable automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2708 kg | 1288 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3900 mm | 4341 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1970 mm | 1775 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1930 mm | 1461 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2370 mm | 2649 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 60 L | 52 L |
