Birchwood Kia Blog

The Forte – Kia’s most exciting Sedan

I’m sure you have all seen the commercials on TV, bee keeping not my forte – but that is. Even if the commercial are not your forte the actual car is a real dream.  If you are considering getting a new sub compact car, you may want to come and take a look at the new Forte from KIA. For now you can get the car in a 4 door version only in trim levels of an LX, EX and SX sport model with a base price of $18,900. Power windows and locks, blue tooth hands free calling and heated seats are options that are standard on most models.  We have had the Forte now for months now and found that people will come in and look at other models and over look the Forte. However once behind the wheel of this car you realize that it is well put together and the way it drives and handles you will be surprised. I was most impressed with the SX model, you get the 2.4L engine and the optional 6 speed manual transmission that is a real treat to drive. Any one that reads this should come down and test one out, I dare you. With the introduction of
the Forte Kia has stayed true to their slogan “the power to surprise”

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Review of 2010 Kia Forte

Review from TheCarConnection.com
The all-new Kia 2010 Forte signals that Kia is ready to compete for top honors in the hugely crowded compact sedan segment. While it’s not a perfect vehicle (what is?), the 2010 Kia Forte makes a strong visual statement and backs it up with a wealth of features and impressive levels of comfort and quality. Most top review sources, along with the editors at TheCarConnection.com, think that the Forte is a very good-looking small sedan.

The 2010 Kia Forte is Kia’s “new bread-and-butter car that replaces the Spectra,” according to Motor Trend, and it will arrive on dealer lots in “three trim levels: the base spec LX, the volume EX…and the top trim SX.” The Kia 2010 Forte features an all-new design that is very well-received in reviews surveyed by TheCarConnection.com. Edmunds raves that the Kia Forte boasts an “attractive exterior design,” and even goes so far as to say “the Forte is undoubtedly one of the best-looking small sedans on the market.” Cars.com is more reserved, remarking that “if you’ve experienced Honda’s Civic, the car will seem very familiar,” especially in terms of overall styling. Such comments still don’t stop Car and Driver from claiming that the 2010 Kia Forte “is now the best-looking car in its class; it especially stands out when viewed in person.” Motor Trend does an excellent job of summarizing reviewer sentiment by declaring that, “bottom line, this is one slick-looking compact.”

Inside, the Kia Forte’s cabin doesn’t quite make the same impression as the exterior sheetmetal. While Motor Trend reviewers like that the Kia Forte’s “center stack is clean and uncluttered,” Edmunds contends that the “interior doesn’t raise the bar for this segment.” That’s not to say the interior is a disappointment, just not quite as pleasing as the exterior.

Automobile Magazine does appreciate that the “cabin is nicely appointed, with cloth or leather seats,” and both Edmunds and Motor Trend approve of the “clean layout” of the Kia Forte’s dashboard.
Conclusion

The 2010 Kia Forte has a simple, attractive exterior that looks good from every angle; inside the Forte is attractive but not charismatic.

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COMFORT AND QUALITY

9 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
Rear legroom is…a little tight for those with longer legs
Edmunds

Leads its class in several categories, most notably its 14.7 cu-ft of cargo volume
Motor Trend

Interior quality rivals the better examples in this segment
Cars.com

The five-passenger Kia Forte is roomy for this class, with an exceptionally large trunk that will swallow just about anything you can think to throw in it.

Inside the passenger compartment, Kia’s 2010 Forte offers spacious accommodations for the two front passengers, although the rear seats are somewhat less comfortable. TheCarConnection.com’s editors find a generous amount of both headroom and legroom for those riding in the twin buckets up front, and Cars.com states that the “seat comfort is decent.” Unfortunately, Edmunds warns that “the telescoping steering column is only available on the SX, meaning taller drivers might have a hard time getting comfortable in the LX and EX.” TheCarConnection.com’s editors observe it would more likely be the opposite, with the steering wheel too close for shorter drivers. Also, despite the abundance of headroom up front, Motor Trend cautions that “headroom can be an issue in the back seats for taller passengers.” Although the rear bench makes good use of the Kia Forte’s available interior volume, Edmunds still reports “rear legroom is nonetheless a little tight for those with longer legs.”

Not all reviews read by TheCarConnection.com skew toward the negative, however, as Cars.com recognizes the virtues of a backseat that is “accommodating for adult passengers,” with “enough space to carry your friends or go on a double date without making those riding in back ornery.”

While the overall passenger space could be termed good, the Kia 2010 Forte’s available cargo room is unequivocally great. Motor Trend reports that the Kia Forte “leads its class in several categories, most notably its 14.7 cu-ft of cargo volume, which can be expanded greatly if you fold down the 60/40 split rear seats.” Edmunds offers similar praise for the Kia Forte’s utility, declaring “trunk space…is plentiful, measuring an impressive 14.7 cubic feet.”

It’s much more common with this class to read complaints about interior quality, but once again the 2010 Kia Forte rises above the pack and earns praise from reviewers for its top-notch assembly. Motor Trend is pleasantly surprised to find that the “build quality on the pre-production examples we sampled was first rate, and the materials are on par with other offerings in the segment.” Edmunds seconds their opinion regarding the materials, claiming “materials quality is good enough to satisfy expectations in this segment.” Cars.com is slightly more optimistic, noting that the 2010 Kia Forte’s “interior quality rivals the better examples in this segment,” thanks largely to a “dashboard [that] makes use of mostly hard rather than soft-touch surfaces,” but with a “plastic [that] has nice graining and isn’t excessively shiny.” Perhaps the greatest compliment also comes from Cars.com, where reviewers proclaim “there’s really nothing to remind you that the Forte is a value choice in its class.”

One of the benefits of the 2010 Kia Forte’s solid build quality is that the vehicle is rather quiet inside, especially for an entry-level sedan. Motor Trend reports “the cabin was relatively quiet at freeway speeds, with little wind noise exhibited,” and other reviews read by TheCarConnection.com agree.
Conclusion

This is as good as it gets in such a low-priced vehicle; the 2010 Kia Forte is quiet and refined inside, and there’s plenty of passenger space, plus a huge trunk.

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FEATURES

9 out of 10
Expert Quotes:

Plenty of standard features on most trim levels
Edmunds

A Forte LX starts at just $14,390, whereas the base Civic and Corolla both ring it at just over 16 grand
Car and Driver

Can be optioned with upscale features like heated leather seats
Cars.com

By all indications, it appears that Kia is trying to become the de facto leader in high-value compacts with the 2010 Kia Forte. Kia understands it’s not enough anymore to simply have the lowest price tag; rather, Kia finds a way to combine bargain-bin prices with a significantly better-than-average features list on the 2010 Kia Forte.

Even the base Kia 2010 Forte LX, which Car and Driver points out “starts at just $14,390,” comes very well equipped for the class. Motor Trend reviewers state that “standard features across the range include Bluetooth hands-free integration and a CD/MP3 system with three months of free Sirius satellite radio.” Car and Driver adds that “USB and auxiliary input jacks” are standard on all three trim levels of the 2010 Kia Forte. Moving up to the Kia Forte EX, Edmunds reports that the standard features list grows to include “air-conditioning, full power accessories, a six-speaker layout for the sound system, cruise control and a 60/40-split folding rear seat with a center armrest.” The top-end Kia Forte SX gets a larger engine, along with “fog lamps” and a “telescoping…steering wheel,” according to Car and Driver.

The Kia Forte offers so many standard features across the lineup that TheCarConnection.com’s editors discover very few options to choose from. In fact, one of the most noteworthy aspects of the options list is what’s not on it; Motor Trend is disappointed to find that “one notable omission from the option list is a factory navigation system, although an aftermarket Garmin package will become available.” Edmunds points out that “options on the LX include air-conditioning and the split-folding rear seat, but power accessories are unavailable,” while the Kia 2010 Forte EX is available with “a sunroof, 16-inch alloy wheels and leather upholstery with heated front seats.”
Conclusion

You won’t pay a bundle to get the most desirable features. In fact, some of the most desirable ones like Bluetooth are standard.

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SAFETY

8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:

An impressive acronym soup of safety features including ABS, ESC (stability control)
Motor Trend

Entry-level compact sedans aren’t typically—if ever—known for their standout safety features, but Kia is looking to change that with the new 2010 Kia Forte. The new Kia 2010 Forte offers just about every safety feature that its competitors do, but on the Kia Forte they are all included as standard fare, which is much more than can be said about any other car in this class.

Like most 2010 model year vehicles, the 2010 Kia Forte has not yet been crash-tested by either the insurance-funded IIHS or NHTSA, the federal government’s program, and since the Kia Forte is an all-new model, there is little indication as to how the car will fare during its crash-test trials. Keep checking TheCarConnection.com for the latest updates on the Kia Forte’s crash-test ratings; we’ll bring you the results as soon as they become available.

Despite the dearth of impact data, TheCarConnection.com’s editors are comfortable giving the Kia 2010 Forte a very solid 8 in the Safety category thanks to its commendable list of standard safety features. Edmunds reviewers report that the “standard [2010 Kia] Forte safety equipment includes antilock disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and active front head restraints.” Motor Trend adds that those features “are aided by an impressive acronym soup of safety features including…EBD (electronic brake force distribution), and TCS (traction control),” all of which “are standard across the Forte range.” There are still some much more expensive cars that don’t come standard with all of these available safety features, so to see a compact sedan offer the full complement of safety equipment on even the lowest trim level is refreshing and an indication of Kia’s commitment to driver safety—after all, only safe customers can become repeat customers.

The 2010 Kia Forte has one other major safety advantage going for it, and that’s the Kia Forte’s impressive driver visibility. Car and Driver reports that one of the Forte’s styling cues, its “upswept side-window line,” helps contribute to “front-side visibility.” TheCarConnection.com’s editors also notice the uncluttered sightlines during their test drive of the Kia 2010 Forte.

Conclusion

We don’t know about crash tests yet, but the Forte offers a host of safety features, many of which are optional in rival models.

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STYLING

8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:

Bottom line, this is one slick-looking compact
Motor Trend

Undoubtedly one of the best-looking small sedans on the market
Edmunds

Cabin is nicely appointed
Automobile Magazine

The all-new Kia 2010 Forte signals that Kia is ready to compete for top honors in the hugely crowded compact sedan segment. While it’s not a perfect vehicle (what is?), the 2010 Kia Forte makes a strong visual statement and backs it up with a wealth of features and impressive levels of comfort and quality. Most top review sources, along with the editors at TheCarConnection.com, think that the Forte is a very good-looking small sedan.

The 2010 Kia Forte is Kia’s “new bread-and-butter car that replaces the Spectra,” according to Motor Trend, and it will arrive on dealer lots in “three trim levels: the base spec LX, the volume EX…and the top trim SX.” The Kia 2010 Forte features an all-new design that is very well-received in reviews surveyed by TheCarConnection.com. Edmunds raves that the Kia Forte boasts an “attractive exterior design,” and even goes so far as to say “the Forte is undoubtedly one of the best-looking small sedans on the market.” Cars.com is more reserved, remarking that “if you’ve experienced Honda’s Civic, the car will seem very familiar,” especially in terms of overall styling. Such comments still don’t stop Car and Driver from claiming that the 2010 Kia Forte “is now the best-looking car in its class; it especially stands out when viewed in person.” Motor Trend does an excellent job of summarizing reviewer sentiment by declaring that, “bottom line, this is one slick-looking compact.”

Inside, the Kia Forte’s cabin doesn’t quite make the same impression as the exterior sheetmetal. While Motor Trend reviewers like that the Kia Forte’s “center stack is clean and uncluttered,” Edmunds contends that the “interior doesn’t raise the bar for this segment.” That’s not to say the interior is a disappointment, just not quite as pleasing as the exterior.

Automobile Magazine does appreciate that the “cabin is nicely appointed, with cloth or leather seats,” and both Edmunds and Motor Trend approve of the “clean layout” of the Kia Forte’s dashboard.

Conclusion

The 2010 Kia Forte has a simple, attractive exterior that looks good from every angle; inside the Forte is attractive but not charismatic.

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PERFORMANCE

8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:

Plenty of power for around-town and highway driving
Cars.com

Competent powertrain in virtually any day-to-day driving situation
Motor Trend

Numb steering required too much correction
Car and Driver

The surprisingly capable 2010 Kia Forte accelerates well, especially when you consider that it’s powered by economical four-cylinder engines, but its handling doesn’t lend itself to spirited driving.

Kia will offer two engine choices for the 2010 Kia Forte, which Car and Driver lists as a “156-hp 2.0-liter” for the LX and EX, while the “top-spec SX uses a 2.4-liter that makes 173 hp.” Both engines prove to be quite capable, and reviews read by TheCarConnection.com don’t hesitate to recommend either mill. Cars.com reports that the 2.0-liter has “plenty of power for around-town and highway driving—even with four adults onboard,” while Motor Trend finds that the 2.4-liter has enough oomph for “virtually any day-to-day driving situation.” The spirited Kia Forte SX, with its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, boasts a 0-to-60 mph time that Motor Trend lists in “the mid 7-second range,” which is very competitive for this class.

Reviewers may love both of the Kia 2010 Forte’s engines, but it’s an entirely different story with the transmissions. Car and Driver states that “four transmissions are on offer, depending on trim and option package,” including standard “five- (LX and EX) or six-speed manuals (SX),” as well as optional four- or five-speed automatics. Edmunds reviewers list the “four-speed automatic’s overly wide gear spacing” as one of the Kia Forte’s three biggest drawbacks, while Cars.com simply says that the “optional four-speed automatic…is a downer.” Although the Kia Forte SX is the most powerful trim level available, the model suffers from a six-speed manual that Car and Driver warns is not “particularly fun…with a vague clutch and notchy shifter.” Edmunds agrees, lamenting the “vague and rubbery” six-speed that results in “an unpleasant driving experience.” Fortunately, the pair of five-speed options (manual and automatic) fare much better with reviewers, while the five-speed automatic is the most widely complimented in the Kia Forte.

Economy cars should offer good fuel economy, and the Kia Forte doesn’t disappoint. Edmunds says “for most [Kia] Forte trim levels, fuel economy is above average for the small car segment.” According to the official EPA estimates, the Kia 2010 Forte should return 25 mpg city and 34 mpg highway with the 2.0-liter engine and either the five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. The 2.0-liter can also pair up with an available five-speed automatic that bumps fuel economy up to 27 mpg city and 36 mpg on the highway. For the higher-output 2.4-liter engine, the EPA estimates that the manual will return 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway, while the auto gets 23/31.

Kia’s all-new compact sedan is competitive in just about every regard, but some elements of its driving character are decidedly subpar. Beginning with the positive, Motor Trend comments that the Kia Forte’s “suspension feel” is excellent and “strikes a nice balance between comfort and sport feel.” Car and Driver reviewers also notice that “The ride was relatively supple” during their tests, and Edmunds calls it “comfortable enough.” On the downside, Car and Driver says the 2010 Kia Forte is not “something we’d really call sporty,” as “the tires and suspension seemed to give up by midcorner” during their test drives. Edmunds adds that the Kia 2010 Forte’s “handling is uninspiring, even in sport-tuned SX form.” One of the most common complaint generators is the power steering, which Cars.com notes “doesn’t offer adequate feedback.” TheCarConnection.com’s editors also notice that the weighting seems uneven and unnatural, with a stiffer calibration during low-speed parking while a too-light feel at moderate and highway speeds.

Conclusion

The Forte doesn’t handle with the verve of some other cars in its class, but it keeps up with the pack in every other way.

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