Overview & Reviews

In recent years, some of the most improved players on the automotive playing field have been entry-level compact sedans. Many of these so-called economy cars now offer levels of style and equipment that rival larger and more expensive cars. A good example is the Kia Forte.

Although the first Forte was generally a good car that also boasted strong crash test scores, the more refined second-generation version propelled this Kia to high honors in a very competitive class. Specifically, the newer Forte more than holds its own against the old segment standbys in terms of style, features, driving dynamics, fuel economy and value. Thanks to its choice of three body styles versus the more typical one or two, the Forte is able to appeal to several types of buyers whether they prefer a traditional sedan, a dynamic coupe or a practical hatchback.

Current Kia Forte
Redesigned for 2014, the current Forte is available as a sedan in LX (1.8L) and EX (2.0L) trim levels. The four-door hatchback (Forte 5) and two-door coupe (Koup) are available in EX and turbocharged SX trims.

There are three four-cylinder engines: a 1.8-liter with 148 horsepower, a 2.0-liter with 173 hp and a turbocharged 1.6-liter packing 201 hp. Power runs to the front wheels through either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The EPA combined fuel economy estimates range from 24-29 mpg, depending on engine and transmission.

Standard feature highlights include air-conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver seat, Bluetooth phone connectivity and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio and USB/iPod/auxiliary inputs. Midlevel trims add a more powerful engine, alloy wheels, foglights, keyless entry, a voice-activated infotainment system with Bluetooth audio connectivity and a rearview camera. The SX trims also include sporty styling tweaks, xenon headlights, LED taillights, dual-zone air-conditioning and a navigation system. Options (depending on trim) include a sunroof, keyless ignition and entry, leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a ventilated eight-way power driver seat and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

In reviews we've found the EX's substantial equipment level more than compensates for its slightly lower fuel economy. Furthermore, the 2.0 is one of the peppier four-cylinders out there so it never feels like an economy car. In Edmunds testing, a Kia Forte EX sedan accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds, making it one of the quickest cars in its segment. Of course, if sporty is what you're after in a compact car, we'd recommend the turbocharged engine with the manual transmission for maximum performance and fun.

Overall, the Forte has precise steering, and handling is steady. On upper trim levels, you can even adjust the steering effort via a three-mode (Comfort/Normal/Sport) button on the wheel. Most shoppers in this segment will likely be satisfied with the Forte's overall ride quality. That said, broken pavement can produce a somewhat rougher ride than what you'll find in the Forte's well-established European or Japanese rivals.

Used Kia Forte Models
The first-generation Kia Forte was available from 2010-'13 as a four-door sedan or two-door coupe (Koup). The four-door hatchback (Forte 5) joined the lineup in 2011. The sedan was available in LX, EX and SX trims, while the hatchback and coupe were EX and SX only. The LX and EX came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that made 156 hp. The SX came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder good for 173 hp.

For the LX and EX, the initial transmission choices included a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, while the SX offered a standard six-speed manual transmission or optional five-speed automatic. The latter came standard on the EX with the available Fuel Economy package. For 2011, transmissions choices were simplified, as the six-speed manual transmission was standard on all but the hatchbacks, which came with a six-speed automatic. The latter was an option on the others.

The base Forte came standard with air-conditioning, Bluetooth phone connection, satellite radio and a CD stereo with auxiliary/USB audio jacks. Upgrading to the EX model added alloy wheels, full power accessories, cruise control and, on 2012-'13 models a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. The Forte coupe featured a firmer suspension, a retuned exhaust and sport seats. The EX sedan and hatch were available with that Fuel Economy package, which added low-rolling-resistance tires, aerodynamic enhancements and electric (rather than hydraulic) power steering. The sportier SX trim featured the larger engine, 17-inch alloy wheels, firmer suspension tuning (sedan) and various interior upgrades. The SX coupe further received suspension retuning. Leather upholstery, heated seats and a sunroof were optional on the SX.

The driving experience largely depends on which version and from which year Forte you're in. We feel the first year (2010), while not to be avoided, isn't the year to look for due to the somewhat dated automatic transmissions. As such, we'd suggest going with a 2011 or later Forte, which in addition to featuring six-speed transmissions across the board, also had better standard and optional equipment including navigation. Taller drivers should note that a telescoping steering column was available on SX models only in 2010 and '11, then also on the EX in 2012 and '13.

In reviews, our editors praised the Kia Forte's relatively generous front and rear seating, tidy styling and clean and pleasant cabin layout. The LX and EX handled like typical economy cars, meaning distant steering, noticeable body roll when pushed and a comfortable, though sometimes noisy ride. The SX -- the coupe in particular -- was a completely different story with its sportier handling and notably firmer ride. Although it still wasn't quite as much fun as the sprightly Honda Civic Si, the SX provided enough entertainment behind the wheel to make it a good choice for driving enthusiasts.

Previous to the Forte, Kia's small car offering was the underwhelming Spectra.

User Reviews:

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  GREAT CAR - 2018 Kia Forte
  By GREAT CAR - December 20 - 4:49 am

  Its work the money compared to other vehicles in this same class.

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  Wonderful Car - 2010 Kia Forte
  By Bill - November 20 - 2:20 pm

  I traded a 1996 Accord for this car. It rides great, has plenty of pep and the warranty is the best.

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  Nothing but problems - 2010 Kia Forte
  By Kris - November 17 - 1:06 am

  I bought this car in october of 09. Loved it for the first 1000 miles then the driver side window had adjustment problems and was hitting the molding sounding like the window was gonna break. Now when i shitf gears i get a back fire threw the intake and no one can figure out what it is and now since 4200 miles its have a clunk and the front end and they say they cant fix it cuz they cant pin point the noise. WTF?? ive owned 14 cars before this and this is my first new car and id rather drive my 1990 vw jetta with 200,000 miles than this car!!!

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  High Value for Money - 2010 Kia Forte
  By ausman - October 17 - 11:56 am

  Well designed, in and out. Fit and finish impressive. Feels stable and powerful. Classy, understated interior. Very well appointed for price. Instrumentation and dash clearly lighted. Strong acceleration, though A/T is a little balky and indecisive (note Oct. 09 TSB that promises a fix). Cruises quietly and effortlessly. More than adequate leg and head room front and rear even with sunroof. Seats comfortable enough, but could use more lateral support and cushioning. Above average suspension, but a little jumpy over uneven surfaces. Sound system excellent, but speed sensitive audio feature is ineffective. Bluetooth needs better firmware. Large capacity trunk. Very good fuel economy.

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  great little car - 2010 Kia Forte
  By minotrice - October 14 - 3:04 am

  we bought the ccar used in 2012, since then it has been all over fl and 2 trips to ga. on the hwy i get between 36-41mpg and on the slower back country roads going 55 i get 52mpg. not a single problem with the car the only reason i gave it a 2 for comfort is the front seats are only good for about 150miles anything longer and and they let you know your in an econmy car. the car has good pick up and go too

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  Hard to beat at this price point - 2011 Kia Forte
  By Dan - September 4 - 2:08 am

  Purchased EX 5 door auto new. Have 64K mile on it, and it has never seen a repair shop. Oil changes and one set of tires are only maintenance expense so far. Mileage is as expected, 29-31 in normal driving, 70/30 city/highway. Did get over 41 mpg one time when I held it at 60 on an interstate trip. Normally get 33-35 on the highway. Best features are the seating comfort, both front and rear, outward visibility, cargo capacity, reliability, and economy of operation. Worst features are the navigation and backup camera implementation. Navigation commands sound like broken, computer-generated English, making it difficult to understand which road to turn on at times. Backup camera has a design flaw, IMHO, where it takes 7-8 seconds for anything to appear on the screen after starting the car. So I start the car, immediately shift into reverse to back out of a parking space, then wait for 6-7 seconds for the image to appear. Kind of negates the purpose of having the camera. But, even with these 2 nits, the Forte is a very nice car.

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  20k miles in... great car - 2012 Kia Forte
  By morningland - August 22 - 7:55 am

  I got this car because of the fold down seats and the great interest rate. I do a lot of camping and traveling so the fold down seats were critical since I sometimes car camp. I am able to comfortably lay down in the back area for a cat nap during a long trip or to get a good nights sleep. I am trading it in only because I want the four wheel drive but this car performed pretty decent on forest roads for what it is. It rides very nice too. I borrowed some chevy car of the same size for a week and when I got my Forte back, it felt like driving butter! It is reliable too. 20k miles and not a single engine problem at all!

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  new car - 2012 Kia Forte
  By crunchyed - August 18 - 9:51 am

  I traded my 2009 Nissan Versa Hatchback for the 2012 Kia Forte Ex. So far I love it. It had all the bells and whistles that I wanted without the extra cost. Its a lot more fun to drive than the versa.

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  Water leak in trunk compartment - 2014 Kia Forte
  By thatguy47 - August 7 - 12:20 am

  I am having the same issue as seen in this thread: http://www.forteforums.com/forums/noobie-questions-forum/39418-water-leak-trunk-compartment.html#post682049 The dealership couldnt figure out where the water was coming from and just dried out/cleaned my car without fixing anything. It appears to be coming from under the trunk liner and it is already starting to get more moisture/water just a few days after it was cleaned (only drove 10-15 miles since then). Brand new car bought in May 2013 that smells terrible even after the dealer removed the water and cleaned out the car. Hope this gets fixed the next time I bring it in...

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  Watch out for Rust!!! - 2010 Kia Forte
  By kiaMgirl - July 9 - 6:46 pm

  I saw someone driving this car and I had to have one. I spent months researching it before test driving. Bought it Oct. 31st, and found rust LESS THAN A MONTH later!!! Car is great otherwise. So take your chances people, remember you get what you pay for.