The Kia Forte: A Whole New Kia

Most people think of Kia when they think of small cars that are long on value but short on style. However, Kia has changed and the Forte is the perfect example available at a sedan or a coupe. The Kia Forte embodies sharp styling, a surprising list of standard features, and a sporty attitude. Hi, I'm Amanda Salas, and I'm Jonny Lacoste, and you're watching Auto Trader's new car review for the 2011 Kia Forte.

The Kia Forte was designed by Peter Schreyer, a former Outie designer whose designs have been breathing new life into the Kia brand. If you look closely, you can see elements of one of its main competitors, the Honda Civic, in the Forte's design. The Forte is positioned to go toe-to-toe with the Civic, along with the Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Golf, and Jetta, and the Scion tC, to compete.

The Forte needs to impress on the inside as well, and I think it does. Our test car here, a Forte sedan, has a nice, well-thought-out cabin that feels nothing like cheapness in here. Although, there are a few plastic trim pieces that could be a little soft. Headroom in the sedan is great, although if you opt for the coupe, you can expect less than perfect headroom due to its design. The standard equipment on the Forte is the most impressive feature in it, with Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, and a USB auxiliary audio jack not to mention a six-way power adjustable driver's seat, all of which are standard.

Now, let's talk about how the Forte drives. This car is definitely fun to drive, with quick, tight steering that handles bumps pretty well for a small car too. It's a nice blend of sporty and comfortable. When it comes to powertrain, this model has 156 horsepower with a 2-liter inline-4 engine. If you get the SX trim, you're looking at 173 horsepower with a 2.4-liter inline-4 engine. Depending on the trim level, you'll either get a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission sending power to the front wheels. The engine in our test car seems powerful enough to handle passing and highway driving; it's quiet and smooth running and has pretty good fuel economy.

The Forte comes with impressive fuel economy estimates of 25 miles per gallon in the city and 34 on the highway with a 6-speed manual, more powerful engines will get you 22 miles in the city and 32 on the highway. But what really sets the Forte apart is its best-in-class acceleration.

The price of the Kia Forte is also best in its class, with an MSRP of $13,695. It comes in at nearly two thousand dollars less than the Civic or Corolla and almost four thousand dollars less than the Golf or the Jetta. That's with an impressive list of standard equipment that expectedly, a nearly loaded Forte will cost under twenty thousand dollars.

What really impresses me about the Kia Forte is its industry-best 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Add to that its sharp styling, loads of fun features, and it's clear that those small car competitors have been put on notice by Auto Trader.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enmost people think of Kia they think of small cars that are long on value in short on style while Kia has changed and the forte is the perfect example available at a sedan or a coupe and that's coupes though with the que the Kia Forte embodies sharp styling a surprising list of standard features and a sporty attitude hi I'm Amanda Salas and I'm Jonny Lacoste oh and you're watching Auto traders new car review for the 2011 Kia Forte one look at the Forte and you'll see this is a whole new kia the kia forte was designed by Peter Schreyer a former outtie designer his designs have been breathing new life into the Kia brand and if you look closely you can see elements of one of its main competitors the Honda Civic and the Forte is position to go toe-to-toe with the Civic along with the Toyota Corolla Volkswagen Golf and Jetta and the Scion tC to compete the Forte needs to impress on the inside as well and I think it does our test car here the Forte sedan has a nice well-thought-out cabin nothing feels cheap in here although there are a few plastic trim pieces that could be a little soft Headroom in the sedan is great although if you offer the coupe expect less than perfect Headroom due to its design but the standard equipment is the most impressive feature in it I'm talking Bluetooth connectivity satellite radio and a USB auxiliary audio form not to mention a six way power adjustable driver's seat all standard now does the Forte drive as good as it looks let's find out this car is definitely fun to drive it's got quick tight steering and handles the bumps pretty well for a small car too it's a nice blend of sporty and comfortable let's talk about powertrain this model has 156 horsepower with a 2 liter inline-4 if you get the SX trim you're looking at 173 horsepower with a 2.4 liter inline-4 depending on the trim you'll either get a 5 or 6 speed manual for 5-speed automatic sending power to the front wheels the engine in our test car seems powerful enough to handle passing and highway driving it's quiet and smooth running and has pretty good fuel economy to get 25 miles to the gallon in the city and 34 on the highway with a 6-speed manual more powerful engine you're looking at 22 miles in the city and 32 on the highway but you'll be rockin best-in-class acceleration you the price is best in its class - at 13,000 695 it comes in at nearly two thousand less than the Civic or Corolla and almost four thousand less than the golf or the Jetta and that's with an impressive list of standard equipment expected nearly loaded Forte to cost under twenty thousand dollars what really impresses me is Kia's industry best 10 year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty add that to its sharp styling loads of fun features and it's fun to drive nature and you can tell those small car competitors they have been put on notice for Auto Trader I'm Amanda Salas and I'm Gianni Lacroix Stowe thank you for watching Auto traders new car review for the 2010 Kia Forte right here on auto trader the ultimate automotive marketplacemost people think of Kia they think of small cars that are long on value in short on style while Kia has changed and the forte is the perfect example available at a sedan or a coupe and that's coupes though with the que the Kia Forte embodies sharp styling a surprising list of standard features and a sporty attitude hi I'm Amanda Salas and I'm Jonny Lacoste oh and you're watching Auto traders new car review for the 2011 Kia Forte one look at the Forte and you'll see this is a whole new kia the kia forte was designed by Peter Schreyer a former outtie designer his designs have been breathing new life into the Kia brand and if you look closely you can see elements of one of its main competitors the Honda Civic and the Forte is position to go toe-to-toe with the Civic along with the Toyota Corolla Volkswagen Golf and Jetta and the Scion tC to compete the Forte needs to impress on the inside as well and I think it does our test car here the Forte sedan has a nice well-thought-out cabin nothing feels cheap in here although there are a few plastic trim pieces that could be a little soft Headroom in the sedan is great although if you offer the coupe expect less than perfect Headroom due to its design but the standard equipment is the most impressive feature in it I'm talking Bluetooth connectivity satellite radio and a USB auxiliary audio form not to mention a six way power adjustable driver's seat all standard now does the Forte drive as good as it looks let's find out this car is definitely fun to drive it's got quick tight steering and handles the bumps pretty well for a small car too it's a nice blend of sporty and comfortable let's talk about powertrain this model has 156 horsepower with a 2 liter inline-4 if you get the SX trim you're looking at 173 horsepower with a 2.4 liter inline-4 depending on the trim you'll either get a 5 or 6 speed manual for 5-speed automatic sending power to the front wheels the engine in our test car seems powerful enough to handle passing and highway driving it's quiet and smooth running and has pretty good fuel economy to get 25 miles to the gallon in the city and 34 on the highway with a 6-speed manual more powerful engine you're looking at 22 miles in the city and 32 on the highway but you'll be rockin best-in-class acceleration you the price is best in its class - at 13,000 695 it comes in at nearly two thousand less than the Civic or Corolla and almost four thousand less than the golf or the Jetta and that's with an impressive list of standard equipment expected nearly loaded Forte to cost under twenty thousand dollars what really impresses me is Kia's industry best 10 year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty add that to its sharp styling loads of fun features and it's fun to drive nature and you can tell those small car competitors they have been put on notice for Auto Trader I'm Amanda Salas and I'm Gianni Lacroix Stowe thank you for watching Auto traders new car review for the 2010 Kia Forte right here on auto trader the ultimate automotive marketplace\n"