2010 Kia Forte Review

PROS  Room and refinement, Good fuel economy, Very affordable

CONS  Coarse engines, Sloppy manual transmission, Koup has small rear seat

Much has been made about the recent success of South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia. In the past decade they have gone from purveyors of inexpensive, entry-level automobiles to full-line manufacturers competing on the same level as import stalwarts Honda and Toyota. Heck, in the last year alone, both Hyundai and Kia have posted marketshare gains in excess of 20 percent.

Though the two companies share some engineering under the vehicle skin, the brands are headed in two distinct directions. Hyundai is moving up market with vehicles like the Genesis luxury sedan and large Veracruz crossover SUV. Kia, is sticking closer to its economy-car roots in offering mass-market vehicles at very reasonable prices.

One of those entry-level vehicles is the Forte, which made its world debut at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show and is all-new for 2010. The Forte is a compact car that replaces the Spectra in Kia's lineup. It competes with vehicles like the Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Honda Accord, Hyundai Elantra, Mazda 3, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla, and Volkswagen Golf/Jetta.

Two body styles are offered, four-door sedan and two-door coupe, which is called Forte Koup. Both are front-wheel and seat five on front buckets and a three-place rear bench. Trim levels include LX, EX, and SX. The LX is available only on the sedan while EX and SX trim levels are offered on sedan and coupe. LX and EX models come with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 156 horsepower. SX models get a 173-horsepower 2.4-liter four cylinder. Both engines come with either a manual or automatic transmission.

Standard safety features on all models include antilock four-wheel disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, front-seat active head restraints, tire-pressure monitor, and dual-front, front-side, and curtain-side airbags. Park assist and rear-view monitor are not offered.

The LX lists for $13,695 and includes the following standard equipment: Tilt steering wheel with radio controls, center console, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with digital-media player connection, satellite radio, Bluetooth cell-phone connection, variable-intermittent wipers, rear defogger, automatic-off headlights, 195/65R15 tires, and wheel covers.

EX sedans start at $15,995, while the Koup costs $600 more. EX models add to the LX air conditioning, cruise control, split-folding rear seat, heated power mirrors with integrated turn signals, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, and floormats. The Koup adds 205/55R16 tires and alloy wheels.

The SX sedan lists for $18,495 and the SX Koup lists for $17,695. Both models add to the EX the larger engine tilt-telescope leather-wrapped steering wheel, trip computer, fog lights, sport suspension, 215/45R17 tires, and alloy wheels.

Options include power sunroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and metallic interior trim on the EX Koup). The Forte has a $695 destination charge and is built in South Korea.

Get Up and Go  When equipped with the 2.4-liter four, the Forte feels quite energetic. There's plenty of torque for quick stoplight launches and ample passing power when overtaking or merging. Kia's own numbers peg the 0-60 mph time for a Forte SX at about eight seconds, placing it near the top of the class in terms of acceleration.

The smaller 2.0-liter four is considerably less sprightly, though is has adequate around-town punch. It gets bogged down when mated to the four-speed automatic or when there are more than two adults aboard.

Speaking of transmissions, the five-speed automatic mates quite well to the larger four and provides quick downshifts and smooth upshifts. That's a good think because the optional manual transmission isn't the most user-friendly unit on the market. The shifter has longish and undefined throws and the clutch lacks feel and is too light.

Kia says that both Forte engines run fine on regular-grade gasoline. EPA numbers for the 2.0-liter four are 25/35 mpg with the five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. When mated to the five-speed automatic, the numbers jump to 27/36 mpg. The 2.4-liter four is rated at 22/32 mpg with the six-speed manual and 23/31 mpg with the five-speed automatic.

In real-world driving the SX, which comes standard with the larger four, will net about 26 mpg in routing driving and light-duty commuting. If you spend a lot of time on the highway, you'll likely post more than 30 mpg on a regular basis.

On the Road  Ride quality depends on model and body style. The base LX and EX having the most comfortable ride and the SX and Koup having a considerably firmer ride. Regardless, all Forte models have better than average impact absorption and composure on rough roads. Forte finds a middle ground between the sporty Mazda 3 and the smooth-riding Toyota Corolla.

When the road grows twisty, Forte more than holds its own against other compacts. Though body lean is noticeable on lesser models, all feel sure footed and extremely solid. The steering is nicely sorted with plenty of road feel and the brakes have good stopping power and an easy-to-modulate pedal. Grip level depends on model, with the SX having the highest cornering levels.

Road rumble and wind rush are nicely muted compared to other compact cars. Sadly, both engines are coarse in hard acceleration and hum intrusively at highway speeds.

Behind the Wheel  The interior of the Forte strikes a nice balance between function and comfort. Materials are class appropriate and no more. Drivers face a large speedometer flanked by tachometer and fuel gauge. The center stack is nicely designed and protrudes slightly from the dashboard, moving it closer to driver and passenger. Radio and climate controls couldn't be simpler and more straight forward. Window, lock and mirror controls are placed conveniently on the driver-door armrest.

Extra-large gauges easily legible, day or night. Audio controls are nicely arranged up high on the center stack. Climate controls, though large, are a trifle low. One gripe is the small navigation screen. It's nice and high on the dashboard, but too small to be easily deciphered. Controls for this optional system are located on the steering wheel. They take a while to get used to, but are functional enough and keep your hand where it belongs. Ancillary controls for windows, locks, and mirrors are nicely positioned on the driver's armrest.

Most adults will find the front seats comfortable and supportive, though anyone larger than six-feet tall might want a bit more head and leg room. The driving position is upright and outward visibility is excellent. The standard tilt-telescope steering wheel is a nice plus in this class.

As in the previous-generation, the Mazda 3's rear seat is somewhat disappointing. Unless the front seats are moved well forward, leg and knee room are tight. In addition, the bench seat is firm and lacks any contouring.

The front seats are comfortable if lacking a bit on overall support. Head and leg room are good in the sedan. The Koup's lower roofline means less headroom, to the point where those more than six-foot tall will complain. SX gets tilt-telescope steering wheel, while LX and EX get only tilt wheel. Outward visibility is good on sedans, slightly compromised to the rear on Koup.

Rear-seat room is a class surprise and sedans have good head and leg room--even with the front seats positional all the way back. Three adults can sit abreast for short trips, but there's not enough cabin width for long-trip comfort. Koups have less rear-seat room and the typical two-door entry/exit problems.

With 14.7 cubic feet of trunk space, the sedan has as much cargo capacity as any in the class. The opening is nice and large, but it features hinges that intrude on cargo space. One nice touch are rear seatbacks that can be folded by levers in the passenger compartment or in the trunk. Koups have slightly less cargo room, but it is still class appropriate. Both models have good interior storage with lots of bins and cubbies all around the cabin.

Bottom Line  Forte proves once and for all that Kia is no longer a discount-car company. Yes, the South Korean automaker offers vehicles that are value priced, but the Forte is considerably better than many competitors and can stand on its own against the class leading Honda Civic.

Forget for a moment its price advantage, Forte has the room, power, and agility owners in this segment expect. Throw in generous helping of standard equipment and a host of safety features and you can quickly see that this vehicle is a winner on merit alone. Now throw in the fact that for less than $16,000 you get Bluetooth, power windows, locks, and mirrors, keyless entry, and steering-wheel audio controls and the Forte becomes a must-see for compact-class shoppers.