It wasn’t long ago when Korean cars were considered for their affordability and nothing more. But today, cars from Korean automakers such as Hyundai and Kia are not only affordable, but they continue to display innovative styling, surprising luxury and technology, and stellar reliability.
It is this blend of qualities that will likely help make the all-new Kia Forte a popular-vehicle among consumers that need an affordable car but don’t won’t to make to many sacrifices.
First impressions of the Kia Forte are very positive. Sitting next to a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic, the Forte is certainly boasting a contemporary design that’s more aggressive than the conservative Corolla, yet more mainstream than the bold Civic. The Forte’s good looks are in fact the product of Audi’s former design head that now works at Kia‘s California design studio.
Inside, the Kia Forte’s clean and simple exterior lines continue. Not only does the interior provide a surprisingly upscale look and feel, but the simplicity of the layout makes switches and controls easy to find and operate. However, there are still plenty of hints that you are inside of an economy car points out MA Toyota, such as the lack of controls to adjust the seats or the somewhat flimsy feel on some handles and levers throughout the cabin. Aside from these relatively minor gripes, the interior is surprisingly comfortable and quiet.
Powering top of the line Kia Forte is a 2.4-liter four cylinder that produces 173 horsepower. This engine can be mated to an automatic transmission or even a six-speed manual to take advantage of the Forte’s surprising sportiness. Without showing signs of struggle, the Forte’s engine provides above average power and plenty of torque. Best of all the sport-tuned suspension keeps the Forte planted to the ground even on twisty roads, which Albuquerque used Toyota dealers admit says a lot considering the competition in this segment. While its suspension helps make the Forte a blast to drive, it may ride a bit too firm for some drivers.
Starting from $13,695, the Kia Forte sedan offers a competitive base price for a wide range of standard amenities. While the Forte is evidence that the Korean brand is moving upmarket, Infiniti Nashua asserts that Kia is still quite a ways from the ‘premium’ segment. However, the Forte still boasts impressive features at an impressive price. Should you opt for the larger four-cylinder engine, the Forte will most certainly impress drivers that crave the quality and reliability of the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla, but it will also provide the sportiness driving enthusiasts crave.
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