Just three-and-a-half years after it launched the original Forte, Kia has created an all-new one. That haste is a clear indication of how competitive the compact-sedan segment has become and, perhaps more telling, a sign of how competitive Kia has become. The original Forte was sharp and packed a fun personality. No other compact offered an audio system whose speakers lit up with each bass beat. But the old Forte lack the fine-detail refinement found at the top of the segment. Kia had to up its game.
The all-new Forte is based upon the same mechanicals as the Hyundai Elantra; the platform-mates have an identical 106.3-inch wheelbase. Also shared is the design of the strut front and twist-beam rear suspension, though Kia engineers have tuned that suspension to suit the Forte. Both engines from the outgoing model are gone. Beneath the hood of the new base LX model is the same 148-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder paired to the same six-speed transmissions that Hyundai uses in all Elantras. The difference here is that, for now, only the Kia Forte EX gets a 2.0-liter direct-injected four-cylinder with 173 hp and 154 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed automatic. That engine makes the same power as the outgoing 2.4-liter.
The new Forte isn't merely a slick design with an additional engine choice. Engineers went to the mat to make the Kia quiet, with loads of extra sound-deadening material in the bodywork, on the floor, and even an upgraded acoustic mat behind the dash that Kia says is the same type used to combat diesel clatter.
Tech Tidbit: Kia's UVO eServices telematics system, co-developed with Microsoft, doesn't offer concierge service like you get from OnStar and others. But it does provide a car-care portal through the Web. It can check vehicle diagnostics, receive Google Maps directions sent from the phone to the nav system, connect to emergency services if an airbag deploys, and even help you find where you've parked your car. What's really sweet is that this system comes with no monthly service fee. It's free for 10 years or 100,000 miles.
Driving Character: To these eyes, the Kia Forte is the best looking car in the compact segment. It's impressive that a designer can make a compact sedan stand out in a sea of sameness. Perhaps that's why Kia has promoted its chief design officer, Peter Schreyer, to run its U.S. operations.
The real beauty of the new Forte is under the metal. We drove exclusively fully loaded EX models, and on this top-level Forte it took only a few minutes behind the wheel to notice the refinement improvement. Compared to the old car, and even the Elantra, this Kia is incredibly hushed. In most cars with a direct-injection engine like the Forte EX's, occupants will hear the clicking of the high-pressure fuel pump at idle. Not here. It's a major improvement over the original Forte, a car that, if we're honest, was a little boomy.
Peg the throttle and the EX is deceptively quick. The old 2.4-liter, with 14 more lb-ft of torque, was about as quick as other compacts, and the new engine should be good for a similar mid 7-second 0-to-60 time. You just wouldn't know by the way it feels. Less exciting is the engine note, which starts to drone as it approaches the redline, so perhaps this is a car geared more for comfort than speed.
The Forte's suspension does a solid job of soaking up the big bumps while remaining poised enough for moderately quick canyon work. Kia's engineers say they benchmarked the Ford Focus for their suspension tuning, and it seems as though they've come close to hitting that mark. Sharper-edged impacts are more noticeable, at least audibly, than the Ford, but that's probably because the Forte EX wears aggressive 215/45R17 tires with little sidewall cushioning. Kia's new FlexSteer system comes as an option on the EX. It's largely the same system Hyundai uses to provide comfort, normal, and sport steering modes for the electric power steering system. Those modes are less distinct here than on the last Elantra GT we drove.
On the inside, Kia put soft-touch materials where it counts-in the spots where your elbows hit or are likely to hit. Our car came with the optional heated front seats and cooled driver's seat (an option not found on other compacts). Rear-seat leg- and headroom is plentiful, even for a six-footer, and though the aft seats have an oddly aggressive lumbar support, overall comfort is impressive. Our EX even had a heated rear seat.
Favorite Detail: The cooled glovebox isn't a breakthrough. But when we encounter the feature on a long drive, we appreciate it. It's great to have a place to keep your drinks cool on a road trip.
Driver's Grievance: We appreciate the idea of a small, relatively inexpensive, and fuel-efficient car delivering lots of luxury-level equipment. But an optional cooled seat for the driver alone is just silly. If the driver gets one, shouldn't the passenger get one too? We could make a case that keeping your co-pilot cool and comfy is exponentially more important.
Bottom Line: The Forte is a solid leap forward for Kia. This stylish sedan is on par with the best in the compact class. So what's next for the Forte? Expect to see a coupe version unveiled at an upcoming auto show, perhaps with turbocharged power under the hood.
Price: $16,000 to $20,000 (est.)
Competitors: Honda Civic, Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus, Dodge Dart, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra
Powertrains: 1.8-liter I-4, 148 hp, 131 lb-ft; 2.0-liter I-4, 173 hp, 154 lb-ft; six-speed manual, six-speed automatic, FWD
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