Kia Forte

Overview: Is the Kia Forte a good small sedan?

The Kia Forte is a great choice when looking for a small sedan with sporty looks, comfortable cabin interior and an extensive list of available features. It may not be capable or as dynamic as other small sedans in the market, but its accessible price and exceptional value make it an appealing proposition.

Laden with plentiful of standard features, as well as easy-to-use tech and infotainment system, the Kia Forte stands out with its fuel-efficient yet sometimes lethargic engine. Its GT version looks like an attractive sporty sedan, but it needs to improve its handling and ride quality. Its rear cabin space also needs improvement.

Note: equipment, features, and trims can vary by model year. Always confirm these details when looking for a used Kia Forte for sale.

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Related: Kia Forte Pros and Cons: What To Know When Weighing Your Decision

Key Features

The 2024 Kia Forte offers:

• A complete redesign with an industry-leading warranty.
• A small sedan package more affordable than competition
• Enjoyable performance in the Kia Forte GT-Line and GT trims
• A Navigation-based adaptive cruise control with the GT-Line
• A 240-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine returning considerable mpg numbers
• A redesigned interior with grown-up and refined looks

Trims

The 2024 Kia Forte is offered in five trims: Forte LX, Forte LXS, Forte GT-Line, Forte GT, and Forte GT Manual. The Kia Forte LX, LXS and the Kia Forte GT-Line employ a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The GT and GT Manual come with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (GT) or six-speed manual (GT Manual).

Comfort, Technology & Cargo

Kia manage to make the Forte quite comfortable with dual-zone automatic climate control, available ventilated front seats, well-contoured seats, and soft headrests. The Forte also has sufficient knee and shoulder room, although headroom might be lacking for tall passengers.

In terms of technology, the Kia Forte is laden with well-integrated features, including an easy-to-use touchscreen interface and an upgraded audio system. While forward collision mitigation is standard with each Kia Forte, adaptive cruise control isn't.

Despite being a small sedan, the Kia Forte can carry enough cargo to fill its large trunk, which also features a wide, flat load floor. The 60/40 split rear seats fold forward to allow customers to fit longer items. The Kia Forte can be availed with small-item storage, little trays and a center console box.

How It Drives

The Kia Forte is available with two engine choices. One of these is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque and paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The other is a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired to either a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission or a six-speed manual gearbox.

The lack of power of the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine makes the Kia Forte feel lethargic, especially when there is a need to push the metal. Handling is good but not impressive, but the CVT does stand out.

Safety

The new Kia Forte received four stars in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 5-Star Safety Ratings. The small sedan received four stars for the overall frontal crash tests, and four stars as for the overall side crash tests. In the Side Barrier Rear Passenger test, however, an intrusion of the left rear door during the side impact test caused the interior door panel to strike the torso of the rear passenger dummy.

Reviews

The Kia Forte received mostly excellent reviews at Edmunds.com. Consumers gave the small sedan an average of 4.5 stars out of five, with only around 72% of the reviews giving a five-star rating. Interestingly, no consumer reviews gave the Forte a one star. Edmunds.com gave the Forte an expert rating of 7.9/10, noting the car’s seemingly weak engine lineup.

Among newer trims, the 2024 Kia Forte LXS is viewed as the appealing model of the small sedan.

Learn more: Which Years Of Used Kia Fortes Are Most Reliable?

FAQs

Are there any problems with the Kia Forte?

As the Kia Forte gets older, it suffers from various issues that come with vehicle aging. Older models such as Kia Forte Koup may experience faulty ignition coils, lighting issues, and leaky interiors, as well as defective speakers. Any interested buyer would want to check which Kia Forte model years to avoid.

How long does a Kia Forte last?

Kia had to discontinue the Forte in 1991, especially due to a shift in market trends: Consumers were preferring modern and efficient sedans, while the Forte easily become outdated as newer rivals arrived.

What are the different models of the Kia Forte?

The 2024 Kia is offered in five models or trims: Forte LX, Forte LXS, Forte GT-Line, Forte GT, and Forte GT Manual.

Check out a used Kia Forte for sale.