I hear this from a lot of members at EC. Look, while all sedans have some similarities I don't think KIA was trying to copy the Civic. The rear is completely different. The front is quite different too.
I see more of this in the Forte's look than the Civic:
Now be honest. How many of you have seen the Forte SX up close and personal? It looks much better in person.
I mentioned in the Koup thread that I would post a review of my Dad's new Forte sx.
My Dad bought a Forte sx 4 door with moon roof right before thanksgiving. When I was home over the holidays I got a brief chance to drive it and also spent a couple hours riding in it while visiting the Yuengling brewery.
The first thing I noticed was how quiet it was compared to my 01 Elantra. Driving down the road I noticed a positive difference in road and tire noise. While it is not luxury-car like, I would be surprised to hear anyone complain about noise. The same goes for engine noise. While I have heard negatives about the engine being coarse in the upper rpm band, I wonder if that criticism might be overly harsh. While I could not explore the full limits of the engine, I found the engine volume to be well muted and wished for a little more positive noise (think CAI).
The main reason for buying the sx trim, surprisingly, was the interior. Sx trim gets upgraded cloth and metallic accents. My mother hated the interior cloth of the lx/ex levels. It is very plain, kinda cheap feeling, and would probably not wear very well over time (for stains and the like). I like the cloth used in the koup sx even better (its different, more like the gls tiburon arrangement), however, it still is quite nice. The seats are also a bit different and offer better support over the lx/ex trims (I like the koups sport seats better though).
The car was a very good drive. Steering was precise and well-weighted. Even with the sport suspension, I found the ride to be very good, equal if not better than my stock 01 suspension. It won't soak up every bump, but it catches most. I was pleasantly surprised to see that kia fixed one thing many of us do not like about our Elantras - the clutch engagement point is not at the top of the pedal but just about the midway point (which took a little getting used to for me). The shifts were crisp and pretty short - I'm not sure if many people would find the need for a short shifter as the Forte's stock one is about as tight as my ebay short shifter. Acceleration is brisk and is noticeably better than my modded 01. It may not be a "sports" car, but it certaintly can get up and go.
Overall, I'd call the Forte a nice "sporty" daily driver that is at or near the top of its segment.
So I got this month's Car and We Wish WE could Drive. They had a comparo of the new Forte Sedan SX, Mazda 3s and a Rabbit. Forte was tarted up with about every option and was second most expensive, both the Mazda and the Rabbit had NO options.
Forte was best in test in MPG, skidpad, braking, frt interior space and sound levels. All three cars had identical 0-60 and 1/4 mile times/speeds (7.3 and 15.6/7@90/91). So they give their "win" to the Mazda. They complained about the mazda's clutch engagement, noise levels, and the lack of braking performance but said it's feel was better.
So, they give the car with the best numbers and most amenities and second best price last place? This is why I am not renewing.
Kia Motors' Newest Compact Sedan and Koup Take Top Prize for Style, Value and Fuel Efficiency
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- NADAguides.com, the leading provider of vehicle pricing and information, today announced the 2010 Kia Forte compact sedan and its two-door brethren have been awarded the NADAguides.com Car of the Year. During a standing-room-only press conference at the 2009 Los Angeles International Auto Show where Kia announced its all-new 2011 Sorento CUV, NADAguides.com shared in Kia Motors' excitement naming the 2010 Kia Forte/Forte Koup its Car of the Year for 2009. Though the competition in this segment is strong, the Forte was the stand-alone top contender with a long list of "Best in Class" features and stylish design both inside and out, making it NADAguides.com's Car of the Year.
"Our editorial team realized the moment we got behind the wheel of the Forte that it would be a top contender for our NADAguides.com Car of the Year, but it wasn't until we extensively drove the sporty four-door sedan and the two-door coupe that it solidified our decision," said Michael Caudill, NADAguides.com auto expert and spokesperson. "2009 marked many great new entries in the auto industry. With cars like the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz E350 and Nissan 370Z Roadster coming in closely behind the Kia Forte, it made our decision difficult, but when you add up the low price point, Best in Class features, and a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, it made our decision to award the Forte much easier."
I think I'm gonna have to catch some races in the new year to see how this little guy shines. Also wondering what type of modifications they're allowed to do. They're competing in the Street Tuner category, so does that mean they have to keep it factory parts?
For the first time in its history in the U.S. market, Kia is going racing in 2010. Kia announced today at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas that it has partnered with the Kinetic Group to build and compete with a pair of new Forte Koups in the 2010 Grand-Am Koni Challenge series. The Koups will be driven by Andy Lally and Nic Jönsson in the Street Tuner class of the Koni Challenge. Kia says it chose the Kinetic Group for its experience working in NASCAR, ALMS, IndyCar and, of course, the Koni Challenge.
The front-wheel-drive Kias are based on the production Forte Koup and will be running against the likes of the Mazda MX-5, Honda Civic Si and MINI Cooper. The Kias will make their debut January 8-10 at the Grand-Am test days at Daytona and then really hit the track in anger at the end of the month for the season opener as part of the Daytona 24 Hours weekend. Will the little two-door from South Korea have the racing chops to hang with other, more experienced production-based racers? Time will tell, but it's great to see Kia hop into motorsports with both feet and choose a series where its actual cars have the potential to shine.
They liked the stying, abundant standard features (USB stereo, bluetooth, ESC, ABS, etc) and roominess. They found the 2.0L 4A combination adequate, the manual transmission clunky and surprisingly, the larger 2.4L engine "sluggish," with slow throttle input. Maybe it could use a CAI and exhaust upgrade. Handling was described as fair, e.g. not as good as the Mazda3 or Civic. Fuel economy is pretty good in all powertrain combinations (there's many).
Kia Forte near top of compact class Thursday, June 18, 2009 By Don Hammonds, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Finally a car advertising slogan with more than a grain of truth to it.
I'm talking about Kia's "The Power to Surprise."
A test drive in the new 2010 Kia Forte four-door sedan -- a smart looking, quick driving compact with a wealth of value and features -- suggests the Korean company may be on to something.
I was so impressed with the performance of this car that I can think of only one compact that even comes close to it: the Mazda3.
Sure, the Honda Civic is considered the class leader, and for good reason. But it's more expensive and not as attractive as the Forte.
The Toyota Corolla? High quality, yes, but too mild-mannered and predictable, with styling that's pleasant, but nothing to write home about.
Don't take my word for it. There was a marketing study in which a Forte, Corolla, Mazda3 and Civic were shown to consumers with all identifying features concealed. The consumers ranked Forte first -- even after the brands were revealed.
"That's the first time that's ever happened to us. Usually people would say, 'Oh, it's a Kia. Not interested.' So it's the first time our numbers held up after the revealing of all the brands in the clinic," said Michael Sprague, the company's vice president of marketing.
Why does the Kia stand out from the pack? Usually, when I drive a compact, I get annoyed with steering that is overassisted, meaning a driver has to adjust the steering wheel to correct course often or the car feels as if it's going all over the place.
Not with Forte. It has just about the most perfectly balanced steering I've experienced in a compact sedan -- and for a compact, there was plenty of legroom in the front and back.
And the Forte's styling is terrific. There's a hint of a spoiler on the rear deck helping to create a nice side profile in which the lines seem to come together at the front for an arrow-like profile.
The acceleration was so strong I thought I had the optional engine under the hood. My EX, which starts at $15,795, was equipped with a 156-horsepower four-cylinder, backed by a four-speed automatic transmission.
Standard equipment on the EX included air conditioning; cruise control; power windows and door locks and mirrors. The SX, which starts at $17,195, features a 2.4-liter, 173-horsepower four cylinder, with a sport tuned suspension, fog lights, telescoping steering wheel, leather steering wheel and metal trim. There also is the entry level Forte LX, which starts at $13,695 and comes with the same engine as the EX with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Standard equipment includes anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control, disc brakes, Bluetooth and steering-wheel mounted controls.
Like all Kias, the Forte comes with a 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty.
I have heard some complaints about the manual transmission, although I did not experience them myself.
Kia Motors America has updated it’s official website with more details on its all-new 2010 Forte sedan.
The US official press introduction is being held in Seatle and will last from June 8th to 13th. Major US automotive media will be heading to Seattle to gather detailed information on the car, and more importantly get behind the wheel of the 2010 Kia Forte sedan. As a matter of fact, the first group of journalists taking the streets of Seatle to fully experience what 2010 Kia Forte sedan has to offer.
In addition to offering attractive exterior styling, up-to-date mechanics and great driving dynamics, Kia Forte also surprises with a very competitive pricing, which should make it even more tempting to buy.
As you can see below, base Kia Forte LX, equipped with 5-speed manual transmission and 156-horsepower four-cylinder engine starts at a very affordable $13,695. Base price for the Forte EX starts at $15.795. Forte SX with more potent 2.4L Theta II engine starts at $17,195 (manual transmission) and tops off at $18,195 for the model equipped with 5-speed automatic transmission.
2010 Kia Forte pricing:
LX M/T: $13,695 LX A/T: $14,695 EX M/T: $15,795 EX A/T: $16,795 SX M/T: $17,195 SX A/T: $18,195 LX Convenience Package: $1,500 EX Leather Package (A/T): $1,000 EX Premium Package: $800 EX Fuel Economy Package (A/T): $600 SX Leather Package: $1,000 SX Sunroof: $600
I was reading Autoblog and came upon some interesting stuff on the new Forte. I am intigued as to why Kia gets to put the 173 hp 2.4 liter 4 into it's new Forte. Even the lower end car is graced with 156 hp out of it's engine. The up model also features a 6 speed manual transmission. The only thing I woould want more is a 5 door hatchback model and I would be in the dealer leaving a deposit. You can follow the link to see pictures and read the article. http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/11/chicago...-into-chi-town/
Kia has introduced Forte LPI hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), it’s first mass production hybrid car, to the South Korean consumers yesterday. In addition to that, Kia also unveiled its new eco-friendly sub-brand, Eco-Dynamics, an initiative which will bring a host of new eco-friendly technologies and models to the international markets.
The Forte LPI hybrid electric vehicle is powered by an economical mild-hybrid drive system consisting of 1.6L gasoline engine and electric motor. The Liquefied Petroleum Injected (LPI) engine generates 114 horsepower, while electric motor brings additional 20 hp. Equipped with this kind of hybrid system and continuously variable transmission, the Forte achieves a very competitive fuel economy rating of 17.2 kilometers per liter of LPG fuel (41 MPG US), which is equivalent to 21.5 kilometers per liter fuel economy in terms of gasoline, the company said.
To differentiate the Forte hybrid from it’s non-hybrid variants and improve the vehicle’s aerodynamics, some changes have been implemented to the existing exterior design. In front, you will notice a slightly different corporate Kia grille and a restyled front bumper with larger air intake and attractive fog lights design, while at rear, Forte now features a radically redesigned rear bumper and LED equipped taillights. On the inside, Forte LPI hybrid features a Super Vision instrument cluster for hybrid system data and a navigation display.
Kia’s Forte LPI hybrid will also be the world’s first hybrid vehicle to utilize the highly advanced lithium polymer (Li–poly) battery, which is lighter and smaller but has higher output than nickel-metal hydride batteries. Those will be supplied by Korean battery supplier LG Chem, the world’s fourth largest rechargeable battery producer. The LG Chem will also supply similar battery pack to GM’s Chevy Volt.
Following it’s recent announcement that the company will focus on developing of eco-friendly vehicles, Kia also revealed it plans to bring the first full-hybrid car - probably based on the next generation Optima sedan- to the market in late 2010 and it’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered car in 2012. Expected to hit the global markets in the same year is the plug-in hybrid sedan.
Together with it’s parent company Hyundai Motor Co, Kia plans to spend nearly $6 billion on research and development this year, with majority of money pumped into development of new hybrid and fuel cell electric cars such as Kia Forte LPI hybrid and Borrego FCEV.
This could be the XD sedan replacement for some people that don't like the HD. Where the Elantra is now very rounded, smooth and flowing, this is sharper-cut with creases and angles. The flared fenders make the track width look pretty wide relative to the car size, which is promising. The front's OK with that flat-across hood line, the side looks pretty sharp/european and the rear looks elegant, IMO. Nice.
In Korea, a 1.6L and 2.0L engines will be offered. We'll see what we get here in the U.S. Diesel would be nice, no?
You can almost see a hatchback possibility there... stick in the 170hp 2.4L that still gets decent economy... come on Kia, you know you want to.
Kia has announced their Coupe concept will replace the Kia Spectra in mid 2009. That's surprisingly soon, IMO, and they haven't released the full specs yet and we're just one year away. The concept had a 290hp Turbo Theta 2.0L 4-cylinder engine. That's pretty ridiculous for what's almost certainly a front-drive car. I think just 150-160hp would help it compete with the Scion tC, make it cheap, reliable and fuel-efficient. Just make it look good, handle well and it doesn't have to be a drag-racer for under $20k, hopefully.
I'm pretty much at a loss for words right now. Kia revealed their KOUP concept and honestly - this is NOT the kind of concept most people expect from Kia. IMO, this design is hot as hell.his is really sleek. Looks like an ACURA CSX mixed with the Tibby... Take a Look.
Also, they unveiled their 2009 Optima. I see a mix of Sonata, Fusion (not the grille obviously) and new Accord in it. Realistically, this is still not at all what most people expect out of Kia. I'm very interested to see how the public reacts to these new models and where Kia will stand in vehicle sales in the next few years. Take a Look.
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