Citing the new Kia Forte
as “more competitive than ever” for 2019, small yet spacious was the name of
the game when the Forte was conceptualized and brought to life. Boasting high
fuel efficiency and a redesign, the road testing crew from Cnet recently
took it on a jaunt from LA to San Francisco. This is one route that is
particularly demanding, and has a very high amount of stop and go terrain,
where the comfortable driver's seat and quiet cabin provided an environment
that had no trouble in “piling on the miles.” The power is derived from a
2.0-liter, naturally-aspirated I4 engine, making 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft
of torque, which is average in this class of compact sedans.
Because of the well-tuned and continuously
variable transmission, the Forte
is able to dart up an on ramp or pass satisfactorily, and the Forte EX is rated
by the EPA at 30 miles per gallon city, and 40 mpg highway. The FE is the more
efficient version, and there is nothing in existence as capable unless you go
with a hybrid. Driver assistance is one of the elements that makes the Forte a
great choice for long trips: Collision-mitigation braking, blind-spot
monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert are on board to protect the driver and
passengers constantly, and assure that your destination is reached with ease.
Collision-mitigation braking is one of our favorites: it uses amazing
technology to detect any possibility of a front collision and sends various
warnings to the driver to apply the brakes.
With a couple design cues taken from the Kia
Stinger, writer Manuel Carrillo thought that the third-generation Forte
is the best-looking one yet, and appreciated the unique accent that the LED
taillights connected by a reflective-lens trim piece adds to the mix. In the
center stack, you find the 8-inch touchscreen which houses the UVO infotainment
system, with the ability to run both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Rear seats
measure in at 37.5 and 35.7 inches of head- and legroom, offering up more than
the Civic Sedan's rear
headroom, and .2 cubic feet more than the popular midsize Toyota Camry.
It was agreed here that the EX trim is where the
best in specs and features abound: this is the level in which you enjoy 17-inch
wheels, keyless entry with push-button start, dual-zone climate control, a
power driver's seat, leatherette upholstery, and ventilated as well as heated
front seats. Ask us here at Jim Butler
Kia of St Louis about the EX Launch Edition package: it ups the stakes
drastically in the interior with Fire Orange paint, LED headlights, a rear
spoiler, and a graphite finish to deck out the 17-inch wheels. You get the
added benefits of embedded navigation, an auto-dimming rearview mirror,
wireless phone charger, adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors,
automatic high beams, and a TFT instrument cluster display situated at a
now-enlarged 4.2 inches.
Visually enticing, fun-to-drive, and economical,
the Forte
is a car that prides itself on the value it provides: holding the title
ferociously as one of the best bangs for your buck in the compact space, it is
a testament to everything engineers have been striving to develop for the last
few decades. You can run with a muscular sports car, very large SUV with low
mileage, or find your own “sweet spot” in the automotive realm somewhere in
between: The Forte is the ultimate choice for those seeking a refined daily
driver and option with the newest tech: entry-level options absolutely possess
a resonance of true quality, and this is a vehicle that will meet your needs
with cheerful and very current breed of appeal!
