Our favorite compact sedan here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis is about to get an entirely fresh perspective on life, and potentially a thrilling new title to boot! The Korean-market K3 was revealed earlier this year with updated interior and exterior styling, and it is heavily rumored that the Forte will take its global name as its larger brother did when the Optima was billed the K5. Multiple clues from online blogs and publications led to the discovery of a trademark filed by Kia for the K3 namesake in the States, even without the backing of official comment.
The refreshed 2022 Kia K3/Forte begins with attractive new headlights, a brand-new wheel design, and different tail lights as well as Kia's new logo displayed on board. As soon as you climb inside and put this gorgeous sedan into gear you'll also notice a larger 10.25-inch system and digital gauge cluster. At this point, the K3/Forte is expected to still use its 2.0-liter inline-four as its base powertrain, although it may scrap the base model's manual transmission and offer only a CVT automatic.
Those interested in a higher-performing and more aggressively-stanced GT model will continue coming with its more powerful turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four, and many diehard auto purists are crossing their fingers while hoping that it will still provide availability of a six-speed manual shift. This model should go on sale here in the States by the end of this year, and the redesigned LED daytime running lights and the slightly-tweaked trademark tiger-nose grill should win buyers excited for fall's new offerings without even breaking a sweat.
As the esteemed editor of Motor1.com pointed out last week, he was disappointed that it seems “all people talk about is SUVs and Evs these days”, and his first glance of the K3 had him immediately noting its sleek profile from the side. It's also likely that the hatchback version will not be too far behind after the sedan release, and you can check out photos here that offer up a clear portrayal of what it will appear like in its reborn form. Boasting class-leading styling, generous features, and an affordable price, the current-level Forte here at Jim Butler is also an excellent choice for a new family business or model purchase.
Undercutting its rivals by literally thousands of dollars, the Forte also is gently urging drivers to be reminded of our fast-and-furious Kia Stinger Sedan, with an added focus on value. Doing fierce battle with the Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, and Honda Civic, and prides itself on delivering similar features, excellent fuel economy, and plenty of style with current—trending appeal. The GT model is also loaded with luxury and convenience items such as 18-inch wheels, sport seats, a wireless charging pad, and ambient interior lighting.
