The summer is in full swing around all of St. Louis, and now is the time of year when thoughts begin to drift into the back-to-school realm. Our beloved Cardinals are at 52-53, many of us enjoyed an awesome fourth of July with family last month, and set out to explore destinations like the Ozarks in the best vehicles KIA has to offer. When August rolls around, we are reminded that as fun as our days of outdoor recreation have been, the next vehicle on your family purchase list should be one that leaves you feeling secure and protected from any level of mishap on the road.
The 2017 KIA Forte was awarded the Top Safety Pick Plus Rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety this year, on models built after March 2017. When equipped with optional front crash prevention and high-intensity discharge headlights, this great auto selection from KIA now has the honorable distinction of the highest in class for safety. Just before receiving this top safety award, the Forte was also named the highest-rated compact car in the 2017 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, which is a benchmark for consumer satisfaction. Cars that have the least number of issues during the first three months are the name of the game here, providing minimal hassle and worry.
In order to qualify for this incredibly high ranking from the IIHS, vehicles have to dutifully earn "good" ratings in five astringent crashworthiness tests: small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side impact, roof strength and head restraints. Taking things a step further within the cloak of top-notch safety, the vehicle must also earn an "advanced" or "superior" rating for front crash prevention, and "acceptable" or "good" mark when it comes to headlight testing.
Completely revamped for the current year, the Forte features a sporty style, new powertrain components, and an array of driver assistance systems. Some of the features that will make you feel safe and sound are Autonomous Emergency Braking, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Forward Collision Warning, and Dynamic Bending Light. This last function is a mega-cool way to help the drive during rain or any other element: the headlights are automatically adapted depending on how fast you're going, as well as noting the steering angle, immediately improving overall illumination quality.
When you come down to the lot to pay us a visit, you can check out the 3 different trim levels that the Forte is available in: Sport S trim, entry-level LX, and the top-trim EX option. The engine got an upgrade from the previous year: it is now a 2.0-liter Atkinson model, that generates 147 horsepower at 6200 RPM, and 132 lb-ft of torque. The new starting-point engine is matched up with a 6-speed manual transmission, though an automatic option is available. Once you get inside, you're going to immediately notice that the car feels far from compact, with very spacious front and back seats, as well as one of the largest trunks in existence for sedan and hatchback genres.
Known for reliability and having the features to be a satisfying daily commute car, the Forte is one of the most reasonably-priced compact cars out there. Talk to us about stepping up to the Forte S, which adds the rearview camera, cruise control, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto for entertainment. With top-level EX trim, you can acquire heated front seats and luxurious leather upholstery: the Forte is going to be an awesome staple of safety and secure riding for you before the fall hits!
