2022 Kia Forte GT Possesses “Throttle That Begs to be Gunned,” Sharp Handling, and All-Season Skill

The average price of a new car has been rising fast during recent years, and finding yourself in a brand-new car that is also a blast to drive is a more difficult task than in years past. Motortrend.com recognized Kia for bucking this high-priced trend, and models such as the Forte GT provide top-notch performance with an affordable price tag.

The Forte GT arrives with a turbocharged 1.6- 4-cylinder engine producing 195 lb-ft of torque, 18-inch alloy wheels, a stiff sport suspension, and an excellent-sounding sport exhaust. It sings a unique note after a cold start, which will undoubtedly draw buyers that are looking for the type of high-octane performance. 

The Forte GT hits 60 mph in just 6.4 seconds. The transmission offers clean and smooth shifting and allows for playful acceleration. If you are willing to fully engage while taking corners, the Forte GT is more than willing to play along, and the Comfort, Sport, and Smart drive modes all provide different characteristics to help customize the fun and adaption the vehicle will provide for the constantly changing road ahead. 

This team’s GT2-equipped test car features a 10-way adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support, an electric parking brake, auto-hold brakes, heated and ventilated front seats, LED interior lighting, rear parking sensors, a power sunroof, a premium Harman Kardon eight-speaker audio system, highway driving assist, and forward collision-avoidance assist with cyclist detection. Each Forte GT boasts a 10.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, keyless entry and push-button ignition, dual climate control, and full LED exterior lighting. 

With a consistently affordable base price, great fuel economy, large trunk, roomy cabin, and brand-new exterior style refresh, the 2022 Kia Forte GT is breathing life into the sports sedan. The Forte will be right here at Jim Butler Kia waiting for you to come give it a drive!

2020 Kia Forte GT Post Road Show Test Drive: “Charming, Good-Looking and Competent”

The staff on duty at Cnet Roadshow have always cranked out auto journalism that is higher caliber than the rest, and here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis, we have always looked forward to their insight and individuality. This past week they took on the 2020 Kia Forte GT as their new test drive subject, and immediately deemed it a “performance car without the performance car price”. The snappy GT is set apart from the rest of the Forte lineup with a much sharper design and is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that doles out 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque.

 

These power numbers are very similar to what is seen in the close competition of the Honda Civic Si. There is the choice of either a 6-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and an exhaust with a bit more volume and deeper tone. The GT receives a new multilink rear suspension, a replacement for the standard Forte's torsion-beam setup. Coming as standard features are Forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and a driver attention monitor, and blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control are available for add-on.

The forte GT with the dual-clutch transmission nails down an EPA rating of 27 miles per gallon in the city, 35 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined. On the inside, this review team gave high props to the red accents, soft texture pattern for the doors, and brushed aluminum along the dash. Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes allow for switching up of the driving experience, with Sport being the mode that greatly improves throttle response and adds some weight to the steering. The infotainment system is housed on an 8-inch touchscreen with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a comprehensive and very easy-to-use layout.

Charging duties are handled by two USB-A ports and a 12-volt outlet up front, with the center console supplying an additional USB-A jack. Seats can be both heated and cooled, a feature you won't see in the competing Civic Si. In regard to just how fantastic drivers have thought the new Kia Stinger is, the Forte GT is not just a consolation prize: it is fun and stylish, offering some pretty intense and ignited thrills for a low price. When consulting JDPower.com  in regards to the Forte GT, they said that owners claim their favorite qualities about this car are exterior styling, fuel economy, interior design, driving dynamics, and awesome infotainment system.

Don’t forget to check out the amazing comfort level that you can attain from the 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and the availability of upper-end simulated Sofino leather. The GT inspires one to keep taking the scenic route instead of quickly turning in the direction of a freeway ramp, and offers enough amenities for the cost that should leave anyone considering it seriously, even if they feel swayed by the ever-popular crossover SUV!

Autoguide.com Ranks 2020 Kia Forte GT as “King of The Sport Compact Sedan Segment”

Staff Writer of Autoguide.com Evan Williams began his blog feature this week by remembering the first time he encountered the Forte at the 2018 SEMA show. It sported a black lip spoiler and GT badges on the seatbacks, and there was no official announcement as to the car's origin or future until the later part of the day. Now that Evan has had a much closer look at the incoming Forte GT model, he first claimed that after a few lengthy spins he truly felt that there was “no detail left untouched”.

In place of the 2.0-Liter 147 hp 4-cylinder and CVT is a 1.6-Liter Turbo mill. This one is a favorite in the Kia and Hyundai family, delivering 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. That finishes as 37 percent more power and 48 percent more torque than the 2.0, and miraculously for a compact, it gets the job done with regular gas. Instead of the CVT from the Forte, the GT now comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch box, and while in manual mode the car automatically switches the drive mode to sport. You can use the paddles without pulling the shifter over, and you still maintain manual control but the drive mode stays the same.

The testing team here on duty also reflected that there's more to the GT than just its robust engine and gearbox and that Kia has taken this all very seriously by replacing the twist-beam rear end with a multi-link independent rear. The tuning for the damper and spring have been revised as well, and makes for a pleasantly stiff ride. The brakes have also been upgraded, with 12-inch front rotors a full inch larger than the ones found on lower trim levels. 18-inch multi-spoke alloys with lower-profile rubber are also on deck to round out the noticeable performance changes.

Getting out onto the road with an engine that only had 300 miles on it, one of the first things the gang noticed on the GT package is a louder exhaust, especially with the windows down. It was a pleasant surprise that seemed to get a bit louder as the day went on, in unison with a distinct whistle from the turbo from about 2,000 to 3,000 rpm. As far as steering, the group ranked the Forte GT as “well-damped and solid”, and did a fine job of embracing the natural rhythm of the roadway.

This is by all means not the Stinger, and deep-seeded value plays a tremendous role here in the appeal. For the lower price, you are still getting to enjoy most of the usual driver aids such as forward collision warning and avoidance, lane-keeping assist, and lane departure warning. The Forte GT is our favorite here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis in regards to “no compromise” engineering: you get all the oomph and extra sport you desire, without any trade-offs when it comes to ride and comfort!