As the latest sales statistics highlight, the sedan market still hasn’t found its bottom with no one willing to predict how low it can go. For Kia, the South Korean automaker, the exit of sedans made by Ford and others only means a better sedan market for the survivors.
Kia clearly is counting on Forte, its best-selling sedan, to be one of the survivors. With the debut of Forte’s third generation, the compact sedan stakes a claim to being one of the best in its category, a legitimate contender against champions like Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.
Looks, of course, are a matter of taste. I like Forte’s fastback sports sedan stance and the cues it shares with the sporty Stinger, a hot sports sedan that Kia introduced a year ago. Under the direction of ex-Audi designer Peter Schreyer, the South Korean automaker and affiliate of Hyundai has gained a great deal in the appearance department. The Tiger shark grille is distinctive and should give Kia some of the unique identity the brand is seeking. The interior is handsome as well, with an 8-inch fixed touchscreen reminiscent of more expensive German competitors. Android and Apple CarPlay included. Two-tone stitched leather upholstery is available on upscale versions, which range in price from about $17,700 to about $26,000 for an uplevel edition with all available options.
“The compact sedan segment is highly competitive, but with all the improvements the new Forte brings to mark Forte’s length, width and height have increased in the latest generation, imparting a genuine sense of roominess in the front seat for the 2019 model year, it is more than prepared to take on the toughest the segment has to offer,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning, Kia Motor America. “As one of our top-selling models, the all-new Forte follows some large footsteps, but enhancements in styling, packaging and content make it even more attractive to drivers seeking a compact sedan that can accommodate their versatile lifestyle.”
Forte’s length, width and height have increased in the latest generation, imparting a genuine sense of roominess in the front seats and quite comfortable seating for two or three adults in the rear.
The two-liter four-cylinder engine featuring Atkinson Cycle technology generates 147 horsepower and 132 foot-pounds of torque, unchanged from the previous generation. Anyone with a hunger for speed won’t be satisfied, though the power was sufficient for normal driving conditions, including passing and merging into Interstate traffic.
The most important feature of the 2019 Forte’s powertrain is the new CVT – continuously variable transmission – which is quiet and smooth. Kia’s homegrown CVT version runs on a chain rather than a belt, as found in other CVTs; and it performs well. The payoff is better fuel efficiency, which is rated at 30/40/34 mpg, city, highway and combined. A manual transmission is available for the least expensive trim level, resulting in a combined 35 mpg.
From a safety standpoint, the outgoing Forte was rated as a Top Safety Pick by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The company says the new model is expected to receive top safety ratings by all relevant agencies. Included in available equipment, depending on trim level, is forward collision warning, lane keep assist, driver attention warning, smart cruise control and blind-spot warning, which includes rear cross traffic collision warning.
Kia Forte establishes itself as a formidable and visually handsome competitor to Corolla and Civic – and at a price designed to make the budget-conscious consumer take notice.
