Kia Forte LX
Kia Forte LX – 2015 Extended Test – Consumer and Car Exam
Plusses: Comfortable seats (front and rear), front and rear leg room is excellent, a comfortable ride–the suspension soaks up most bumps easily; the interior ergonomics are on target–the radio and H/VAC controls are close to the driver and easy to read. The gauges are easy to read as well. The Forte has good trunk room. The stereo has good sound overall, and once you learn how to navigate it and play mp3/wma files, it is quite simple to use.
Kia Forte – Dash
Also, the 2.0 liter 4 cylinder engine has good low end power, the six-speed transmission shifts smoothly, and the brakes do a good job of stopping the Forte without hassle. The sun visors actually work–both for the windshield and the side windows–they are long and just the right length, unlike a lot of cars today. The exterior styling isn’t ground-breaking, but it doesn’t offend. It’s a decent looking car.
Minuses: The Kia’s acceleration seems to lag at higher speeds; by comparison, the 2014 Toyota Corolla tested just before the Forte did a far better job–with less horsepower. The CVT in the Corolla takes better advantage of its engine’s power band than the Kia’s engine/transmission combo. It required more shifting climbing steep grades than the Corolla, which handles that task with precision. The high rear deck lid cuts some rearward visibility, but the visibility out of the other windows in the car is just fine.
The soft suspension makes for a comfortable ride, but it isn’t sporty enough to go around twisty roads vigorously. In other words, it doesn’t feel “athletic.” Fuel economy is acceptable; slower driving is rewarded with better gas mileage. If you have a lead foot, it will drink gas as fast a thirsty dog drinks cool water on a hot summer day. It read color of the stereo display is a somewhat of a turn-off, just as they are in the Kia Soul and other Kia models.
Final Grade: it earns a solid “A-/B+” grade. The 2015 Kia Forte LX is a good commuter car that will work just a nicely as a long road trip car. The Car Exam’s extended test of the Forte was a good one–it was a solid feeling, comfortable car. It put many other compact (and mid-sized cars) to shame. The only thing missing was a sunroof, which can be had on higher-end Forte models. It lacks the “herky-jerky” transmission found in the Ford Focus, and the “cinder block in-your-face” dashboard found in the Toyota Corolla.
Kia Forte
If the Forte is reliable, then it will be money well-spent by consumers choosing to purchase it. If it were more fun to drive, and the engine had better high end acceleration, it would score even higher. The Kia Forte is just as good as its platform mate, the Hyundai Elantra, and worth consideration to buy for anyone looking for an affordable sedan (or even hatchback–the Forte 5).
Kia Forte – 2015
Kia Forte
The Car Exam 