Much like its sister company, Hyundai, Kia->ke41 has been designing cars that not only offer its customers low-cost options to higher-priced brands, but also cars that offer high-quality workmanship and stylish appearances. We all knew that the Kia Forte->ke3202 is going to be up for a significant redesign when its 2014 model year debuts at the 2012 LA Auto Show, but we were not too sure what direction Kia would take it.

But now that the covers have been officially pulled and we have our answer.

We want to say that the Forte blew us away, but that just wouldn’t be fair to it. Sure, there are things about it that we like, but some elements of the car still leaves a lot to be desired. Then again, a car like the Forte, or any other in this segment for that matter, isn’t subject to an all-or-noting affection level.

There are things about it we liked. There are things we didn’t like. At the end though, the Forte received good marks from us because the things we liked outweighed the things we didn’t like.

Not by much. But hey, that’s still worth some salt to us.

Updated 02/24/2014: TopSpeed editor in chief, Justin Cupler, spent a week with a Kia Forte EX with all sorts of goodies installed. Did he love it? Check out the "Driving Impressions" section after the jump.

Find out what we think of the new 2014 Kia Forte after the jump

2014 Kia Forte

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Kia Forte
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

There used to be a time when Kias were generally characterized as boxy and boring. That’s no longer the case ever since it changed the overall design language of its vehicles.

The all-new Kia Forte shares in this design revolution and now comes with the kind of aggressive stance that customers will surely notice. The headlights, in particular, convey a bulging look that makes the Forte look like it’s wide awake at all time. Design notwithstanding, the lenses cut deeply into the front fenders and incorporate projector headlamps while the LED lights create distinct eyebrows, giving further credence to the Forte’s up-at-all-times look.

The overall shape of the Forte is also something that’s worth noting, particularly the sculpting along the vehicle’s lower flanks, tapering the sheet metal inward and giving a look of a versatile vehicle. Over at the back end, the up-kicked fender line and trunk design, with its deep horizontal crease, adds even more presence to the rear of the vehicle. Combine that with the complex curves of the taillights and you have a car that looks as good as it was being pegged to be.

Finally, the wheel-and-tire setup varies, depending on the trim you get. The LX manual rides on 195/65R15 tires with 205/55R16 tires on 16-inch alloy wheels available as an optional feature. Then there’s the top-of-the-line EX, which comes with the same 55-series tires, but low-profile 215/45R17 tires mounted on sporty 17" alloy wheels are optional.

Interior

The Forte Sedan’s interior doesn’t really jump out when you first get inside it, although a case can be made that the entire cabin was designed with all the pieces fitting into the right place. We appreciate the high-quality materials used in dressing up the interior, particularly for the market that it belongs to. The large instruments don’t feel too cluttered at all and the optional 4.2-inch LCD screen is a must have. The interior also has loads of chrome accents, adding a touch of panache to the overall look of the car.

As far as premium features are concerned, we were impressed by what Kia put into the Forte to justify all the harking about the car being more upscale than most in its market. From the standard Bluetooth hands free phone integration to the power windows, mirrors and door locks, all the way to the power sunroof, and dual-zone automatic climate control with rear seat vents make for an interior that’s both comfortable and functional.

Driving Impressions

Kia delivered the forte to me with me not really knowing much about the car. I knew that it was basically Kia's answer to the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. but that's about as far as my knowledge went. From the outside, I thought it was sharp, and the chrome accents were tasteful and added some extra class to it. The LED taillights were nice, but ultimately didn't add much to its look for the price.

Sliding into the cabin was rather surreal, as I honestly did not expect the Forte to have all of the premium features that this one did. Thanks to the addition of the Premium and Technology packages, this economy sedan came with a large touchscreen, a rearview camera, leather seating with ventilation (driver's seat only) and four heated seats, heated steering wheel, power seats, push-button start, navigation, and 4.2-inch TFT supervision monitor and auto climate control. I mean, this thing was as loaded as they comes. Yeah, the leather seats aren't too supple, but they are in line with what you get from the Civic EX-L.

Under the hood, that 2.0-liter with 173 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque was plenty for this small car, and that six-speed automatic transmission was plenty smooth. The Forte EX is pretty quick for its class, as it hits 60 mph in the nine-second range, plus I noted nearly 40 mpg on the highway and 30 mpg combined.

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with the Forte EX, but how impressed? Well, so much so that I actually bought one just weeks later. Granted, mine is the Forte5 EX, not the sedan, but it is essentially the exact same car.

Performance

First of all, if you’re looking for a car that will offer mind-blowing power, the Kia Forte isn’t in your future. That’s not to say that the Forte doesn’t offer up attractive engine options. The LX model carries a 1.8-liter MPI in-line four-cylinder powerplant that produces 148 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 131 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm. That’s suitable power for a car of its size, but if you’re looking for something a little more powerful, the 2.0-liter EX trim should satisfy your craving, thanks to its 173 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 154 pound-feet of torque. Power from the Forte LX is routed through a choice of either a six-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed automatic with the latter coming as standard for the EX trim.

Both the 1.8 and the 2.0 engines come with dual continuously variable valve timing and a lightweight intake manifold, resulting in a reduction of weight by 30 percent over a cast unit. Likewise, the aluminum “bed plate” located just below the cylinder block shaves off engine NVH levels, improving the Forte’s block rigidity by 30 percent.

To improve the all-new Forte’s rideability, Kia built a model that’s two inches longer than its outgoing counterpart. What this did was allow Kia to install a McPherson strut front suspension and a coupled torsion beam rear axle, allowing for an improvement on the on-center steering by utilizing larger bushings and revised front suspension geometry. Another new feature on the Forte is the electric power steering, which takes the reins from the hydraulic system from the previous Forte, reducing parasitic load on the engine. The driver can also vary steering effort thanks to the Optional Flex Steer system, all at a touch of a steering-wheel-mounted button, allowing him or her to choose from Comfort, Normal and Sport settings.

Premium Features

Kia isn’t going to skimp out the Forte when it comes to premium features. The Korean automaker gave the LX and the EX models plenty of premium features.

The LX, in particular, comes with steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Bluetooth wireless technology, power windows, air conditioning and power heated outside mirrors. The LX trim can also make use of the automaker’s Popular Package, which adds 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, keyless entry with remote trunk release, and a sliding front armrest. The Eco Package comes with Kia’s ISG (Idle Stop & Go) system, dual-zone automatic temperature control with rear seat ventilation and unique “eco” badge.

For the EX, the list of premium features includes Kia’s next-generation UVO in-vehicle infotainment system with eServices, which can now be integrated with an optional navigation system. The EX also comes with remote keyless entry with trunk opener, a rear back-up camera display, a sliding center armrest and a cooled glove box.

Optional features include the aforementioned Flex Steer system that allows the driver to choose between three distinct steering profiles: Comfort, Normal and Sport.

The EX can also make use of the Premium Package, which includes: heated front and rear seats, a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat with class- exclusive air-cooled ventilation, leather seat trim, power sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels and push button start with Smart Key and a heated steering wheel.

Last but not least is the Technology Package, which comes with HID headlights, LED taillights, a 4.2-inch color LCD cluster screen and dual-zone automatic temperature control with rear seat ventilation.

Pricing

Model

Price

Forte LX manual

$15,900

Forte LX automatic

$17,4001

Forte EX

$19,400


Competition

The Honda Civic->ke236 is considered the closest competitor for the Kia Forte, and rightfully so because they make up the best options in the market. Honda infamously admitted to building a flop of a 2012 Civic and it’s certainly made amends with the 2013 model, giving it a new look to go with what we expect to be more powertrain options than the Forte.

Therein lays the problem for the Forte. While you can make a case that design and aesthetics are all subject to the eye of the buyer, the possibility that the Civic will have more engine options allows customers greater to choose from. The other problem with the Forte is that the EX, despite being their top-of-the-line trim, only has 173 horsepower on tap. That could be an issue should Honda decide to give the Civic SI another go out in the dealerships.