The Kia Forte desperately needed some help; its dated interior looked a decade old and its exterior was more uninspiring than a loaf of wheat bread. That’s all changed for 2019 though. The same design language used on the hot Kia Stinger sports sedan finds its way onto this compact sedan. Likewise, the interior seems major improvements thanks to a new 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with wireless phone charging, and an optional 320-watt Harman Kardon sound system.

Kia updated the Forte’s active and passive safety systems, too. The car includes blind-spot collision warning, lane keeping assist, an optional forward collision-avoidance assist, and smart cruise control.

But the 2019 Forte isn’t just updated. No, Kia moves the Forte into its third generation. The Forte’s current platform is strengthened, widened, and strengthen for more interior room and a more taut driving experience. By the numbers, the car is 3.2-inches longer, 0.7 inches wider, and 16 percent stiffer than before. Cargo volume is up from 14.9 to 15.1 cubic feet of space. Added sound insulation also helps cut road noise by five decibels.

Kia didn’t leave the 2019 Forte without some updates under the hood. The new car comes with Kia’s all-new CVT. Called the Intelligent Variable Transmission, this gearbox is said to have smooth, linear acceleration and none of the rubber-banding typical of CVTs. The gearbox is Kia’s first CVT and will eventually make its way into other vehicles in the future.

The Forte’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder didn’t change for 2019. It still uses an Atkinson combustion cycle and a cooled EGR system to help improve performance and efficiency. Power levels remain unchanged at 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, but thanks to the new CVT, fuel economy is estimated to improve by three mpg to 35 mpg combined.

Kia says the 2019 Forte will arrive in the U.S. later this year and will come in three trim levels: LX, S, and EX. Pricing and the EPA’s official fuel economy estimates will be announced closer to the 2019 Forte’s on-sale date.

References

Kia Forte

Read our full review on the 2019 Kia Forte.

Read our full review on the 2017 Kia Forte.

Read more Detroit Auto Show news.

Read more Kia news.