Small car shoppers will have a new option to consider this summer, and it's one that might surprise many. Kia is growing up, beginning to offer decent cars that can compete with segment leaders in many ways.
The 2010 Kia Forte, a new small car to replace the underwhelming Spectra, is the latest example. The automotive press has just begun to test drive the Forte, and while no one seems to call it the best small car money can buy, most reviewers say it's worthy of a test drive before you buy a Honda or Toyota small car.
utoblog notes that "On paper, the Forte is a class-leader in the powertrain department. With 156 horsepower and 144 lb-ft of torque on tap in the 2.0-liter engine, the Forte offers more standard horsepower than any of its competitors." They drove the base engine, with an optional four-speed automatic transmission, "and came away pleasantly satisfied with the acceleration and smoothness of the combination." An optional 2.4-liter four cylinder making 173 horsepower was less impressive. It "was sluggish to respond to throttle input."
Car and Driver was also not impressed with the car once they got it on the road. "The numb steering required too much correction to maintain a line in corners and to stay in a lane on the freeway," they report. Their performance review isn't entirely negative. They note that "The ride is relatively supple, and the car welcomes simply sliding it into drive and cruising." But, C and D concludes, "This segment isn't about barn-burning; it's about inexpensive, comfortable, roomy, inoffensive, and-increasingly-stylish cars, and those are precisely the Forte's strengths."
"The first comment that leapt to the lips of some folks in a local gas station was ‘Hey, it looks like a little Audi,'" reports to Popular Mechanics. They "were impressed by the sense of solidity afforded by the structure and by the precise and artful rendering of the interior."
Autoblog agrees, writing, "The interior can often be sore subject for cars built on a budget, but the Forte doesn't disappoint. While there are some hard plastics on the dash and door, most of the materials used are fairly nice to the touch and look attractive." The car offers more space than many economy cars, and "the trunk is simply cavernous for a compact sedan. Kia has made it a priority to provide as many interior features as possible - even in the base LX model - and every Forte gets a six-way adjustable driver's seat, tilt steering column, Bluetooth connectivity with steering wheel controls, Sirius satellite radio (with a three month subscription), and USB and auxiliary input jack."
The car's price is also a selling point. Kicking Tires notes, "Competing with vehicles like the Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Cobalt and Nissan Sentra, the Forte has a base MSRP that's about $1,000-$1,500 less, on average, than the rest of the segment."
Popular Mechanics sums up the collective opinion well, writing "A generous warranty, decidedly upscale styling and very competitive comfort and convenience make the Forte more worthy of a shopper's consideration than anything Kia has ever had in that segment. Its clear Kia is on a roll."
If you're in the market for a new car, check out the U.S. News rankings of this year's best cars as well as this month's best car deals
source: usnews.rankingsandreviews
