Subscribe Feed (RSS)At this week’s Chicago Auto Show, Kia Motors rolled out their latest offering, a five passenger compact sedan called the Forte. Replacing its best selling car, the bland Spectra, the Forte is stylish, roomy, thoroughly updated and affordable.
Powered by a 2.0L I4 engine paired with either a five speed manual or four speed automatic transmission, the Forte pulls down 156 h.p. and 114 lb.-ft of torque. For the driver wanting additional power, a 2.4L I4 with 173 horses will give the Forte more power than its archrivals, the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3.
With a bold look set apart by crisp lines, swept-back headlamps and a sleek profile, Forte exudes a confident stance that conveys motion both while cruising the highway and parked in the driveway.
With a wheelbase of 104.3 inches, an overall length of 178.3 inches, an overall width of 69.9 inches and overall height of 57.5 inches, Forte offers one of the roomiest interiors in its class with seating for up to five passengers. The Kia-engineered body achieves high torsional stiffness giving Forte better handling, smoother ride quality and greater refinement than its competitors, with a specially tuned suspension adjusted perfectly for responsive handling on curvy roads.
Forte comes with a standard four speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service². Standard on all models is an auxiliary audio input jack and USB port for connecting personal MP3 players. Standard Bluetooth® connectivity enables hands-free operation for compatible cell phones. For true audiophiles, the EX and SX packages also add a standard six speaker surround audio system and steering wheel controls.
EX and SX models offer a number of additional standard luxurious touches such as: power windows and door locks; remote keyless entry; air conditioning; map lamps; steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls; dual front and rear cup holders; and floor mats. Forte EX and SX models also include standard cruise control with an optional sunroof and leather-trimmed seats.
Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but given that the current Spectra starts out at around $14,200, Kia will likely keep the price of the Forte within that range. Typically, well equipped smaller Kia models retail for $15-17,000, well within the budget range of new grads.
Anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability control are among the many standard safety items featured on every Forte model. Also standard is Kia’s comprehensive warranty program which includes a 10-year or 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, a five-year or 60,000-mile limited basic warranty, and a five-year or 100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty. A five-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan is also part of the comprehensive coverage program.
Car shoppers will also want to keep in mind the Kia Soul, a Scion-like vehicle that will go on sale this March.
Source: Kia Motors
Adv. — Are you considering the purchase of a house or a car during this recession? For consumers who have good or excellent credit, this may be the best time to jump in to the market. You’ll also want to make sure that your emergency income levels are consistent during these times as well as have a good food storage plan in place to keep those costs under control too.
Tags: autos, car show, cars, Chicago Auto Show, Kia, Kia Forte, Kia Spectra, new cars
Cool car. In a lot of ways the Kia has a technological edge on it’s higher priced competition. The sound system obn the Fote for instance is freakin’ awesome with great speakers and satellite radio. The stereo has a litle USB port for connecting personal MP3 players too.
Going2Oahus last blog post..Getting to Hanauma Bay
Oahu, I believe the Forte will be an even better seller for Kia than the Spectra. Its good looks (inside and out), many handy features and low price make this car worth a look. Personally, I think it looks nicer than the Toyota Corolla although an argument can be made that the Mazda3 is still the best looking of the lot.
I’m 16 and I just got the new Mazda3, and i think that as far as looks go, they are pretty similar. The only small difference i see between the two models, is the fact that it says that in the EX and SX models of the Kia, there are a number of ADDITIONAL standard luxurious touches such as: power windows and door locks; air conditioning; map lamps; steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls; dual front and rear cup holders; and floor mats. For the Mazda, all of those come in the standard model. It does however look like a nice car.