The Kia Forte has been out since 2008, with the current generation coming out in 2012. Based on that alone, you might think it feels a bit dated and cheap, but Kia has done a good job of updating the small sedan to keep it engaging. The entry level price of just under $20k means that you can afford one of these without breaking the bank, and without making you feel like you’re driving a cheap car. The interior quality is reasonable, and a huge step up from when it was originally introduced. Of course, wearing an ‘S’ badge on the back, we’d hoped for a little more performance, but overall it’s still a good choice.
Under the hood, there’s a simple 2.0-Liter 4-Cylinder with no turbos, superchargers, batteries, plugs or any such trickery. While the simplicity saves in cost, the downside is boring acceleration and lackluster performance. It feels quite dull to drive, and the lazy transmission doesn’t help matters. The handling is better than the powertrain, but overall it doesn’t do much to live up to the S badge on the back.
Cruising on the highway, it’s actually quite loud inside as well - another factor of the entry level cost. Around town the wind-noise is much more manageable, and having such a small car is handy in the city anyway. The fuel mileage is good as well, listed at 29-city and 38-highway MPG, a good reminder that you don’t need fancy hybrids to get good mileage. And this will never have batteries that need to be disposed of, so it’s a pretty green alternative as well...
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