2013 Kia Forte 5-Door
Forte sedan and its sibling hatchback return to the Kia vehicle lineup for 2013 with an impressive combination of smart styling, value, technology, safety features and comfort. Named to the "Most Versatile 2012 New Cars Under $20k" list1 by NADAguides, and to Total Car Score's "Top Cars for College Grads" list2, the Forte and Forte 5-door offer today's tech-savvy consumers attractive, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive options in the compact segment.
The 2013 Forte and Forte 5-door are back with minor styling enhancements and added features, including a new design for the 16-inch alloy wheels (optional on EX sedan and standard on EX 5-door), new LED daytime running lights for a sleek, upscale appearance (optional on EX and standard on SX), and power-folding side mirrors (standard on EX and SX) for added convenience. The popular compact sedan and hatchback also benefit from higher quality leather materials on the steering wheel for a more comfortable and luxurious feel, while all trims on both iterations now include a standard washer fluid warning lamp, illuminated glove box, and noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) improvements through added sound-deadening materials.
The stylish and feature-packed compact sedan is available in LX, EX and SX trim levels and starts at $15,4003 for the base trim while the Forte 5-door is offered in EX and SX trims and offers a starting price of $18,300. Both the sedan and 5-door come standard with convenience features including air conditioning, SiruisXM™ Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service4, MP3 connectivity and Bluetooth® wireless technology5 and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.
Boldly Styled Exterior
The Forte sedan and Forte 5-door stand out in the compact segment with a bold look set apart by crisp lines, swept-back headlamps and a sleek profile. Both the sedan and 5-door project a clean and assertive presence with sweeping window arches, smooth fender contours and body-color side mirrors and door handles, while turn signal indicators are integrated into the side mirrors on EX and SX trims to add to the upscale appearance. Tasteful design cues are effortlessly streamlined to the rear with angled, wrapped tail lights and an uncluttered rear fascia, with SX models adding a silver-finished exhaust tip. Forte SX models exude a more athletic profile with 17-inch alloy wheels and P215/45R17-sized tires. The new LED daytime running lights offered on EX and SX trims also build upon and enhance the compact's curb appeal.
Comfortable and Responsive Ride
Keeping a relatively small footprint without sacrificing comfort for up to five passengers, Forte sedan and Forte 5-door come with a wheelbase of 104.3 inches, an overall width of 69.9 inches and overall height of 57.5 inches. The Kia-engineered body achieves high torsional stiffness and gives the Forte sedan and Forte 5-door firm handling, a smoother ride quality and greater refinement than its competitors. A specially tuned, Kia-developed suspension provides responsive handling on twisty roads, and additional NVH countermeasures are fitted throughout to help ensure a comfortable ride with low noise levels in the cabin. For 2013 the sedan and hatchback have been outfitted with additional sound-absorbing materials throughout the wheel wells and luggage side trim for reduced NVH and a more comfortable riding experience.
The front-wheel-drive unibody structure employs an independent front suspension with MacPherson struts and a stabilizer bar and a torsion beam rear suspension with monotube shock absorbers and coil springs. This combination helps provide the optimal balance of handling and comfort. An engine-speed-sensitive, power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system adds the finishing touch for precise handling by providing the most advantageous amount of electronic assist for varying driving situations. In keeping with the energetic essence of the SX model line for the Forte sedan and Forte 5-door, a performance-tuned suspension gives the chassis a firmer feel and responsiveness resulting in a more spirited ride. The SX model also features larger front brakes (0.8 inches larger than LX and EX models) to help improve stopping capabilities.
Refined and Well-Appointed Interior
Driver and passengers are enveloped within a spacious 96.8 cubic feet of passenger volume for the Forte sedan and an even larger 97.5 cubic feet for the Forte 5-door. Both Fortes boast an impressive 40.0 inches of headroom and 43.3 inches of legroom in the front seats and 37.6 inches of headroom (38.4 inches for the 5-door) and 35.0 inches of legroom in the rear seats. The Forte sedan's trunk also offers an astounding 14.7 cubic feet of cargo space, while the Forte 5-door's 19.4 cubic feet provides ample room for luggage or around-town grocery shopping.
Capitalizing on the spacious interior, the Forte sedan and Forte 5-door integrate style and function, starting with a crisp, high-visibility center stack and a driver-oriented three-gauge instrument cluster exuding a stylish red glow. Pampering riders further, both versions offer a host of standard interior features, starting with comfortable, nicely appointed full cloth seats. A six-way adjustable driver's seat, tilt steering column, rear defroster and dual 12-volt power outlets in the center console are driver- and passenger-conscious luxuries standard on every vehicle. New for 2013, all trims now come standard with an illuminated glove box for additional passenger ease and comfort.
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, telescopic steering wheel, tweeter speakers, dual front and rear cup holders, and floor mats. Steering wheel paddle shifters come standard on all SX trims to make for a more spirited driving experience.
Forte EX sedan also offers an optional Premium Package, which includes a power sunroof with tilt and 16-inch alloy wheels outfitted with 205/55R16 tires (Forte 5-door EX comes with standard 16-inch alloy wheels). The power sunroof with tilt also is an available stand-alone option for all SX trims and the EX trim on the Forte 5-door.
The EX and SX Technology Packages, available on both sedan and 5-door models, includes navigation with SiriusXM Traffic™6, fully automatic temperature control with ionized air purification, an automatic de-fog system, push-button start with Smart Key, Supervision meter cluster (standard on SX), fog lamps (EX package only), automatic headlamps, LED daytime running lights (standard on SX), and chrome exterior door handles. The available SX Leather Package offers additional luxurious enhancements, including leather seat trim, heated front seats and an auto-dimming electro-chromic rear view mirror.
The sporty SX model brings even more standard features for the sedan and 5-door, including a unique black interior with sport-cloth fabric adorned with red stitching, a telescopic steering column, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and metal-finish trim and pedals.
Lively Performance and Power
The Forte LX and EX trims are powered by a 2.0-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine, producing a forceful 156 horsepower and 144 pound-feet of torque7 and featuring Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) and multi-port electronic fuel injection, both of which provide for greater performance and fuel economy. The SX features an upgraded 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine, also with Dual CVVT, which delivers 173 horsepower with 168 pound-feet of torque8.
Coupled with these powerplants are six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmission options. Forte LX comes standard with the six-speed manual while EX and SX trim levels offer a standard six-speed automatic transmission with Sportmatic™ clutchless shifting (optional on the LX trim). This six-speed automatic transmission is a proprietary design for Kia Motors that was engineered and built specifically for Kia vehicles.
Offering impressive fuel economy, the 2.0-liter engine boasts a competitive 25/34 mpg9 (city/highway) when mated to the manual transmission (sedan only) and an enhanced 26/36 with the automatic transmission, while the 2.4-liter engine turns out a notable 23/32 mpg and when coupled with the automatic transmission.
The optional Eco Package, available on the EX sedan model with the 2.0-liter powerplant, includes a "smart" alternator and low-rolling-resistance silica tires. These improvements result in 27/37 mpg and an impressive combined fuel economy of 30 mpg.
Impressive Audio Capabilities
In addition to comfort and performance, driver and passengers also will be entertained by Forte's impressive combination of standard convenience features, starting with a four-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SiriusXM Satellite Radio capabilities and three months complimentary service. Also standard on all models is an auxiliary audio input jack and USB port for connecting personal MP3 players10 as well as Bluetooth wireless technology connectivity with steering wheel-mounted controls, which enables hands-free operation for all compatible mobile phones.
For true audiophiles, the EX and SX trims add a standard six-speaker audio system. Forte's advanced system also includes Speed Dependent Volume Control (SDVC), which automatically increases the volume at higher speeds for better listening enjoyment, and Power Bass, which automatically enhances the bass response and tone.
Plethora of Standard Safety Features
Forte offers an impressive array of standard safety equipment, featuring front active headrests, dual advanced front airbags, front seat-mounted and side curtain airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, side-impact door beams, front and rear crumple zones, four-wheel disc brakes with an Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and a Brake Assist System (BAS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), a Traction Control System (TCS) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
Industry-Leading Warranty
Like all Kia models, the 2013 Forte and Forte 5-door are covered by a comprehensive warranty program11, which offers consumer protection at an exceptional value. Included in this program are 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.
