2010 Kia Forte SX sedan: Very interesting!

Officially, the Korean brand Kia has been operating in Canada for more than ten years and there have been nothing but changes since! Over time, their products have evolved a great deal, to the point of disrupting the sales of some well established and reputed Japanese brands. From the 2000 Sephia to the 2005 Spectra, there has been clear progress. However, the Forte is even better and is attracting numerous customers on the lookout for a compact car. Let’s see what it’s all about with our test model: an SX sedan, the most luxurious and sporty of the Forte line.

A tasteful interior

While Kia’s old compacts featured a rather simplistic pale grey interior, the new Forte is bolder and more refined. The materials used were carefully chosen, and the padded dashboard is reminiscent of what some German models are proposing. Although not as futuristic as with the Civic, the dashboard is dynamic and ergonomically sound. The performance of the audio system is surprising and it comes factory standard with I-pod and USB jacks as well as Bluetooth connectivity and Sirius satellite radio. The leather upholstery seems to be good quality and the addition of red stitching reminds us of this version’s sport purpose. However, I have to mention a small problem with the remote keyless trunk entry that is, in addition to being archaic, poorly protected against salt and sand which will quickly rust everything. Finally, high marks go to the well finished and rather accommodating trunk.

Dynamic ride

With the Forte SX, Kia is trying to get its piece of the pie in the juiced-up compacts segment. Think of the Civic SI, Sentra SER or Mitsubishi Lancer, for example. The first one’s very sporty, while the Kia is just sporty enough thanks to its steering and its rather firm suspension, but not as much as on the SI. Using 17-inch Goodyear tires also helps the matter. The result is good handling especially in turns, but this is offset by the car’s tendency to be a little unstable in the ruts of our beautiful Canadian roads. The 2.4-litre engine with two continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) delivers 173 horsepower that pulls the Forte SX with ease, but is not extremely fuel efficient with an average fuel economy of 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres during our test drive. This result is even more surprising since the Steptronic automatic gearbox includes 5 gears selected in such a way as to promote fuel economy.

A real head-turner

The look of this new Kia is one of its strengths. Less ordinary than a Corolla CE but not too futuristic either, the black orchid colour Forte solicited positive comments during its road test. Some strangers even told me how much they liked the exterior design. It just goes to show you that even cars that sell for about $22,000 can also make an impression! The clean lines and chrome features really pass the test, but the thinness of the metalwork is a little disappointing and is particularly noticeable when closing the doors. Nevertheless, the results obtained in collision tests are very interesting. As for the paint finish, there’s a lot less orange peel effect than on the old Kia models.

Cheque please!

The four-door Forte line comes in three versions: the LX base model offering 4 ABS disc brakes as well as heated rear-view mirrors, the very well-equipped EX and the luxurious and sporty SX. Unless you’re blown away by the sportiness of the SX, the EX seems to be the best compromise of the bunch. For about $18,000, it offers a long list of equipment and, as a result, turns out to be a real bargain. Even more so since the resale value of Kia products is average at best, so the loss will be less significant in a few years with a more reasonable starting price. In another sense, the supplement for the SX is not too excessive and there are nice features that add to the car.

Conclusion

While Kia has had the wind in its sails for a few years, the Forte arrives at the right time to help this manufacturer continue its progression. Although the compact car segment is saturated with various models, the Forte merits particular attention and turns out to be relevant from several points of view. Now that Korean cars are up to snuff and have good warranties, there’s no need to be afraid to acquire a Kia car. After all, we all want to get our money’s worth.