2014 Kia Forte

SPECIFICATIONS

1. Two engines are offered, a 148 hp 1.8L and a direct-injection 2.0L 4-cylinder with 173 hp. 2. Fuel economy numbers aren’t yet available though Kia will offer an Eco Package with it’s stop-start ISG (Idle Stop & Go) feature. 3. An optional Flex Steer system lets you choose between three steering settings: Comfort, Normal and Sport. 4. An available Premium Package includes luxury features like leather, heated front and rear seats with an air-cooled vented 10-way power driver’s seat, 17-inch wheels, a heated steering wheel and keyless access with a push button ignition.

PREVIEW

When Kia replaced the Spectra with the Forte model in North America back in 2009, it was a major step forward for the automaker in the compact segment. No longer would people look at the Kia option as a cheap last resort, the Forte was good enough to win customers on its own merits.

It seems to have worked, since Kia’s population around the world has been growing year after year. In 2012, Kia’s global sales rose by 9.3% and managed to move 635,000-units in North America alone.

However, in today’s tough automotive sector, you can be up one minute and down the next. To keep the sales momentum on the upswing, Kia is going to launch an all-new 2014 Forte compact sedan towards the end of the first quarter of this year. But is it any good?

Kia is so proud of their latest Forte sedan that it invited us down to Scottsdale, AZ two months before the model’s launch and tell us all that this car has to offer and let us experience it for ourselves.

INTERIOR

The 2014 Forte is also the first car in its class to offer a heated and ventilated driver’s seat (passenger only gets a heated seat), and a heated steering wheel.It’s the same story inside. The new interior is a step forward in design and quality. All the ergonomic controls seem to be in the right position and there are soft touch materials where you would like them to be. Standard equipment is impressive with auxiliary input jacks, Bluetooth, power windows and locks and a tilt and telescopic wheel.

A well thought out interior for the most part (our only complaint was that the center arm-rest is a bit too low to be comfortable, despite this one being of the sliding variety), with decent space for both front and rear seat passengers, and the trunk is quite commodious as well. Should make most people quite happy.

However, while gadgets certainly attract car buyers these days, one should not buy a car just based on its electronic content. What makes one car better than the other should be based on how it drives. So how does the new Forte drive?Those who like gadgets will also be quite happy with the new (optional) UVO entertainment system, which now consists of eService. This new system allows for you to use apps like Google Maps, 911 Auto Connect, Interactive Roadside Assistance, Parental Controls, Twitter, Pandora and a whole host of other apps. In short, the new UVO system is more like a tablet than an infotainment system.

                          

UNDER THE HOOD

The base motor, which is found in the LX trim, produces 148-hp and 131 lb-ft of torque and can be had with either a six-speed manual gearbox (with hill-start assist) or a six-speed automatic. The GDI motor, which is found in the EX and SX trims, produces an impressive 173-hp and 154 lb-ft of torque, but sadly will only be offered with the six-speed automatic, though you do get steering-wheel mounted pedal shifters in SX trim.The short answer is, quite well. But let’s get into the details. There are two engines on offer, a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder, with Multi-Port Injection (MPI), and a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, with Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI). These new engines replace the former model’s 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter engines.