by Tyler, editor and reviewer
As much as I love SUVs, I’m really a car guy. I drive around a big and clunky work truck all day, so there’s nothing I love better than being able to hop in a car and zip around town when I get home. It’s so much more engaging and effortless, not to mention much easier to find parking.
That being said, I immediately took to the 2014 KIA Forte as soon as it arrived for our test drive. Since these days we travel with a full crew 4 door sedans are very much a part of our world and I’ve been curious about this compact sedan for a while. The one concern I did have beforehand was size, but I was pleasantly surprised by how big inside the Forte is, since in my mind the Forte might have been a bit small for us.
Besides being roomy, the KIA Forte was also just fun to drive. With an interior that is so well designed it was immediately comfortable and easy to find all the controls so I could then focus on driving. The Forte’s motor is a great match for the car and never struggled for power, and the manually shiftable 6 speed auto is great whether you want to drive relaxed or more sporty.
One feature that surprised me was the configurable steering modes. With settings for Sport, Normal, and Comfort you can really dial in the car and change the feel of it for the mood you’re in. Comfort is super light and effortless, perfect for Sunday drives, while Sport has a more weighted feel with more feedback, and Normal as you might expect is right in the middle.
And, I haven’t even gotten to the price yet. With an amazing base price of $15,900 for the LX and $19,400 for the Ex, and the loaded model we drove topping out at $25,500, this is the perfect compact sedan for those on budgets. However, don’t be scared by the lower price range, this definitely is not the average econo-box; the Forte has style and features to spare.
With a 2.0L I4 engine with 173 hp, you still get 24 city/36 highway mpg, which is great mileage for a car that's so much fun to drive. It still has the rear camera that we've been raving about, Bluetooth wireless hands free connectivity, folding mirrors, window in the A pillar, steering wheel mounted controls, safety features galore, heated and cooled seats, and our favorite, keyless entry and ignition.
If you haven't experienced keyless entry yet, this might be the coolest car advancement of my time. Rarely do I walk to the car with both of my hands free, so I love that I no longer have to dig for keys with the keyless entry. Add kids to the mix and keyless entry becomes a necessity.
These are just a few of the features that stood out to us on our week of test driving, but there's even more safety and comfort features packed into this roomy, just-right sized and affordable car. If you are looking for a compact sedan that can fit all your gear and passengers that’s easy to drive around town and park, I would highly recommend the KIA Forte.
To find out more, visit Kia.com
I was looking at these I really like them & love that they have good gas milage
I bought a 2014 Kia Forte in July, and I love it. The gas mileage is amazing, it’s extremely comfortable, and has a TON of room for everything I need. I can get my two dogs (in their pet carriers) into the back seat with no problem, and the trunk is huge and easy to get into. Traction in wet weather is awesome. There are only two things I don’t like: (1) no wiper on the back window — really needed as a safety issue, (2) stereo quality is bad (better one on the upgraded model, I think). Otherwise, I couldn’t be more pleased!!
the Kias have come a long way, the look better, have many more options in them, and perform better. a good decision if you are in the market for a new vehicle.
Hope to test drive one of these too.. crossing fingers.
Absolutely love Kias because they are compact. My car is outdated and with the features you have explained, I would love to have this car even more