First Drives, Kia

First Drive: 2010 Kia Forte

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May 19, 2009

2010 Kia Forte EX. Click image to enlarge

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Review and photos by Chris Chase

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2010 Kia Forte

Ottawa, Ontario – Self-help experts like to talk about playing to your strengths – accentuating the positive, if you will. In Kia’s case, its most prominent positive since arriving in Canada about a decade ago has been its ability to package a lot of value into its cars. But it hasn’t been as successful at producing cars that potential buyers could get excited about; the company’s compact Spectra was a prime example of that: while it has always been affordable, it offered little in the way of passion.

But Kia is working on that, and the latest proof is in its replacement for the Spectra, the Forte. While this new compact sedan (a coupe version is on the way this summer) plays in the same category as the Spectra, competing against class leaders like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Mazda3, it is a very different and far better car than the Spectra. The Forte’s more distinctive-looking styling penned by Peter Schreyer (he also designed the original Audi TT and VW New Beetle) is far more pleasing to the eye than the Spectra’s dowdy duds.

The look owes a lot to the current Honda Civic (check out the squinty headlights and pronounced front fenders), and its wedge-like profile calls to mind the Mitsubishi Lancer. All of which is to say that the Forte’s appearance will offend few, entice a few more and be perfectly anonymous to the majority of compact car shoppers.

That said, Kia was keen to point out that the Forte’s base price is the same as the Spectra’s, at $15,695. That’s not actually the lowest starting price in the class: the Corolla, Sentra and Cobalt all come in cheaper.

2010 Kia Forte SX. Click image to enlarge

Kia’s idea, though, is to pack the Forte with standard features. Notables in the base LX model include anti-lock brakes with four-wheel discs, six airbags, power windows and locks, steering-wheel audio controls, USB and auxiliary inputs for the stereo, and Bluetooth wireless phone connectivity. Move up to the mid-level EX, which will be the volume seller, and for $17,995 Kia adds stability/traction control, a great-sounding six-speaker stereo, keyless entry, manual air conditioning, a wiper defroster at the base of the windshield (a feature I maintain should be standard on every car sold in Canada) and heated front seats.

The top-rung SX, positioned both as the best-equipped and sportiest of the range, adds a larger engine and six-speed manual transmission (more on powertrains in a moment), 17-inch wheels and tires, automatic climate control, leather seats, fog lights, power sunroof, trip computer with average fuel consumption and driving range displays and satellite radio, for $20,995. The freight charge for all models is $1,455.

The LX and EX models use a 2.0-litre version of the four-cylinder “world engine”, which was developed jointly by Hyundai (Kia’s parent), Mitsubishi and Chrysler. In the Forte, it makes 156 horsepower and 144 lb-ft of torque, which are competitive numbers in the class. It can be matched with a five-speed manual transmission, or a four-speed automatic that is a $1,200 option.

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