Recently we were invited out to Scottsdale Arizona, to get a first hand
look at two of Kias new models for 2014, the Sorento and Forte. I was paired up with Cory Gunther of Slashgear, for a full
day of diving primarily in the fabulous Tonto National Forest.
As
you can see, we enjoyed taking the Forte off the main drag to find some
stunning backdrops.
You may remember the 2014 Kia Forte from its awesome Super Bowl
commercial that we featured recently. Their concept for the ad campaign
is to respect the tech in the Kia Forte.
You could probably tell from the ad, the Forte is being marketed to
young single men. Fun Fact : The "Hot Bots" are played by Miss USA 2011
Alyssa Campanella.
Exterior
The 2014 Kia Forte is a rather stunning redesign of the previous model
with a much sleeker and sportier look. Influenced by European sport
sedan styling, the Fortes modern aesthetics were developed at Kias
American Design Center in Irvine, California. The front end in
particular, with its HID projector headlamps and LED positioning lights
gives the Forte a distinctive look.
We found the more aerodynamic design appealing and a welcome departure
from the previous model. There are hints of the wildly popular Kia
Optima in the design, which is certainly welcome. The model we drove was
their new "Abyss Blue" color, which is definitely more risqué than the
Sorentos offerings, but we still crave more vibrant choices.
Some of the notable new external features available on the 2014 Forte
include power folding side-view mirrors with puddle lamps and
turn-signal indicators, illuminated door handle pockets, LED tail
lights, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
Interior
Consistent with the messaging in their Super Bowl Commercial, technology
in this compact sedan is a definite focus. Considering the market
they're aiming for, it makes sense to load this vehicle up with as much
technology as possible while keeping the sticker price reasonable, and
that is exactly what Kia has done. The Forte we drove included the
push-button start, bluetooth, satellite radio, dual-zone climate, heated
seats and steering wheel, back-up camera, navigation and driver seat
memory that we've seen on other Kia models.
As a big guy driving a compact sedan, I'm often times reminded of that
fact constantly. However that doesn't seems to be the case when I sit
behind the wheel of a Kia, and the Forte didn't disappoint either. It
felt roomy and comfortable, and while I'd probably never buy a compact
sedan, the Forte gave me no reason to complain in regards to space.
In our 2014 Kia Sorento review, we raved about the touchscreen
interface, navigation, and UVO eServices. While all of those highlights
certainly apply to the Forte, the smaller 7-inch LCD display did have
some glare and reflection issues (maybe due to the 10 degree tilt) that
we didn't notice in the Sorento. However, this prompted us to explore the
features of the 4.2-inch TFT display in the center of the meter cluster,
and we were delighted to find its even further simplified version of
the turn by turn directions. Consistent with other Kia models we've
driven, the controls and interfaces just seemed perfect to us.
Everything we wanted, exactly where we wanted it.
Performance
The Forte is available with two different engines. The base LX model is
powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 148 horsepower
geared for fuel-efficiency and ease of use. The EX model now features a
2.0-liter four-cylinder GDi engine rated at 173 horsepower. Obviously if
you have the funds, you're going to want to go with the EX that we
drove.
Like other GDi Kia engines we've driven, the six speed Forte impressed us
with its power, responsiveness, and gas mileage. While it clearly didn't
have the power of an Optima Turbo, we had no trouble passing tourists
in the mountains of Arizona. Considering the price point, there was no
cause to complain about performance on this compact sedan.
Overview
When we first drove the 2012 Kia Optima Turbo about a year ago, we
rarely noticed Kia vehicles on the road. However that has clearly
changed over the past year, and that bit of anecdotal evidence is backed
up by the numbers the marketing folks showed us. They're making solid
products, and the public is really starting to notice.
The 2014 Kia Forte is just the next chapter in that story, and overall
it impressed us. The newly re-designed exterior was a dramatic and
welcome upgrade. The interior was comfortable and packed with the
technology that makes us happy. Much like their other vehicles, we
think it will make a surprising competitor in your new car search.
Courtesy of Gunaxin
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