2023 Kia Forte car and driver
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Electric may be the future, but there’s still a place for small, affordable, and fuel-efficient gas-powered cars. Kia, the brand whose early fortunes were directly tied to budget-friendly cars, understands this better than almost anyone. That’s why the brand’s catalog offers four small cars with value and efficiency. The middle child of Kia’s small-car lineup is the recently facelifted Forte, which is back for 2023 with more available tech and driver assistance systems. Kia offers the 2023 Forte in four trims: LX, LXS, GT-Line, and GT. Pricing for the line, including a $1,095 destination fee, starts at $20,585 and reaches $25,985 for the top GT model with a manual transmission. The LX, LXS, and GT-Line trims get a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. There’s a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder that produces 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, but it’s reserved for the top GT model. The Forte returns its best fuel economy in the base LX trim, which offers an EPA-estimated 30/41/34 mpg city/highway/ combined. The worst Forte for fuel economy is the GT trim with a manual transmission, rated at 22/31/26 mpg. Those numbers are better than the fuel economy ratings for the Mazda 3, but fall short of the Forte’s other competitors, including the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, and Toyota Corolla. Inside, a new available 10.25-inch touchscreen offers navigation, and Kia delivers a substantial list of standard safety features, including forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist, and lane following assist. Available features include blind spot monitoring, Highway Driving Assist, navigation-based smart cruise control, parking distance sensors, rear cross-traffic alerts, and safe exit warnings. Related video: Kia Forte Information
Is Kia Forte 2023 a good car?The 2023 Kia Forte impresses with a spacious and high-quality interior, great fuel economy, a large trunk and lots of standard and available features. It falls short because of a weak base engine and mixed ride and handling quality. Overall, though, the Forte has a lot going for it.
Is Kia Forte worth buying?The 2021 Kia Forte is an excellent pick for car shoppers looking to save money. Prices start at less than $18,000, which is more than reasonable for a commuter car. Buyers also benefit from Kia's superior warranty. A 100,000-mile powertrain enables owners to ride with greater confidence.
What are common problems with Kia Forte?Here are the most common issues for various models of the Forte:. Speakers Not Working Due to Software Glitch.. Engine Problems and Failure Due to Bad Ignition Coils.. Exterior Lighting Malfunction.. Damaged Seats Due to Leaky Interiors.. Malfunctioning Transmission.. Faulty Stop Lamp Switch.. Is Kia Forte 2022 worth it?The Forte is a grown-up small sedan that's a fantastic value for the money, with above-average utility. Other highlights include a comfortable, quiet interior and an extensive list of available features. However, it lags well behind top competitors in driving dynamics, ride quality and rear legroom.
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