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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2012 Kia Forte

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Overview

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2012 Kia Forte Review

By KBB.com Editors

KBB Expert Rating: 6.3

While many critics complain that some Japanese car companies have been resting on their laurels a bit too long, the Korean manufacturer Kia has been working overtime to improve its product line. Reveal after reveal shows Kia now has the upper hand over Honda and Toyota, at least in the areas of innovation, styling and fuel economy. One such example is the 2012 Kia Forte compact car, a Civic-sized competitor with loads of cool features demanded by today's young drivers, a versatile model range including a 5-door hatchback and sporty coupe, and a price point designed to give the competition fits. Designed to lure customers from such stalwarts as the Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Chevy Cruze, the 2012 Kia Forte has its share of pros and cons when placed beside each of these cars. Still not as fun to drive as a Mazda3 or VW Golf, nor as upscale in feel as the Focus or Cruze, the 2012 Kia Forte compact sedan and coupe (Kia spells it "Koup") nevertheless offer a lot of value for the money, not to mention the standard 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you're looking for an affordable compact car with styling and features well beyond its humble $16,000 asking price, one of the three 2012 Kia Forte compact cars is bound to catch your eye. Those worried about long-term reliability should take comfort in Kia's continually improving reliability ratings, as well as its impressively long warranty.

You May Not Like This Car If...

While some may find the 2012 Kia Forte's looks to be enticing (especially in coupe form), the Forte's overall performance and handling are not as solid or refined as that of the Mazda3, Ford Focus or VW Jetta.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

6.3
Driving Dynamics

5.8
Comfort & Convenience

6.0
Design: Interior & Exterior

6.7
Value

7.0
Safety

N/A

How It Ranks

#14

out of 17

MPG

#2

out of 17

Horsepower

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Consumer Rating

8.6 out of 10

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consumer ratings

What's New for 2012

The 2012 Kia Forte sedan and hatchback see a 1-mpg improvement in city fuel economy and 2-mpg increase in their highway figures, boosting overall mileage to 26 city/36 highway when equipped with the 2.0-liter engine and 6-speed automatic transmission.

Driving the Forte

Driving Impressions On the open road, the 2012 Kia Forte is the master of its domain – so long as the road to that domain remains straight and level. Toss in a...

few curves, however, and the base car with its smaller engine and wheel/tire combo isn't as much fun to drive as the more powerful EX and SX trims. Even in its most aggressive SX suit, the Forte won't deliver the kind of seat-of-your-pants cornering found in the Ford Focus or Mazda3, and its manual transmission is nowhere near as refined. What's missing is that harmonious connection between the steering, the transmission and pedal feel, something Kia is getting better at, but still has a way to go. To gain the impressive fuel-economy figures posted by both the LX and SX trims, Kia engineers have to give up a bit of low-end torque, something we would gladly switch around if given the chance. Don't get us wrong, the Forte is not horribly slow nor devoid of feedback to the driver, it's just that the sporty exterior had us hoping for a bit more performance. There is much to like here, and most drivers will appreciate the 2012 Kia Forte's quiet cabin that permits very little wind, engine or road noise to make its way in. About the only real complaint we can find with the Forte's cabin is the high rear deck that can make backing out of parking spaces a bit dicey. We suggest the optional navigation system with its rearview camera as a remedy.

Favorite Features

Comprehensive Audio System
Every 2012 Kia Forte boasts a flexible AM/FM/CD/MP3/satellite audio system with USB and auxiliary ports. When matched with the upgraded speakers, it's among the best sound systems in the segment.

Bluetooth
An option reserved for most high-end models, Kia makes Bluetooth connectivity standard on every 2012 Kia Forte. Are you listening, Honda?

2012 Kia Forte Details

2012 Kia Forte Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

Customers have been complaining for some time now about the boring interiors of compact cars, and Kia has obviously been listening. The 2012 Kia Forte sedan is given a visually appealing dash and seat setup, with lots of colorful instruments, a big LCD screen for the audio and plenty of soft-touch materials throughout the cabin. There is a lot going on inside the Kia Forte's cabin, with multiple folds in the dash and numerous controls on the attractive 3-spoke steering wheel making the Forte feel more like a little Audi than an entry-level compact car. We applaud the standard Bluetooth connectivity and iPod integration, but feel as though a bit more attention could be paid to the seats, which lack support for the lower back and thighs. But, there is more than just interior decorating going on here, there's also a volume story to tell. Despite its small size, the 2012 Kia Forte sedan (and to a lesser degree, the coupe model) provides a surprisingly large cabin, with more interior volume than a Nissan Maxima. The big back seat offers lots of legroom, but headroom is cut short due to the low-slung roofline. On sedan models, the trunk area is also quite large and on the 5-door hatch, the rear seats can be folded flat to create a wagon-like cargo hold.

Exterior

In the herd of the compact sedan/coupe/hatchback, the 2012 Kia Forte's styling falls somewhere mid-pack. Not as modern or aggressively styled as the Ford Focus or Mazda3, the Forte easily outshines the dated Toyota Corolla and Nissan Sentra, and even the new Honda Civic. Although the Forte Koup steals the show, the sedan and hatchback both share the signature Kia grille and headlight design as well as tout handsome wheel choices. Base model cars don't look the part, rejecting the unpainted bumpers, mirror caps and door handles of lesser cars and replacing them with properly painted parts for a more harmonious exterior statement. High-end Forte trims include such nice touches as sport side mirrors with integrated turn signals, and an available body kit and rear spoiler.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

Kia is proud to boast that even the most basic 2012 Kia Forte sedan includes Bluetooth phone connectivity, iPod integration, an AM/FM/CD/MP3/SiriusXM 4-speaker stereo, color-keyed manual side mirrors, 60/40-split rear seat with folding armrest, a tilt steering wheel, and an impressive array of safety equipment including six airbags, and electronic traction and stability control. Unfortunately, if you want such simple pleasures as power windows, remote keyless entry or cruise control, you'll have to pony up a bit more cash and move up to the EX or SX trims. Here you'll find a 6-speaker AM/FM/MP3/SiriusXM audio head unit, heated power side mirrors, and a tilt-telescopic steering wheel. Unique to the SX's standard equipment list are 17-inch alloy wheels, a sport suspension, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and sport-fabric seats. The Koup (yes, that's how Kia spells "coupe") models feature standard 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels. The LX trim comes standard with a 6-speed manual transmission, as do both the EX and EX Koup. All other Forte models and trims feature a 6-speed Sportronic automatic with manual-shift mode.

Optional Equipment

Options for the 2012 Kia Forte are limited to the EX and SX trims and include a number of packages as well as some stand-alone features. The 2012 Kia Forte EX sedan offers a Premium Package that adds alloy wheels and a power sunroof, as well as a Technology Package (sedan/hatchback/coupe) that includes navigation with Sirius real-time traffic updates, a rearview camera, automatic climate control, smart-key entry with push-button start, foglights and automatic headlights. The Forte SX offers the same package without the foglights and auto-on headlights, since both of these are already standard on the SX. Other options for the SX trim include leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

Under the Hood

The front-wheel-drive Kia Forte offers a 156-horsepower, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that can be matched with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed Sportmatic automatic transmission. On top-line, sport-tuned SX trims the standard engine is a 173-horsepower, 2.4-liter engine. The 2012 Forte's new automatic transmission has a manual-shift mode and is standard on SX and EX sedan and hatchback models, and available on the coupe. The mid-trim EX is also offered with a Fuel Economy Package that includes the 6-speed automatic plus Motor Drive Power Steering, a load-managing "smart" alternator, low-rolling-resistance tires and unique aero enhancements to boost its EPA numbers to 27/37 mpg and deliver class-leading city/highway combined fuel economy of 30 mpg.

2.0-liter in-line 4
156 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm (SULEV: 154 @ 6200 rpm)
144 lb-ft of torque @ 4,300 rpm (SULEV: 139 @ 4600 rpm)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/34 (manual), 26/36 (automatic), 27/37 (Economy Package), 24/33 (manual, coupe), 25/33 (automatic, coupe)

2.4-liter in-line 4 (Forte SX)
173 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm (SULEV: 165 @ 6000 rpm)
168 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm (SULEV: 161 @ 4000 rpm)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/32, 22/32 (manual, Koup), 23/31 (automatic, Koup)

Pricing Notes

The 2012 Kia Forte sedan starts at a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) around $16,000 and tops out at about $25,000 fully loaded. The 5-door model ranges from just under $19,000 to $24,500, while the Koup starts at around $18,000 and goes to about $24,000. We expect our Fair Purchase Price to reflect real-world selling prices in line with those sticker prices. In a feature-based comparison, the 2012 Kia Forte sedan offers more for the money than many cars in the segment, including the Honda Civic and Mazda3. Substandard resale values have traditionally erased Kia's up-front price advantages, but the Forte's resale outlook is significantly better than that of the Kia Spectra it replaced, making Kia's newest compact car its most compelling ever.

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2012 Kia Forte Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.6

Out of 10

Based on 176 Ratings for the 2010 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

8.9/10

Quality

8.6/10
Reliability

9.1/10

Performance

8.6/10
Comfort

8.6/10

Styling

8.9/10

Good value for the price

By Tom (MI) on Tuesday, July 30, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 51,000

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 8/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 7/10
Performance: 7/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Comfortable. Quick. Decent gas mileage."

Cons: "Tinny, rattles, annoying quirks"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 7

"I bought this car new 2 years ago and have 51,000 miles on it. I owned a 2007 Kia Rio before this. While the Forte is a faster, more comfortable car, the Rio was better built and handled much better (maybe the Rio's V-rated tires helped). The quality is lower on the Forte. When closing the doors it sounds tinny while the Rio felt solid. The Forte has annoying rattles the Rio didn't have. And I've had a persistent humming from the PS pump that the dealer supposedly fixed but the noise returned ever louder after a couple days. For the price it's a decent car overall, but the quality of Kia definitely fell between 2007 and 2011."

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This is an awesome car!

By npo64 (NY) on Saturday, July 27, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 9,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Great value!"

Cons: "No complaints."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"My 2012 Forte EX is my 2nd Kia and I love it. I'm just as happy getting into it to drive today as I was the 1st day I bought it. More than enough power, very responsive, and a sporty feel to it. I like the many features including the bluetooth, the stereo system and the sporty interior. I'm sure my next car will be a Kia as well."

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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I love the look of this car

By Scarlet (CA) on Thursday, July 18, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 1,500

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 8/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 6/10

Pros: "Great price,looks nice"

Cons: "Horrible seat/headrest design"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"I love the look of this car. It's classy on the exterior but falls short on interior comfort. The head rests protrude forward and does not adjust. How did they miss the mark on this one? Every time I have a passenger with me they always complain because your neck starts to ache. It also has a lot of road noise! When I have passengers in the back seat they have a hard time hearing the conversations going on in the front due to road noise. Had I realized these 2 things,I would not have ever purchased this car in the first place. I am currently doing my homework to trade this car in for another."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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good car, pleasant drive

By jc (FL) on Monday, July 15, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 6,800

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 8/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 9/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 8

"overall i like this car though i still get interested in car ads which means i'm not in love with it like i was when i bought my last car in 2004 (acura, what wasnt there to love?). was in market for an economical hatchback, good waranty, and not wanting to spend alot right now. stayed basic even staying with cloth seats though i started out wanting leather (dog hair!). this fits the bill, drives well, looks nice, good interior room. Only beef, and this is an industry failure i think, is that you get lured by great gas mileage theory but overlook the gas tank size! i get a tad better overall mpg on this than my acura (got 29-30mpg with combined on my tsx, get av 31 combined driving on this), but i have 4 less gallons of gas on the kia. With driving 400miles to/from work, i HAVE to buy gas beforethe end of the 5th day, on the acura i went 6 1/2-6 3/4 days before full fill up with a couple gallons left. So keep that in mind unless you're going apples to apples! Kia 13.5gal, acura tsx 17.5gal Acura was a 10 yr car, the forte hatch will be my transition car for a few years!"

1 person out of 2 found this review helpful

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Best new car for 2010

By peter (PA) on Sunday, July 14, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 36,590

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Everything about the car"

Cons: "Factory tires"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I bought this car brand new in august 2010, drove it off the lot with 23 miles. This is the safest car I could find in my price range with 6 airbags. The gas milege for this 5 speed is beyond my expectation's, 375-400 miles for city, 400-450 miles for city/highway and 500-550 miles for highway. The sound systems is LOUD and clear. The interior room is huge, trunk is like a spare closet. I did not like the factory tires, did not perform well in snow. I just replaced them at 35,556 miles. I now get even better gas milege with the new tires. Very well laid out car interior for the driver, main focus buttons on steering wheel. The stereo, cruise control, bluetooth can all be used with your two thumbs while driving. Kia hit a homerun with this car, and let's not forget about the factory warranty's that come with the car. 5yr/60000mi bumper to bumper, 5yr/60000mi roadside, 10yr/100000mi powertrain. I even got a 5yr/60000mi free rim and tire replacement from the dealership for road hazard. I was looking to buy from the big 3 made in USA, but they could not even come close to the standard features, factory warranty's, and the six airbags as standard equiptment."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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This car is by far the best car I have ever owned!

By Michael (AR) on Saturday, July 06, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 6,113

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Everything on this car is a pro."

Cons: "N/A"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I bought this car October of last year with 97 miles on it just after it came out. I have had it for about 9 or 10 months and this car is amazing. It has a bluetooth that runs through the car speakers and allows you to use button on your steering wheel and voice commands to make and answer calls so no more tickets for being on the phone while driving which is great. It also has controls to be able to control the radio with out ever taking your hands of the steering wheel which is really nice to be able to change the station and the volume and stuff without getting distracted by taking your eyes off the road to look at the radio. It has two different parts to the center console one is to store small things for instance insurance and registration is what I store in mine and then under that is a larger compartment for stuff like cds. The car has plenty of room for me my wife and three kids. In the city I average about 24 mpg and on the highway I get around 31 on average. So it is definately a gas saver. It rides really smooth and there is little to no road noise. The audio system in the vehicle is also very nice all though it doesn't have a 6 disc cd changer or anything really fancy like that is does have a cd player and some great sound. You also have the ability to take and play music from your pohone when it is synced with the car via blue tooth or if you have another audio device that can connect via usb port it also has the connections for that and you can still change everything via the controls on the steering wheel. The car is very responsive and corners well, much better than my wifes Crysler Sebring. Although it is a four cylinder it also has plenty of get up and go if that tickles your fancy or even at 60mph if your just looking to go around that big semi really quick. Much more power than any of the competiors cars in the same class and even some that are considered a higher class. There is also plenty of room in the truck for storing stuff and getting grocceries and stuuf I have a stroller in mine most of the time and can still go out and get 2-300 in grocceris and have it all fit. Over all I would definately not have picked any other car than my 2013 kia forte it has been great."

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