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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2013 Kia Forte

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Overview

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2013 Kia Forte Review

By KBB.com Editors

KBB Expert Rating: 6.2

Kia has been on a roll as of late, and nowhere is its momentum more obvious than in the 2013 Forte. Available as a sedan, 5-door hatch and coupe (Kia spells it "Koup"), the Forte takes direct aim at the segment leaders Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, and beats them in just about every category. While not as stylish or fun to drive as Ford's Focus or Mazda's Mazda3, the Forte nevertheless can hold its own against most compacts. It offers an impressive list of available features, including a navigation radio with rear backup camera, Bluetooth hands-free calling and keyless access with push-button start. There's also Kia's standard 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, which is still one of the best in the business.

You'll Like This Car If...

If your budget says mac and cheese, but your self-worth demands prime rib, one of the three 2013 Kia Forte compacts is sure to satisfy both demands. Good resale and reliability ratings should ease worries for first-time Kia buyers, as should the robust standard warranty.

You May Not Like This Car If...

Looks can sometimes be deceiving. While the 2013 Kia Forte LX and EX may appear sporty, their overall ride and handling aren't as tight or refined as the Ford Focus or VW Jetta. The exception here is the SX trim, which has a more responsive suspension and a stronger engine.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

6.2
Driving Dynamics

5.7
Comfort & Convenience

5.9
Design: Interior & Exterior

6.6
Value

6.9
Safety

N/A

How It Ranks

#8

out of 10

MPG

#1

out of 10

Horsepower

View all rankings

Consumer Rating

8.6 out of 10

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consumer ratings

What's New for 2013

For 2013, the Kia Forte receives only minor changes. There are new 16-inch wheels for the Koup and 5-door, while power-folding side mirrors are added to the EX and SX trims. All models receive a low washer-fluid warning light, and LED daytime running lights are offered on the EX and made standard on the SX.

Driving the Forte

Driving Impressions On the open road, the 2013 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 Forte LX and EX, with their smaller engine and wheel/tire combo, aren't as much fun to drive as the more powerful SX trim. 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. Don't get us wrong; the Forte is not terribly slow or devoid of feedback to the driver, it's just that the sporty exterior had us hoping for a bit more performance. Most drivers will likely appreciate the Forte's ability to prevent wind, engine or road noise from making their ways into the cabin.

Favorite Features

COMPREHENSIVE AUDIO SYSTEM
Every 2013 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 2013 Kia Forte. Are you listening, competition?

2013 Kia Forte Details

2013 Kia Forte Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

The 2013 Kia Forte 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. We think a bit more attention could have been paid to the seats, which lack support for the lower back and thighs. Despite its small size, the Kia Forte sedan and hatchback (and to a lesser degree, the Koup) provide surprisingly large cabins, 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.

Exterior

In the compact car class, the 2013 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 tepid Toyota Corolla and Nissan Sentra. Although the Forte Koup steals the show, the sedan and hatchback both share the signature Kia grille and headlight design as well as 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.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

Even the most basic Kia Forte for 2013 will include 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, which also bring a 6-speaker AM/FM/MP3/SiriusXM audio head unit, heated power side mirrors and a tilt-telescopic steering wheel.

Optional Equipment

Options for the 2013 Kia Forte are limited to the EX and SX trims and include a number of packages as well as some stand-alone features. The Forte EX sedan offers a Premium Package that adds alloy wheels and a power sunroof, as well as a Technology Package (sedan/hatchback/Koup) 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. 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 2013 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 Forte's automatic transmission has a manual-shift mode and is standard on SX and EX sedan and hatchback models, and available on the Koup. 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 inline-4
156 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle [SULEV]: 154 @ 6200 rpm)
144 lb-ft of torque @ 4,300 rpm (SULEV: 139 @ 4600 rpm)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/34 mpg (manual), 26/36 mpg (automatic), 27/37 mpg (Economy Package), 24/33 mpg (manual, coupe), 25/34 mpg (automatic, coupe)

2.4-liter inline-4
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 mpg (automatic, sedan), 22/32 mpg (manual), 23/31 mpg (automatic, Koup)

Pricing Notes

For 2013, the Kia Forte sedan has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting just over $16,000 and topping out at about $25,000 fully loaded. The 5-door model ranges from around $19,000 to $25,000, while the Koup starts at around $18,000 and goes to about $24,000. Be sure and check our Fair Purchase Price to see what the Kia Forte is selling for in your area. In a feature-based comparison, the 2013 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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2013 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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