Ray explained, “I decided that I wanted to rent a car that was large enough because of the extreme cold weather.”
She immediately went to Budget to pick up the full-size automobile she had rented after touching down at O’Hare International Airport.
“That doesn’t sound like a full-size automobile, I thought as they handed me a Kia Forte. Are you sure that this is a full-size car, I asked in doubt. They responded, “Yes, it is,” and I questioned, “Are you sure?” It’s somewhat compact,” “said Ray.
Until she seen her Forte parked between a Honda Accord and a Toyota Camry, she had complete faith in them and didn’t give it another thought. The Forte was the smallest of the three in terms of length, width, and height.
“Then I became furious. Money wasn’t an issue. For me, it was a matter of safety “explained Ray.
No rental car business divulges crash test data, but she could be unhappy to learn that the Forte scored poorly in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s small overlap front collision test. Nevertheless, it received favorable reviews in four additional crash safety categories. When we got in touch with Budget, they said: “As a matter of established tradition, the automobile classes of our industry do not sync up with manufacturers’ car classes.”
With other rental car companies, we discovered comparable inconsistencies. The Nissan Altima is classified as a full-size automobile by Enterprise. It is categorized as a small automobile by Nissan. The Toyota Camry is categorized as a full-size automobile by Hertz. It is classified as a medium-sized automobile by Toyota. In the end, Budget decided to compensate Nancy by giving her two $25 coupons good for a future rental.
“I think 7 On Your Side does a great job of educating the public about consumer issues. And I just like to remind people to make sure they understand what they’re signing the next time they rent a car “said Ray.
In This Article...
A Kia Forte is it a medium vehicle?
How Good Is the Kia Forte? Yes, the Kia Forte is an excellent small car. Its rear seats and trunk are surprisingly spacious. Both the cabin and the entertainment system are well-built and simple to use.
What other vehicles are like the Kia Forte?
The 2022 Kia Forte is a strong rival to other well-liked sedans like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. It is not just a typical compact car. Along with the improved exterior, the cabin also receives much-needed improvements.
A Kia Forte is a sporty car, right?
In recent years, the average price of a new automobile transaction has increased more than ever, making it more difficult than ever to purchase a brand-new vehicle that is also enjoyable to drive. Fortunately, Kia disproves that idea with the Forte GT, the company’s high-performance version of the tiny sedan.
The Forte GT is a member of Kia’s lineup of GT vehicles, which are the company’s sportiest automobiles. With 18-inch alloy wheels, a firmer sport suspension, a performance exhaust system, and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 201 and 195 lb-ft of torque, Kia equips the Forte GT. When cold started, the dual-exit arrangement is shockingly loud, which we predict will appeal to buyers searching for a compact with more personality than the standard Forte. The vehicle we drove had a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, but for $1,000 more, Kia also sells a GT Manual grade that includes a six-speed manual gearbox as standard equipment and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer tires.
How Does It Drive?
The Forte GT feels feisty off the line when you gun the pedal because there is a lot of torque steer available. It will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds, which is precisely the time required for its segment. Even when every seat is occupied by grownups on the motorway, there is still an abundance of power available when needed. The transmission offers crisp, quick shifts when the power is applied steadily. The dual clutch gearbox’s flaws are, however, exposed in slow moving traffic or on streets with frequent stop signs. Following an acceleration, it has a propensity to buck under braking and has a tendency to hesitate in reverse.
The transmission was at its best when we tested the Forte GT in the canyons. It revs out to redline with smooth throttle inputs and makes sharp upshifts. Under braking, it switches down anticipatorily. By using the paddle shifters, the driver is more actively involved and has more influence over the dual-clutch transmission’s operation.
The Forte GT is able to play well when cornering enthusiastically. The small vehicle maintains its grip in the corners despite having all-season tires. This was corroborated by our instrumented testing, which showed that the Forte GT performed better than average for compact cars fitted with equivalent tires, pulling an average of 0.87 g on our skidpad.
Three drive mode options are available for the Forte GT: Comfort, Smart, and Sport. While switching to Sport increases steering weight and awakens the motor, Comfort provides the most comfortable steering feel and throttle responsiveness. The Forte GT, according to Road Test Editor Chris Walton, offers “talkative handling and good balance on the skidpad.” The transmission isn’t nearly sophisticated enough to downshift and retain a gear on the skidpad even in Sport mode, he added in a separate comment.
The Kia Forte GT stopped steadily from 60 to 0 mph in 122 feet during our instrumented testing. It provides a good bite and feel to the brake pedal, enabling the driver to modulate the brake pedal smoothly. The Kia Forte GT’s tail end showed a tendency to skid out under severe braking into a corner at the track, but this adds to its eagerness and liveliness on twisting roads. Because of the sedan’s open communication style, it’s simple to get into a routine and navigate tricky terrain with confidence.
The Forte GT performs well on winding roads and poorly in heavy traffic. In stop-and-go traffic, the dual-clutch transmission struggles, and the harsh suspension shakes passengers as the vehicle crosses bumpy or uneven terrain. When purchasing a Forte GT, prospective purchasers should keep this in mind because most people probably won’t want to put up with its non-adaptive sport-tuned suspension arrangement.
Are Features the Forte’s Forte?
Metal pedal covers, contrast stitching, and a comfortable-to-hold leather-wrapped steering wheel are all advantages of the Forte GT. Even though the current generation of the Forte GT was introduced for the 2018 model year, its inside has already begun to seem obsolete. The majority of the surfaces are made of hard plastic, however the door cards and armrests have soft padding. With cleaner, more attractive cabins, a large portion of the competitors has surpassed the Forte’s interior design.
The GT2 package from Kia costs $2,200 and adds a number of practical, aesthetically pleasing, and comfortable improvements that significantly improve the cabin’s appearance. In addition to having an electric parking brake, auto-hold brakes, heated and ventilated front seats, LED interior lighting, rear parking sensors, a power sunroof, a premium Harman Kardon eight-speaker audio system, synthetic leather seats with GT logos, highway driving assistance, and forward collision avoidance assist with cyclist detection, our GT2-equipped test car also had these features. It’s important to note that this item cannot be added to the Forte GT Manual model.
A 10.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, keyless entry and push-button ignition, dual climate control, and fully LED exterior lighting are standard on every Forte GT. We particularly liked using the remote start function on the Forte GT to hear the exhaust start up from the outside. It has a lot of features, especially when compared to its compact sedan class rivals with less sporty starting prices of $24,515.
Is the Forte GT Right for Me?
The 2022 Kia Forte GT’s base price is $26,870, which is around $1,500 less than its closest competition, the 2022 Honda Civic Si (manual only). As a result, the Kia presents a compelling case for itself with a wealth of feature options and enough sportiness to excite on winding roads. However, paying more for the Honda might be worthwhile for those who intend to use their vehicle primarily for recreational purposes, particularly since the Civic Si makes use of a standard limited-slip front differential.
The Forte GT isn’t the most extreme sports sedan, but it can be fun to drive enthusiastically and is loaded with enough technology to function as a well-equipped daily driver. However, given its cheap beginning price and continued affordability even after adding the GT2 package with its wealth of features, car lovers with a desire for more are free to purchase their own summer tires if they wish to make their vehicle even more capable. Kudos to Kia for preserving the dream of an inexpensive sport sedan.
Better: Elantra or Forte?
Even though the Hyundai Elantra outperforms the Kia Forte in many respects, Kia still has an advantage over Hyundai’s sedan in one particular area. The Forte clearly outperforms the competition in terms of pricing, especially for the base model. The base model starts at $18,885, which is over $2,000 less expensive than the Elantra. Hyundai initially prices its vehicle at $20,655.
This is advantageous for individuals who enjoy manual transmissions because it comes standard on the Forte’s base model. The base Elantra model has an automatic continuously variable gearbox. The Forte GT, which costs roughly $1,500 less than the Elantra’s N-Line, which costs $25,105, is the next model up.
The dual-clutch automatic is standard on the Forte GT. You will have to fork over an additional $600 if you want a manual with this sporty variant. You get an automatic transmission with the Elantra N-Line, but if you want a six-speed manual, you can purchase one for $1,100 less than the automatic model.
In comparison to the Forte, the Hyundai Elantra boasts higher fuel efficiency ratings and more playable technological features. However, Kia’s sedan is still in the running. You can bet that the Forte will be the most affordable option.
Which issues might a Kia Forte have?
What Issues Are Related to Owning a 2020 Kia Forte? Owners complain of broken door locks, failing airbags on the driver’s side, and gearbox issues like shift slippage and difficulty accelerating. The anti-theft system in the Kia Forte has received a lot of flak for its shortcomings.
Is the Kia Forte going out of production?
A bigger infotainment touch screen, improved safety features, and edgy appearance are all standard on the 2022 Forte.
Contrary to popular assumption, the 2022 compact vehicle market is still very much active. This is the rationale behind the introduction of the 2022 Honda Civic, the updated 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, and the current midlife update of the 2022 Forte by Kia. The Forte offers numerous of safety and technological elements that are now standard together with a modified cabin, in addition to increasing the design factor.
The EX model has been retired by the Korean manufacturer, who currently offers it in four trim levels: FE, LXS, GT-Line, and GT. Based on the tech and ADAS system, Kia has added more packages including the GT-Line Sport Premium, LXS Technology, GT-Line Technology, and GT Technology2.
What qualifies as a full-size sedan?
A definition of a large car (full-size car) is one that has an interior volume index of more than 120 cu ft (3.4 m3) for sedan models or 160 cu ft (4.5 m3) for station wagons, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Fuel Economy Regulations for 1977 and Later Model Year (dated July 1996).[2]
A Kia Forte is larger than an Elantra, right?
Being able to get in and out of the Hyundai Elantra in a busy parking lot may be a little more difficult due to its somewhat broader body than the Kia Forte. The Kia Forte and Hyundai Elantra occupy almost the same amount of space in your garage when comparing overall lengths.
How long is the Kia Forte’s lifespan?
The Kia Forte may survive for many years and miles with routine oil changes and manufacturer maintenance. Currently, there are Forte models with more than 100,000 and even over 200,000 miles on them on the road! Take good care of your Kia vehicle to reap the benefits.
Drivers in Cleveland, Lorain, and Sheffield Lake, Ohio, may learn more about the Forte’s dependability by visiting Montrose Kia. Let’s get into the specifics now! Set up a test drive right away.
How trustworthy is a Kia Forte?
With a reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5, the Kia Forte is ranked sixth among 36 compact automobiles. Its great ownership costs are reflected in the $451 average yearly repair cost. The Forte is one of the more dependable automobiles on the road since repair needs are both more severe and less frequent than with other vehicles.
Cost
Compared to an average of $526 for compact vehicles and $652 for all vehicle types, the total yearly cost of repairs and maintenance for a Kia Forte is $451.
the typical annual sum for unplanned maintenance and repairs for all model years of a car. A vehicle’s greater average cost alone does not imply that it is less dependable. For instance, your car’s parts and labor may be pricey, especially if it’s a European luxury model, but if there are few serious problems and frequent service visits on average each year, that’s a sign of a dependable vehicle.
The typical annual frequency at which a vehicle is taken in for unplanned maintenance and repairs. This metric is produced by monitoring millions of distinctive automobiles over a number of years to ascertain the typical yearly visits for each make and model. Controls were included to prevent small, routine shop visits, such those for oil changes.
The severity element of dependability calculates the likelihood that a repair will cause a significant problem. The cost of a repair is assessed to be excessively expensive given the unscheduled nature of the repair if it is three times the average annual repair cost for all models. Due to their more expensive labor and component expenses, premium and luxury brands have a higher barrier.
Frequency
Compared to the average of 0.3 for compact cars and 0.4 for all vehicle models, Kia Forte owners bring their cars in for unplanned repairs 0.2 times less frequently each year.