Why the Kia Forte is still a compelling sporty sedan

The Kia Forte is one of the brand’s last compact sedans available in the local automotive market. Kia Philippines has yet to bring its successor or new model in just yet, however, the sedan still makes a case for itself even against much newer competitors that carry newer tech. The sedan market is a bit tight after all with not many new entries entering the market, with that said we will take a closer look at the Kia Forte to see why it's still a compelling sporty sedan to buy even in today’s market.

Even with the newer design languages of its competitors such as the Toyota Corolla Altis and the Honda Civic, the Kia Forte still manages to look new and modern. Kia thought ahead with its design of this generation of the Forte to keep it relevant even today. It sports the brand’s iconic tiger-nose grille, sleek LED headlights, and a generally sporty front fascia. The design works well as the sedan comes with flowing lines that transition well on the side of the vehicle and to the rear. Whether you are buying the GT or the regular 1.6 model, the design stays roughly the same with the GT being the more sought-after of the two models.

Interior space is the name of the game especially if you are buying a sedan of this size and price point. The Kia Forte delivers well in this regard thanks to the great execution of its cabin materials. While there are a few piano black plastics and a few blank buttons all in all it's still a well-executed interior. Everything is well within reach and can easily be accessed without straining yourself with a reach. The vehicle controls are structured logically and the red stitching on the GT model adds a bit of flair to the dark cabin. 

The Kia Forte is available with two engine options in the Philippines. The first is a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter gasoline engine that produces 126hp and 155 Nm of torque, while the second is a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that produces 201hp and 265 Nm of torque. This puts it slightly above the power figures of the non-hybrid Toyota Corolla Altis. On the other hand, when compared to Honda Civic which also comes with a 1.6 turbo, it beats it both in torque and horsepower. This makes it a compelling alternative to the Japanese sedan. Overall Kia has specced the Forte well to be right in the middle of its mainstream Japanese counterparts with still makes it a great rival to them even today.

It may not have the fancy safety technology features of its rivals, but it still has the industry standard of airbags and safety features such as ABS with EBD. To add to this Kia has also equipped the Forte with an 8-inch infotainment system with tactile knobs and buttons. The head unit also comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities which puts it on par with its more modern rivals. It also comes with Bluetooth capabilities which work seamlessly with any smartphone and its 6-speaker system isn't bad either. 

Here is the kicker, the Kia Forte comes with a very competitive price point which yet again positions in between its two more modern Japanese competitors. It can be had at its most affordable for P1,095,000 and at its most expensive for P1,650,000 which positions it just under the Honda Civic RS and the Corolla Altis Hybrid. On the lower end of the spectrum, it also goes head to head with the S variant of the Civic which is more expensive and the G variant of the Altis which is a bit more expensive. To add more to its competitive pricing, Kia Philippines also has special discounts on the Forte with big discounts awaiting those who want to purchase the sedan.