There’s a new compact sedan in town and it happens to be one from the South Korean brand Kia. The all-new Forte was introduced by Kia Philippines at the 2019 Manila International Auto Show in April and was first showcased to the world at the 2018 North American International Auto Show. Locally, the all-new Forte will serve as Kia’s gate pass to the ever-tightly-competed compact segment in the market. Upfront is a dynamic Tiger Nose grille accentuated by Bi-function LED headlights. With these design cues, it’s hard not to relate it with its more powerful sibling, the Stinger. The sportiness flows from the distinctive face to the front bumper with its large air vents. The rear is composed of LED tail lights with bumper mounted turn signals, while an LED bar serves double duty, which is as a lighting element and a trunk-trim piece. In addition, a set of 17-inch alloys, along with the wide door entries, make up the side profile. The cabin features some of Kia Stinger’s DNA. The two letters, ‘GT’ is stitched on to the seat in red thread. The rest of the seat sports red accents and red stitching all throughout. The steering wheel also features a ‘GT’ badge at the bottom of its D-shaped flat bottom, while a floating head unit sits prominently on the center of the dash. The 2019 Kia Forte utilizes a 1.6-liter turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine that can generate 201 hp, while a 7-speed dual clutch transmission smoothly helps it with its 265 Nm of torque. This is the same setup found on its segment rival’s Veloster Turbo with the exception that the Forte is a sedan.
Launch
The new Kia Forte was launched with a turbocharged GT variant serving as its line topper during the Manila International Auto Show on April 5, 2019. The unboxing was done in tandem with the Kia brand's halo car, the Stinger.
Platform, Chassis and Powertrain
The Forte's unibody construction means that the sedan is poised and well put together. The suspension setup differs between variants. The top of the line model, the GT, has a MacPherson front strut and a multi-link rear. For the entry-level and mid variants, the Forte gets a torsion beam rear suspension instead. An all-disc brake setup can be found on the top of the line spec, while the lower variants will make do with rear drums. Wheel size is up to 17-inches in diameter and made out of aluminum alloy.
Power comes from either a naturally-aspirated or turbocharged 1.6-liter gasoline motor. The base and mid-trim levels feature the naturally aspirated motor with 126 hp and 155 Nm of torque. This engine is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission with Manual Mode. On the GT variant, the 1.6-liter gets a turbocharger and a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission with Manual Mode. The turbo mill produces power figures that amount to 201 hp and 265 Nm of torque, which nearly doubles the performance of the engine without boost.
Chassis
Class
Compact Sedan
Body Style
4-Door Sedan
Platform
Layout
Front Engine, Front-Wheel Drive
Platform
J6 Platform
Powertrain
Engine
1.6L In-Line 4 Cylinders, DOHC, Dual-CVVT Petrol
1.6L In-Line 4 Cylinders, DOHC, Turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection Petrol
Power Output
126 hp and 155 Nm of torque (Non-Turbo)
201 hp and 265 Nm of torque (Turbocharged)
The top-spec trim of the Kia Forte has a turbocharged engine that allows for good straight-line acceleration. Steering is light and responsive, whilst remaining sharp. Driving the sedan at a fast pace is effortless and easily done. The car turns the corner well with stability and minimal body roll. Maneuvering in the city is also a breeze thanks to the light steering and relatively compact dimensions. The transmission is only fair in city traffic however, with mild hesitation from the DCT. Lower variants will feature a traditional automatic, which is better for traffic.
Technology Features
Kia has equipped the Forte with enough tech for its segment, especially in its top of the line trim. The model comes with power-adjustable front seats, automatic headlights, speed-sensing door locks, cruise control, rear parking camera with front and rear sensors, keyless entry, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Lower variants will make do with fewer features, but what remains constant is the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This infotainment system is paired with a 6-speaker setup for higher trim levels. Standard across the range is a multi-information display, the aforementioned 8-inch infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Exterior
On the front of the Forte, the brand's tiger-nose grille is prominently displayed. Higher variants will be outfitted with LED lights with LED DRLs and LED foglamps. A halogen projector setup can be found on the Forte's base variant along with halogen DRLs. The line-topping variant will get several GT Design elements such as the grille, side mirrors, door handles, as well as a trunk lid spoiler. The rear features LED lights on the top of the line variant, while the standard setup is composed of bulbs.
Interior
This compact sedan comes with ample space in the front and rear to allow for comfortable seating and enough driving engagement. Material choice is predominantly plastic, but with several soft touchpoints that elevate the interior. GT variants get special treatment like the GT steering wheel, sports pedals, and leather GT seats with accent red stitching that matches the rest of the thread found around the cabin.
Trunk space comes in at a very ample 502-liters, which is enough for your daily needs, while rear passenger space is more than enough for average-sized individuals.
Safety
For safety systems, the Forte comes with your standard safety kit such as 6 airbags, ABS, electronic stability control, hill-start assist, and ISOFIX child seat anchors. Lower variants will see some features removed, however.
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The 2019 Kia Forte GT is a compact sedan available in the Philippines from Kia, but it is one of the most powerful compact offerings in its class thanks to its 1.6-liter turbocharged motor that produces 201 hp and 265 Nm of torque mated to a DCT. Let's go Behind the Wheel for a review.
