First Look: 2010 Kia Forte

New Name, Familiar Package

There's a new Kia and town, and its name is Forte -- finally putting an end to months of Internet speculation surrounding the official moniker of the long-awaited Spectra successor. Now that the name game's out of the way, upon initial examination, the Forte badge is affixed to a familiar Kia package, but with lots of welcome additions.

The first thing you'll likely notice about the new 2010 Kia Forte (pronounced FOR - TAY) is its styling, which appears to crib several cues from competitors Honda and Toyota. While a clear departure from the outgoing Spectra, the new look is relatively conservative from a design standpoint and likely won't prove controversial. The new car's grown an inch in wheelbase, length, and width, but the Spectra's MacPherson-strut front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension are still there and the interior volume has changed less than a cubic inch. Cargo volume is up though to 14.7 cu ft from 12.2 cu ft.

The lack of dramatic change to the new Kia sedan's underpinnings is not necessarily a bad thing, though. While we found the top-model Spectra SX a bit unfriendly to ragged-edge driving as part of a sub-compact competition back in 2005, we lauded its comfort and smooth operation around town and on the highway. Its 2.0L four-cylinder was a bit underpowered, though, and Kia has rectified that in the Forte. It now makes 156 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque, up 18 hp and 8 lb-ft over the Spectra. Mated to a four-speed auto or five-speed manual, the power bump should make the Forte a bit livelier than the Spectra.

Of course, smooth rides and good power aren't always enough for some people. They want more, and for them, the Forte keeps the SX trim level. The SX receives a more-potent 2.4L DOHC inline four-cylinder engine that makes 173 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque, which is more powerful than the Toyota Corolla XRS and nips at the heels of the Honda Civic Si. A standard six-speed manual transmission or option five-speed automatic with Sportmatic should make this car a strong performer in its class, and we hope the performance-tuned suspension will iron out some of the Spectra SX's foibles. One place the SX didn't need much help was in the braking department, but nevertheless, Kia has upped the Forte's game with 11.8-in. disc brakes up front, nearly a full inch larger than on other models.

Heavy praise was also heaped upon the Spectra's interior, and the Forte looks to pick up where that car left off. All models keep the Spectra's six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, tilt steering column and dual 12-volt outlets in the center console. You'll also be treated to an updated four-speaker stereo with a USB input added next to the auxiliary input, standard Bluetooth connectivity and Sirius Satellite Radio with a free three-month subscription.

Step up from the base LX to the mid-range EX, though, and you'll be treated to a slew of amenities like power doors and windows, A/C, cruise control, keyless entry, dual front and rear cupholders, 16-in. wheels (up from 15-in. on the LX), steering wheel controls for the cruise and stereo, and a more-powerful six-speaker sounds system. Leather seats and a sunroof are optional. Opt for the sporty SX model and you'll also pick up a telescoping steering, 17-in. wheels and cloth sport seats with red stitching.

If you're more interested in saving gas than carving corners, the Forte has you covered there as well. LX and EX models will get an estimated 23 mpg city and 34 mpg highway with the four-speed auto box and 26 mpg city and 36 mpg highway with the five-speed manual. Helping the Forte achieve 36 mpg on the highway is a special Fuel Economy Package that mates the 2.0L engine to the five-speed automatic, replaces the standard power steering with a Motor Drive system, adds low rolling-resistance tires and special aerodynamic bodywork. Even without the Fuel Economy Package, the Forte's fuel economy numbers are up as much as two mpg city and six mpg highway over the Spectra.

Along with the updated suspension and passenger amenities, Kia has also carried over the Spectra's long list of safety features. Every Forte will come with four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, active headrests, driver and passenger front air bags, front side airbags, side-curtain airbags and a tire pressure monitoring system. New for the Forte are an electronic stability control system and a traction control system.

When the Forte hits the road in late spring, it will also come with Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty, a 5-year/100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty, and a 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan. Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but expect at least a small premium over the Spectra's $13,700 starting price.

By Scott Evans
MotorTrend.com