While Kia has moved up-market in recent years with products like the sporty Stinger and the big K900 sedan, the automaker demonstrated it isn’t abandoning its roots either with debut of the third-generation Forte at the Detroit auto show on Monday.
The new 2019 Kia Forte will face a tough challenge, entering a crowded segment of the market even as small car sales take a tumble. More and more buyers are migrating from passenger cars to SUVs, CUVs and other light trucks. Even so, the Forte remains one of the company’s top sellers and Kia is determined to keep it that way.
As with other recent models, Kia is putting a premium on giving the traditionally staid sedan a more enticing look; the 2019 Forte borrows some of the cues found on the new Stinger fastback.
Design
Shown at the North American International Auto Show, the third-generation Forte adopts a more aggressive version of Kia’s familiar “tiger nose” grille, framed by new, Stinger-style headlights and a more muscular front fascia.
Kia designers opted for a flowing, horizontal interior layout to give a greater sense of space to an otherwise small car. The look is generally uncluttered, an eight-inch touchscreen topping the centre console and taking over the operation of numerous traditional controls. There are also more soft touch points for a bit more of a refined feel.
Features
There are also new intakes that feed the air curtains that curb turbulence around the front wheels, improving overall aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. The rear bumper gets a similar sporty treatment that includes new LED taillights and details reminiscent of the latest Kia Sportage crossover-utility vehicle.
The roofline also shows the Stinger’s influence, opting for a more fastback approach. And, with the overall length of the 2019 model stretched 3.2 inches — to 182.7 inches — Kia engineers were able to improve the small car’s interior space, especially in the rear seat. Cargo capacity also grew to 15.1 cubic feet, making it one of the roomiest cars in its segment.
As for the powertrain, the Forte gets Kia’s second-generation 2.0-liter Nu four-cylinder engine. To save fuel, it uses Atkinson Cycle technology and is paired with the Korean marquee’s first in-house designed continuously variable transmission. All told, look for combined fuel economy in the 35 mpg range, Kia said.