2011 Kia Forte 5-Door Hatchback (Review)

The popularity of hatchbacks has been growing exponentially over the years and Kia Motors has recently entered this segment with the new Kia Forte 5-Door Hatchback, a spacious compact CUV style vehicle with a style that is like no other.

The Forte 5-Door has a design that is similar to the Forte sedan and incorporates similar front-end styling as the Forte sedan, except it has a newly designed front grille. The vehicle has impressive features, such as alloy wheels, paddle shifters, a center console, push-button start, and an optional navigation system.

Major styling changes have been made to the rear end of the vehicle giving the Forte 5-Door a sportier look and a distinguishable appearance.

Kia Motors is based in Soul Korea, has an impressive line of vehicles to choose from, and 730 dealers through out the U.S.

The Forte 5-Door Hatchback is not only classy, but is also very fun to drive. The rear windows have a wonderful design, and are uniquely shaped, giving them a unique and distinctive appearance. The plush leather seats in the front cabin area as well as the rear are comfortable and supportive. Even the floor pedals have a unique, sporty look and feel to them that I have not seen in any other vehicle. They are made with stainless steel and rubber pads that are slip resistant. The optional power sunroof is perfect in size, gives a great view, and is perfect when I just want to look at the sky or park by a tree and admire its beauty.

The stereo and speaker system is impressive and the sound quality is superb. While driving, the vehicle accelerates quickly, navigates curvy roads and freeways with ease, and provides a smooth ride.

The Kia Forte 5-Door comes in an EX and SX trim, but the main difference between the two models is that the SX has a larger 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 173 horsepower and is paired with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. EX models come equipped with an automatic transmission and a smaller 2.0-liter engine, but still boasts a lot of power. Both engines have continuously variable valve timing, which assists in fuel economy and responsiveness. The sporty SX model is available either an automatic or manual transmission.

All Forte models include a powerful 4-speaker sound system with Bluetooth connectivity and Sirius Satellite Radio capability, steering-wheel controls, CD player, and a USB connector. In fact, the Forte has one of the most modern and technologically advanced sound systems available with power bass and speed dependent volume compensation that automatically increases the volume at higher speeds.

The SX models also have expanded equipment, such as 17" alloy wheels, automatic headlights, fog lamps, sport seats, leather steering-wheel, shift-knob trim, gauge cluster, and tilt steering adjustment. The standard safety features are similar in class to more expensive vehicles, which include active front headrests, full-length side-curtain bags, front seat-mounted side airbags, electronic stability control, and 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes. Leather upholstery and heated seats are available on the SX, giving the vehicle an elegant and refined appearance.

The Kia Forte 5-Door has a spacious interior, comfortable cabin, and offers 19.4 cubic feet of cargo space to put groceries and other essentials. Also, unlike many other vehicles of similar size, the Forte has amazing noise insulation that makes the driving experience very quiet and enjoyable.

The only feature that I would like to see added to the Kia Forte Hatchback is a way to open the rear door with a key, instead of with remote and being locked automatically. In case of an electrical malfunction, a manual key entry can be pretty handy.

Both trims have great fuel economy (25 mpg city/34 highway with the base engine), but with Kia's optional fuel economy package, the addition of low-rolling silica tires, and aerodynamic enhancements can yield 27 mpg city/37 highway.

The Forte 5-Door has a base price of $17,590, while a fully loaded SX is about $24,000, and every Forte is covered by one of the best warranties available, which includes 10 years or 100,000 miles on powertrain components, 5 years or 60,000 miles limited warranty on the whole vehicle, and 5 years or 60,000 miles of roadside assistance.

On a scale of 1-10, I give the Kia Forte 5-Door Hatchback a 10.

If you have been looking for a car that is fuel efficient, reliable, comfortable, stylish, and fun to drive, then I highly recommend the Kia Forte 5-Door Hatchback. It is an impressive vehicle with state of the art features and is definitely worth taking a look at.