Kia Fortes Review
The compact Kia Fortes are available as a 4-door hatchback, 4-door sedan, or two-door coupe.
The sedan is offered in LX, EX, and SX trim levels, while the coupe and hatchback are available in SX and EX trims only.
Engine Specs
The new 2011 Forte EX and LX trims are powered by a 2.0-L 4-cylinder engine, which is capable of generating 156 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque. Forte SX utilizes a 2.4-L inline-4 that pumps out 173 hp and torsion of about 618 pound-feet.
A 6-speed automatic transmission is standard on the hatchback; all other Forte models get 6-speed manual transmission.
Fuel Economy
The estimated EPA fuel economy of Forte EX and LX with manual transmission is 25 mpg in city, 34 mpg on hwy, resulting in combined gas mileage of 29 mpg. Opting for automatic, the gas mileage will bump up to 26/36/29 mpg.
The fuel economy of the most powerful Forte SX is 23 mpg city, 32 mpg highway with automatic (31 mpg combined) and 22/32/29 with manual transmission.
Pricing
The MSRP of Forte LX is around $14,700, while the base price of SX is $16,570. The starting price tag of Kia Forte’s SX is about $18,000.