Kia Forte 2025: Design evolution and new technologies in the compact segment
With the Kia Forte model, the vehicle receives its first design after the release of the second generation models. What we must immediately notice is that the vehicle has not changed that much.
Kia Sportage
It still has most of the features present and brought with the debut of second-generation cars. What is new, however, is the introduction of a new trim level, the S trim, which is placed between the LX and EX trims. It’s actually a very nice refresh and buyers should try this version on for size.
The story of the second generation Forte cars begins in 2013 when the brand introduced its new fleet of cars. With a new designer on board and a lot of ambition, they managed to update the Kia Forte so that we got a car that both looks modern and is better than its predecessors in many ways. With new engines and a better interior, it was a promising new future of Kia’s Forte models.
As the prices of the Kia Forte models have been announced and the release date is also approaching, it was time for a review. So, you don’t have to look at pictures of the car anymore because you can read all the necessary facts about it here.
When is the release date?
The new Kia Forte design will not last that long and the car will go on sale already next year. The release date is set for the summer of and the car will be released well ahead of the expected schedule. Fans of the car have the opportunity to already enjoy their favorite car.
What’s the price?
As we said, the price list for the Kia Forte models has already been announced. The price starts with the base LX version, which is offered for an MSRP price of €16,490. However, if you want to use an automatic shifter, you can get it for a price of €17,500. The newly launched S trim cars are priced at €19,200, while the top-of-the-range EX trim models are priced at €21,200. Various optional extras and packages will also be available at different prices.
Very small changes on the outside
The exterior design of the Kia Forte has changed, but it doesn’t look like it. Looking at the car, you can hardly notice the changes the car has gone through, and it would take a long time to look at them all in detail. The thing they said is changing is the shape of the grille and headlights. They are both wider and meet at the top edge. The hood has been retained, but the lower fascia has seen the most noticeable changes. The fog lights have been repositioned and also appear to be larger, while some vents have been added in the corners.
The side of the car is almost identical to the current model. The only changes are the wraparound taillights, which are a bit rounded and have added a clearer lens. The rear of the car also adds slight changes. The only ones we can see are a lip that is a bit more pronounced than before and taillights that have received double layers. The lower part adds body lines to the corners, giving the car an overall sporty styling.
What sets the new S trim apart from the rest of the range are 16-inch alloy wheels and the addition of LED daytime running lights. At the rear, it gets a spoiler, while the exhaust tips are chrome-plated.
In the car
In general, the interior of the Kia Forte hasn’t changed dramatically either. The model is quite similar and has managed to retain most of its looks and features. There are minor changes to the dashboard and door parts on the passenger side, which are the same as those on the driver’s side. The seats are also similar and generally look like the 2016 model. What has changed, however, is the updated technology. Some parts may vary between trims, making them different from each other.
The LX and S trims get better cloth materials for the seats, with the S trim using a black theme with white stitching. The S trim has a leather steering wheel, while the LX offers an entire interior with leather and the seats also come with heating and 10-way adjustability. As for the technology on the EX and S models, the infotainment system has been updated with UVO33 telematics and a 7-inch touchscreen is added with all kinds of connectivity features. The best part, however, is that all trim levels come with Drive Mode Select as standard.
Drivetrain and performance
There have been some changes to the Kia Forte’s powertrain. First, the 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine is no longer there, the EX and S trim models will use a 2.0-liter Atkinson 4-cylinder engine and will have a choice of a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. Unfortunately, not much is known about the output. Since they changed things, they haven’t said anything about the car’s potential power. We can say that it could reach up to 147 hp as the previous version.
0-62 mph per hour and maximum speed
The new engine also brings changes for the acceleration of the Kia Forte. But as luck would have it, they haven’t released official numbers yet. But according to estimates, we can expect to get over 8 seconds to reach 0-62 mph per hour and a top speed of 122 mph.
Fuel consumption for the car
The same goes for the fuel economy of the Kia Forte. They are still trying to determine what the specifications will be on this. We hope that the numbers will be more favorable than last time, but Forte was already a good car when it came to the model’s fuel economy. The vehicle managed to provide 29 mpg city and 38 mpg highway in its last version and we will see if this will improve.
The size of the car
The size of the Kia Forte will not change. The restyled version will be the same as the second generation models when they were launched in 2013. The length is 179.5 inches, the wheelbase is 106.3 inches, and the height is 56.3 inches with a width of 70.1 inches. This allows you to offer passengers a space of 97 cu ft and a cargo load of 15 cu ft.
Safety equipment added
When it comes to safety on the Kia Forte, a lot of the equipment will carry over. We hope to see the choice of airbags here again, as the previous model came with front airbags, curtain airbags, and seat-mounted torso airbags. However, there are many optional features that will be available on this model. These mainly include things like lane departure warning, lane change alert, forward collision warning, emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic alert.
Competing cars
The compact segment in which the Kia Forte will appear is not so easy to compete. In fact, the number of cars presented here is so large that it may even be ridiculous to try your luck. Thanks to the new generation models, the Forte has found its own audience and is a worthy competitor here. Other models that present the best competing cars are the Honda Civic , the Volkswagen Golf and the Mazda 3 as the best-selling cars in this segment.
