2015 KIA Forte

OMG are you serious here?

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: Performance Rating: Interior Rating: Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: Technology Rating: Value Rating:

I'm coming from a little Scion which was purchased primarily for it's performance and gas mileage. However, the older I get the less I can take a bumpy ride. So I began the search for a sedan with a better ride and more comfort. Since my husband had recently bought a Kia Sportage and loved it, I looked into the Forte. I purchased my car through a deal offer on Edmunds and am I happy? You Bet Cha! I'm getting 31to 32 miles per gallon and the smoothest ride anyone could want. I got a great price and the Hendrix Group in Concord, NC, followed through on the deal with no bait and switch! Love the service, car and the price. Thanks Edmonds for making the introduction1

Great Purchase

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

I just purchased a 2015 Kia Forte EX from Budget Car Sales - Norwalk from two "No Hassle" salesmen -- Phil / Carlos. If you want a good by ---- see either one of these guys.

Don't buy !

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 1 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 1

I got this car 6 months ago . The motor blew and the dealer blamed me for an obvious issue with the car I told them of prior . Warranty didn't cover so car is now headed to the junk yard and I'm out 21,000 dollars . Stay away from this brand ! They get you to buy with false claims of backing your warranty !

bad hesitate bad ... dangerous

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 3 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 3

sticky steering , not centering , real bad hesitation at lower speed , taking off . I had it to the floor at one time for at least 4 sec. before getting out of the way!

love my forte

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: Value Rating: 3

The car drives great really love the interior design. The touch screen radio is plus and the back up camera. Cowboy kia did a great job on finding the right for me. Definitely would recommend them to anyone.

Great cheaper alternative

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

This is a little unknown hot hatch. I didnt even know Kia made this car until some online new car browsing. Got a great deal and was actually pretty hard to find one which means you stand out since rare to see another. Turbo engine has great pick up at any speed or gear! 6 speed manual trans is alittle too geared towards city driving vs hwy. 5th and 6th just isnt a hwy gear it should be. I average 30mpg with high octane gas. Car hates cheap gas. Great build quality and warranty!! The zip and handing makes it fun. I even embarressed a GTI on hwy. This is a low car so getting out and in provides some hand support from the seat. Options galore on the SX model like heated and cooled seats in front and heated in back which is rare for this class of car. Heated steering wheel . Mine didnt come with the Nav and Hid headlights but not spending the extra $$$ on a in dash Nav with phones these days. Only two main gripes with this car is radio just sucks for sound and loudness and steering is electric with is very touchy with any input makes you wander. Also it seems to have a "sticky" feeling when driving straight . Its brief but alarms you when u go to turn . Otherwise been a great,reliable fun car!

I Love My KIA Forte 5 Door EX Hatchback

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 25

Let me start by saying I LOVE my 2015 Forte Hatchback. It's probably the best car I ever owned. Are there things about it I don't like? Yes, that's why I only gave it 4 stars (didn't know how to give it 4 1/2 stars). Having said that, I would buy another one in a heartbeat. PROS 1. This is the 2nd KIA I've owned and both of them have been perfect mechanically. I haven't had one mechanical issue. It just cannot get any better than that. I also know two other people who had KIAs for at least 3 years and neither one of them had a single mechanical problem. 2. The car is sleek and people constantly tell me how cool it looks. I love looking at it every time I approach my car. 3. It's extremely comfortable and I thoroughly enjoy driving it. Is it fun to drive? I think so. 4. The A/C system works great in a very hot, southern climate. It even came with front seats which can be heated (I don't need that where I live) and/or cooled. 5. The UVO system is terrific and very easy to use. 6. The instrument panel is clear, easy to read, and very informative. I could do almost everything I wanted without ever looking at the manual. 7. I love my Sirius XM Satellite Radio. 8. Lots of storage space with 5 door Hatchback plus the special storage container under the normal floor in the rear is very handy. 9. My KIA dealer treats the customers like gold. 10. Very affordable but it has the quality of a more expensive car. 11. Very good highway mileage 12. Nobody beats the KIA warranty. I feel great because I had no problems, but if I did, it's always covered under the warranty. CONS 1. Wind noise, especially on the highway (seems to be a problem with KIAs) 2. Poor city stop and go mileage. Maybe it's because I'm always taking very short trips with lots of traffic lights where I accelerate briskly? It's hard to tell if it's my driving style or the vehicle. I think it's a combination of both. 3. The standard tires are just OK but very noisy. I'm used to riding on Michelins which are far superior. 4. The instrument panel is very cool but one gauge says MPH instead of MPG for the average miles per gallon 5. With one exception the navigation system works great, plus it has a large, easy to read screen. That one exception,unless I have a specific address to punch in, is it's often difficult to find what I'm looking for . For some unknown reason it's hard to find venues. In other words, it isn't user friendly.

hesitation when accelerating slowly

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: Performance Rating: Interior Rating: Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: Technology Rating: Value Rating:

this car has been to dealer twice it still hesitates never again

Great Car in an Excellent Package

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

We shopped for a replacement car when the previous vehicle was declared a total loss. Couldn't beat the financial incentives at Kia, and this car is an extremely attractive package for the money. Fit and finish is fantastic, base equipment exceeded our expectations. Was a bit concerned about the smaller engine/turbo combination, but it has proved to be a perfect powerplant for this car: keeps it light and more than adequate acceleration. Ride quality, even with the low profile tires fitted, is several levels above the car we replaced, a 2010 Kia Forte Koup. At this point, admittedly early on, we are completely satisfied with this vehicle, and love the practicality of the 4 door hatchback design.

Almost a GTI for a fraction of the price

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

I've always had a soft spot for hot hatches. One of my favorite cars was a prior GTI even though it was also the least reliable car I've owned. I never thought I'd see myself in a KIA but they have really stepped up in recent years. Their designs and reliability are some of the best in the business now. The Forte5 SX with the 6 speed manual is a blast to drive. The power is readily available at low RPMs. The interior is spacious and fits my 6'7 frame well with plenty of room to spare. I don't even need to have the seat all the way back which is exceptionally rare. The ride is quite comfortable. I'm averaging 31mpg(hand calculated, computer says 32-33) in mixed driving. The power folding mirrors may seem a bit gimmicky at first, but they sure are nice to have in a narrow 2 car garage. It's not quite as quick as a GTI nor does it handle quite as well, however you can buy one of these in SX trim for under $18k with a long warranty to boot. Put a little of that savings into some suspension and power upgrades and you're on par. If you're looking for a fun hatchback definitely give one of these a test drive.

The "I finally got to know it!" review

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 3 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 4

After purchasing the car I felt as though you wanted a review too soon. I hadn't gotten to know the ins and outs of the car yet. Now I can give an honest and detailed review. First of all, the acceleration, handling, steering they're all good. But, I've noticed that the brakes tend to lose pressure if I am applying the brake while encountering a severe bump or pothole, or even a patch of ice. According to the service department my brakes are fine so there must be a problem in the engineering or design. Second, this car is noisy! I have all windows closed and it still sounds as though they are open! And, even with new tires I get bumps aplenty when traveling even new paved roads. I don't know if it is suspension or tires but it rattles my teeth. Speaking of the windows, they don't work very well. If you try to raise or lower them just a bit, the motor takes over and they open or close completely. Inconvenient and potentially dangerous in the wrong situation. Third, and this is VERY important, the dashboard lights up even when you don't have your lights on. I'm old enough to know that a lit dash board is a sure sign of your headlights being on. When the dash is already lit you can forget to turn them on. For inattentive drivers this can be disastrous. Also, your headlights do not melt snow. In most of this country you get snow in the winter. If the headlights don't melt it you can't see and the other driver can't see you. It's dangerous. I do like the back up camera. I was confused at first but now I truly appreciate it. The remote. This overly large remote is so sensitive that it sets off the alarm if I bump my pocket. It needs to be smaller with recessed buttons, or have a cover over the buttons to prevent accidental operation. The trunk door. This door can be opened from the outside if I am in it with my remote in my pocket THAT is dangerous for those who prefer to keep their doors locked. You REALLY need to look into that. The windows fog up in the winter if the fan isn't blowing full blast. The windshield wipers do not do a very good job, especially the rear wiper. The service department in my area is GREAT! These guys do an amazing job keeping the car in good condition, but I notice that the engine still sounds rough sometimes even after a tune up. I'm at about 28,000 miles I hope this won't be a trend as it gets older. I wish it got better gas mileage. I get about 30 mpg on the highway and around 25 in the city but I thought an engine this size could be better. I'll worry about the resale value later. All in all I like the car for what it is, an economy car. But I hope your future cars can address these points I have indicated because there is a good chance I will buy another KIA in the future. Thank you for listening. I DO like your cars.

2015 Forte LX sedan

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

Bought my 2015 Forte in Nov '14. So far, the car has been great. No mechanical problems or issues at all. It has plenty of room for a compact car. I saw some people said visibility is an issue, but for me ( I'm 5'7) visibility is just fine. I have the base engine, and granted it could use a little more power, and fuel economy is about average not great. The interior is really nice especially when compared to other compact cars that I looked at. KIA has definitely come a long way. PROS: Price, Style, Standard features, Interior quality. CONS: Base engine under powered, standard '15 wheels are cheap looking for such a nice car.

Overall a good buy

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

The Kia Forte/Hyundai Elantra has lots of competition -- Corolla, Civic, Impreza, Mazda 3, Ford Focus, VW Golf and others. None of these is best at everything. We've had the Kia for 26 months now. An LX base package, automatic transmission. We wanted a hatchback, but the bigger engine that comes with it uses more fuel. The standard 1.8 has more than ample power everywhere, and is an outstanding match for the transmission. The ride, engine/transmission, warranty, price, reliability, and overall design were why we bought the car. They continue to be its strengths. In a 160 mile test drive we got 41 highway, 27 city gas mileage. These figures have held up over the last year. We generally use the Eco button on the dashboard. So it is better than average in its class on fuel, similar to a Honda Fit. (Update: At about 4000 miles we started getting between 43 and 47 mpg in long highway trips. At 12,000 miles, we continue to be in the 43-47 mpg area, 40 in the mountains.) Weaknesses are shared by many cars of other manufacturers: the design limits vision anywhere to the rear of the driver; headrests are uncomfortable; rear window gets dirty quick; not especially easy to enter/exit the car, shape of car is harder to park than older models. Looks like the Forte is meant to go head to head with the Honda Civic. We previously had a 2005 Honda Civic. This is a better car in most ways, except for the weaknesses I just mentioned, which most manufacturers have adopted. It handles crosswinds on expressways much better than that Civic. Rides smoother. Handles even better. Engine feels very strong. Based on experience so far, we'd buy it again, though still wishing for a hatch with the standard engine. We also could not buy one in white that wasn't a hatch. The Mazda 3, Ford Focus, Subaru, and VW Golf all have a lot of good things going for them, but this seems like the best overall car. I would compare it to Toyota and Honda in the 90s. It will not knock your socks off, but it is maybe the best car to own.

EEGGHH it's ok..but not great

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 2 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 3 Safety Rating: 3 Technology Rating: 2 Value Rating: 2

We have had our kia forte for about 3 months now. We took it for it's first oil change which in our contract stated the first years worth would be free. After they were done, they tried to charge us for it. We of course pointed out that they were supposed to be free. Had to wait for them to get in contact with our sales person and verify that yes, it should be free. Apparently they do not notate it at the sale when they promise you certain things so you have to basically fight for it when it comes to actually getting what you were promised. Now, we have a popping sound in the steering wheel for about a week. Called the service dept and they said to bring it in. Took it in today..was told that it was at least a 2 hour wait for them to get to it just to find out what was wrong. We told them we cannot wait that long and would we get a rental car? Was told that they will only give us a rental car if the car is either kept overnight or if they deem it undriveable. Otherwise we have to bring it up there, and sit and wait until they can get to it. Awesome service. Because I can afford to take off of work to go sit up at a dealership for hours just to be told whether or not they can even fix it that day or not. And then if they CAN fix it I definitely have time to sit up there even longer and wait while they do. This is a brand new car..our first new car we have ever bought..there is no reason why we should even be having ANY problems to begin with, much less having to hassle to get it fixed. If there is a problem, especially something major, such as STEERING, you would think they would say "ok, lets get it fixed. Here is a loaner car until we figure out what is wrong and get it corrected"..but that would be in a perfect world right?

Sporty Looking car with a ok feature list.

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 4

At the time I was looking for a used vehicle to purchase after I seen how cheap KIA's were and the warranty they came with I decided to purchase one. I bought this vehicle from my local KIA dealership on 7/10/2015 brand new off the lot. This car has a nice list of features/options you are able to get and customize like any other car. I was always a ford vehicle customer in the past until I purchase a 2010 CHEVY Malibu (JUNK) which was a complete nightmare I hated that car so I end up trading it for this. I purchased the EX Trim of the Forte, because of the options I seen on the car I was impressed with the price value of the sticker. Comparing to other compact cars this is a great value that not many can compete with. Pros: -Warranty- (Keep this in mind if you are purchasing a KIA dealers may try to add on extras not needed) 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty 5-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty 5-year/100,000-mile limited anti-perforation warranty 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan -Luxury Side- Automatic Folding Mirrors Push Button Start Heated/Air Cooling Driver Seat Heated Passenger Seats Dual Climate Control -Technology Side- Back Up Camera Satellite Radio UVO System (AMAZING) Navigation With the UVO System you can log into your account and see your driving score and base on the score it will give you tips. -Performance- Handles Great around turns 2.0L Engine Gas Direct Injection Highway Driving I have seen 34 MPG Around my area is rural I usually get approximately 29-32 MPG Cons: Acceleration is a bit slow at times It would be pretty cool if the GPS screen is a pinch to zoom type of screen Feature list on website is limited even for the ex trim Wish it had some interior lighting for at night like on most the newer ford cars Resale Value isn't all that great on KIA's Carpet Floor Mats is a option that should be standard not paying extra for it (Pay $75 for it) Back up camera can be a bit foggy at times

Not sure I would buy another Kia

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 4

This car vibrates when foot is on the break...dealer says it is normal but I don't see anything that says it is normal. It also hesitates when going from 40 to 50. Gas mileage is awful about 18 mpg. Again dealer says it will better better when it is broken in. I have had the car for 6 months but it only has about 1200 miles. I am bringing it to the dealer again for its regular check up and hopefully this time they will check it out thoroughly. Doesn't impress me at this point.

The Forte5 SX Manual is a great car to drive.

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 3

This car excels in terms of design, comfort, and features. In addition, when an opportunity presents itself, the manual shifting turbo engine is wickedly good fun. Is this a car to take track-racing? Of course not, but the upside is that it's a pleasant and fun daily driver. However, know that the stiffer suspension disallows this car from being a comfortable highway cruiser when the pavement gets dicey. Nevertheless, if you're in the market for a fun-to-drive hatchback with space for 4 (not just seating, but actual space!) definitely check out the Forte5 SX. So far, my mileage has been about 3 better than the rated MPG from KIA, and that's in 50/50 mixed driving. I've also gotten (mostly) used to the much-maligned flex-steer. I rarely take it out of the 'normal' setting. On occasion I'll use 'sport' on a crowded, twisty interstate, and even less frequently I'll use 'comfort' when cruising on a well-paved, empty highway. Worth noting, even though UVO works well, the stock speakers are absolutely terrible. Given that UVO is such a key component of KIA's marketing, they should immediately discontinue the current speakers and use the Infinity upgrade materials they have available for other vehicles (but not the Forte . . .?). Finally, given KIA's incentivized sales approach, there is no way not to get a good deal. Especially on this under-marketed, under-appreciated, and undersold car. Based on all the info I can find online, I ended up paying less than inventory price by a couple hundred dollars.

Base model LX good bang for buck

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 4 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

"Never thought I would buy a new Kia!. After driving a Toyota Echo for the last 5 years I decided I needed something bigger, newer and almost as good gas mileage. I have owned the 2015 Kia LX 1.8L for the last month and have been averaging a combined 36 miles per gallon which is better than EPA rates. Decided to go for the base model as it was on cash special for $12,500(could not refuse). Decent features for base model, with power groups and satellite radio and blue tooth. Huge upgrade from roll up windows Echo. The ride is comfortable with good seats and driving feel. Ride noise is a little loud, but what can you expect for $12,500. Blue tooth and voice commands work very well.