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Thanks: Greenway KIA Hickory Hollow 2024 Kia Forte $–$ Overview The Kia Forte is a sporty-looking compact sedan but don't be fooled by its sharp sheetmetal: its greatest asset isn't how much fun it is on the road but how easy it is on your bank account. A lethargic four-cylinder engine is standard, as is front-drive. It's plenty competent for zipping around town, but if you're looking for a bit of driving fun consider the GT model. The GT puts a sharper edge on the car's already keen appearance and drops a turbocharged four under the hood, along with either a dual-clutch automatic or a six-speed manual. The turbo four adds some punch, but the GT's chassis tuning doesn't deliver the more finely honed moves of sport-sedan competitors like the VW Jetta GLI or Honda Civic Si. What the Forte lineup does offer is value, with all sorts of standard features wrapped in four handsome trim levels at exceedingly low price points—a situation made all the more impressive by a powertrain warranty that's better than BMW's or Mercedes-Benz's. What's New for 2024? The Forte moves into 2024 with no significant changes from last year's model. The GT is still available as a sportier option and the entry-level LX retains an attractively low starting price. Pricing and Which One to Buy The price of the 2024 Kia Forte starts at $ and goes up to $ depending on the trim and options. LX: $21,145 LXS: $21,645 GT-Line: $23,645 GT: $25,845 Our choice is the more powerful and sportier GT, which ditches the Forte's standard continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) for either a seven-speed dual clutch automatic or a six-speed manual. We'd opt for the stick shift for its added driver engagement even though it's $700 dearer than the DCT. Not many extras are necessary since, in addition to its 201-hp turbocharged four-cylinder—which provides much quicker acceleration–the Forte GT comes with a host of attractive extras, including 18-inch wheels, sport seats, ambient interior lighting, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. Engine, Transmission, and Performance The Forte compact sedan offers two different engine options: a four-cylinder with 147 horsepower and a turbocharged four-cylinder with 201 horsepower. The felt sluggish when we tested it, and the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) didn't help. The non-turbocharged engine required 8.2 seconds to motivate the Forte to 60 mph at our test track—notably slower than the Mazda 3, which got there in 7.0 seconds. The optional 201-hp turbocharged engine, however, moves the Forte closer to the performance of the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Civic Si. At our test track, a manual transmission-equipped GT test car managed a run to 60 mph, slightly off the pace of those two memorable performers. The Forte offers a comfortable and stable ride, but its handling isn't as exciting as its Stinger-inspired exterior styling would suggest, even in the sportier GT model. In fact, when hustling the Forte in a recent comparison test against the Civic Si and the Jetta GLI, we found ourselves working harder in the Forte to keep up with the rest of the pack. Kia Forte 60-MPH Time The felt sluggish when we tested it, and the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) didn't help. In our testing, the standard Forte delivered a 60-mph time of 8.2 seconds. However, with the optional 201-hp turbocharged engine, the 60-mph time for the Kia Forte GT we tested was faster at 6.7 seconds. Read More 📌 Instagram ▶ 📌 Tiktok ▶ @cartvpress
