2014 Kia Forte- Lower, Longer, Wider… And Sexier?

Last week I reported on Kia’s 2014 release of their Sorento CUV. You can read that here. Now for a brief rundown of what we can expect of Kia’s 2014 Forte.

The Kia Forte slots into their lineup between the Rio sub-compact sedan and the best-selling Optima mid-size sedan. The 2014 model, the third generation Forte, is sitting on an all-new chassis that is longer, lower, and wider, contributing to a decidedly more sleek and sexier look over the previous model while offering improved ride and handling characteristics. In my opinion, Kia really has come a long way with their designs and styling over the past few years. I never would’ve thought that I’d be using adjectives such as sleek and sexy to describe a Kia, but alas, you just read the proof. Kia themselves describe this as a European-inspired design, and I can’t disagree.

As I mentioned in the Sorento article, Kia is really focusing on imparting luxury into this auto segment. Their next-generation UVO eServices is an available option, as is their new Flex Steer System which I also discussed in my Sorento piece. Options like these, a rear back up camera display, Bluetooth compatibility, ventilated 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat and many more are helping the Forte to set higher standards in the compact auto segment.

There are two engines available. A 1.8 liter MPI inline four-cylinder found in the LX model with 148 horsepower available at 6,500 rpm and 131 lb.-ft. of torque on tap at 4,700 rpm. This motor delivers power  to the front wheels through either a standard six speed manual transmission or an optional six speed automatic gearbox. The second engine is a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder GDI engine which is standard on the Forte EX. Output is 173-horsepower at 6,500 rpm, 154 lb.-ft. of torque available at 4,700 rpm, The EX comes standard with a six speed automatic.

Pricing is not yet available on Kia’s website for the 2014 model, though I’d suppose the MSRP for the LX model will likely be in the $16,000 range. The 2014 Kia Forte is expected to be available spring 2013.

You can visit Kia’s website to view picture galleries and a full option list here.