2010 Kia Forte in Chula Vista, California
With a Vast Assortment of Safety Features and Cool Exterior Styling the 2010 Kia Forte is Hard to Resist
Kia is revamping their brand with the elegant and practical 2010 Kia Forte. Reviewers enjoyed this compact sedan's quiet cabin, cargo space, and safety and technological features. Perhaps the best part about the Kia Forte is that all its goodness comes bundled up in an affordable package. Motortrend commented, "After our stint behind the Forte's well-executed multi-function steering wheel, we'd put it right up there with the best the compact segment has to offer." Thecarconnection.com also said, "The 2010 Kia Forte is a strong contender in every way—a surprisingly good-looking, enjoyable-to-drive car that will hold the budget down." The Forte comes in three trim styles--the EX, LX, and SX, which all come with either manual or automatic transmission. The SX trim sports the most exterior and interior refinement with the EX following close behind. Steering wheel mounted cruise control and heated outside power mirrors with turn signal indicators come standard on these trims. While still moderately equipped, the LX trims still come with an AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with Sirius satellite radio and 4 speakers. All of the trims come with FWD. The SX trims come with a 173 horsepower 2.4-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine while the EX and LX trims come with a 156 hp, 2.0-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine.
Mechanical equipment that comes standard on all of the new Kia Forte trims includes engine-speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion steering, and hydraulic, power-assisted vacuum front vented disc and solid rear disc brakes with ABS. The suspension package includes front independent MacPherson struts, coil springs, and a stabilizer, and rear suspension with a torsion beam, coil springs, and a stabilizer bar.
The exterior of the 2010 Kia Forte is causing some lingering glances. "The svelte Forte doesn’t have any awkward angles, and a nice wide stance from the front and back somehow matches the flowing, elegant roofline," says thecarconnection.com. Standard exterior features include body-color door handles, variable intermittent windshield wipers, auto-off clear-lens halogen headlights, and tinted glass with a windshield sunshade band.
Interior features that make the new Forte a more attractive option include Bluetooth hands-free connectivity with steering wheel-mounted controls, a six-way adjustable driver's seat, USB and auxiliary input jacks, an EcoMinder fuel efficiency monitor, and rear cupholders.
The 2010 Kia Forte includes a large assortment of standard safety features including advanced safety features like Electronic Stability Control, a Traction Control System, a Brake Assist System, Electronic Brake-Force Distribution, and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System. You'll also appreciate three sets of standard airbags which include dual front advanced airbags, dual front seat-mounted side airbags, and full-length side curtain airbags. The seatbelt features include front and rear 3-point seat belts, front seat-belt pretensioners with force belt limiters, and height-adjustable front seat belt anchors. Other important safety features include front and rear crumple zones, side-impact door beams, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH), and rear child safety door locks.
