2010 Kia Forte in Chula Vista, California
With its Elegant, Yet Bold Exterior Styling and Comfortable Interior the New Kia Forte is Hard to Pass Up
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 gives the new Kia Forte good handling and ride conditions includes hydraulic, power-assisted vacuum front vented disc and solid rear disc brakes with ABS, and engine-speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion steering. The suspension features include rear suspension with a torsion beam, coil springs, and stabilizer bar and front suspension with MacPherson struts, coil springs, and a stabilizer.
You might get some longing looks as you pass by in the new Kia Forte. The exterior styling is causing a bit of a sensation. "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 equipment includes tinted glass with a windshield sunshade band, auto-off clear-lens halogen headlights, variable intermittent windshield wipers, and body-color door handles.
Interior accommodations for the new Forte include a six-way adjustable driver's seat, USB and auxiliary input jacks, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity with steering wheel-mounted controls, rear cup holders, and an EcoMinder fuel efficiency monitor.
The 2010 Kia Forte comes with a huge assortment of safety features including three sets of standard air bags that 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. Advanced safety features include Electronic Stability Control, a Traction Control System, a Brake Assist System, Electronic Brake-Force Distribution, and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System. Other notable safety features include rear child safety door locks, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH), side-impact door beams, and front and rear crumple zones.
