2016 Kia Forte

Big Things Can Come in Small Packages

A compact sedan along the lines of a Chevy Cruze or Ford Focus, the 2016 Forte hits all the right notes for what a compact car should accomplish, all while remaining incredibly affordable.

Check out the Current Special on the Kia Forte at Dorschel Forte

The New Forte

The Kia Forte has a ton to offer in just a small amount of cubic feet. It's agile, sporty, visually pleasing, and has a lot of options that add to the growing excitement of Kia's recent redesign process.

Trim Levels and Powertrains

The 2016 Kia Forte is available as a sedan in LX and EX trim levels. The two-door coupe, called a Koup by Kia engineers, is offered in both EX and the sportier SX models, while the four-door hatchback (Forte 5) comes in LX, EX, and SX trims.

Sound confusing? Don't worry, it's actually pretty simple. The Forte basically sees a sedan, hatchback, and coupe model option this time around, all running on a mix of three engines.

The LX is powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that gets 145-hp and 130 lb-ft of torque. It's front-wheel drive and has a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.

The EX gets a 2.0-liter four-cylinder spinning up 173-hp and 154 lb-ft of torque. The only transmission option is a six-speed automatic.

And the Forte SX versions of the Koup and Forte 5 hatchback each have a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder good for 201-hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. On both body styles, you have a choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic.

All-in-all, the plethora of drive styles available is a boon when value is taken into consideration - buyers looking for a more affordable compact option have a much wider range of options to choose from to get what they really want out of a new car, all without breaking the bank.

A Remarkable Sedan Inside and Out

Following the streak of Kia's design department, the 2016 Forte sees the exterior more streamlined with a sleeker body that has a surprising amount of pickup and agility thanks in large part to the small but turbocharged engine options.

Inside, Kia hasn't shied away from putting their new designs firmly into the 21st century by stuffing in myriad tech options. The base LX trim level offers Bluetooth and USB connectivity as standard, while traditionally high-end options such as xenon headlights, keyless ignition and entry, and selectable steering assist are available. Its touchscreen interface is arguably one of the better ones in its segment with large, logically positioned virtual buttons and intuitive user design.

Standard features on the LX sedan include 15-inch steel wheels, heated mirrors, a trip computer, with automatic headlights, upgraded interior upholstery and trim, a rearview camera, a 4.3-inch touchscreen and six speakers optional.