The 2017 Kia Forte EX. |
With the 2014 model, the Forte closed the gap. And the new 2017, a mid-cycle refresh, cements the Forte's position as a solid contender in a competitive segment.
2017 Kia Forte. |
Under the hood? A 164-horsepower 2.0-liter four, that, with a six-speed automatic transmission, gives competitive performance for the segment and returns an EPA-estimated 25 city/33 highway.
2017 Kia Forte interior. |
What it did have was the EX Premium Plus Package, which adds a supervision meter cluster, navigation, autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind spot detection, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, ventilated front seats, a power driver's seat with memory, auto-dimming rearview mirror, Xenon HID headlights and a power sunroof for $4,490.
Fold in $850 inland freight and handling and the bottom line is $26,540...which is pricey for the segment, which generally sees $25,000 as all the market will bear. But you get a lot for that money...and simply saying no to the Premium Plus Package gets the price tag back down to $22,050, which puts the Forte back in the position of being competitive with Corolla and Civic, with a bit more horsepower for less money. It's a winning formula.