The 2010 Kia Forte is making a name for itself in the world of fuel-efficient compact cars. Kia calls Forte “the first of its kind.” The Forte, a sedan whose name fittingly means strength, is even giving the ubiquitous Honda Civic a run for its money on looks, features and, of course, price.
In appearance, the 2010 Kia Forte features more upscale styling cues than Honda’s entry in all three trims – LX, EX and SX. The overall look is sleek, clean and elegant. Some say this is the influence of ex-Audi designer Peter Schreyer, who brings a dose of high-end auto appeal. Although beauty is subjective, the 2010 Honda Civic is relatively ordinary with a slightly more wedged shape.
Inside, the 2010 Forte gains ground with a more spacious cabin than the Civic. The front and rear seating areas have more of those precious usable inches in headroom, legroom and hip room. In all, the Forte amazingly manages a total of 5.9 more cubic feet of passenger room than the Honda, along with a lot more cargo space. The surprisingly large trunk in the Forte comes in at 14.7 cubic feet, compared to just 12 cubic feet for the Civic. In terms of compact cars, all this extra space is huge!
Forte delivers a bonanza of tech features with an impressive list of amenities that gives the Forte the edge over the Civic. The Forte comes standard with an AM/FM stereo, CD player and SIRIUS Satellite Radio. The audio system uses four speakers in the LX and six speakers in both the EX and SX. There are also USB and auxiliary input jacks and Bluetooth hands-free connectivity with steering wheel-mounted controls. The Civic’s base DX model considers most of these goodies optional and does not offer SIRIUS Satellite Radio.
Fuel efficiency has always been the Civic’s specialty (or forte, as it were), but the Kia Forte really keeps up. The Forte SX comes in at an estimated 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. The upgraded Forte EX with the optional Fuel Economy Package ups the EPA ante with an estimated 25 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. The Honda LX and EX both get an estimated 25 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. All Forte models are also equipped with the Ecominder Fuel Efficiency Monitor, which lets you know when you’re getting the most fuel-efficient drive – a simple and smart way to remind you that driving style plays a part in fuel economy.
With higher-powered engines and tight steering, the Forte will appeal to drivers, young and not so young alike. The Forte SX’s 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine develops 173 hp. The Civic has a basic 1.8-liter four-cylinder good for 140 hp. The Honda uplevel LX and EX trims both have 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines that deliver 156 hp. Forte again offers more than Civic.
The numerous safety features of the Forte extend to all models and include dual front advanced airbags, dual front seat-mounted airbags and full-length side-curtain airbags, front active headrests, four-wheel disc brakes, antilock brakes and more. All Fortes also have Electronic Stability Control (ESC), a lifesaving system that detects dangerous skids and helps with skid prevention and recovery. The U.S. Government has mandated that all cars must come standard with ESC by the 2012 model year, but not all do yet, including the Honda Civic.
The bottom line for buyers is often the price tag. The 2010 Kia Forte’s starting MSRP comes in at just $13,695; the 2010 Honda Civic’s MSRP is a couple thousand bucks more at $15,655. In addition, Kia backs the Forte with its 60-month/60,000-mile warranty. The competition in the class may be tough, but the 2010 Kia Forte is a strong contender on overall style, performance, safety and value. Call us for a test drive and see the total package firsthand.
