Photo: Kia
We believe the sedan market has leveled out, and it's nice to see many manufacturers offering something interesting. Driving a $23,000 SUV can be as interesting as watching paint dry, but that shouldn't be the case with the all-new 2020 Kia Forte GT.
Even though people say the basic Forte now looks a bit like the Kia Stinger, we don't see the resemblance, nor does its base 147-horsepower engine do anything special. But the GT ups the game with the familiar 1.6-liter turbo shoving out 201-hp at 6,000rpm and 195 lb-ft (264 Nm) of torque between 1,500 and 4,500 rpm.
You can have that with a seven-speed DCT for $22,290 plus $925 for the destination, bringing the total to $23,215, which is about $115 per horsepower or half the price of a Stinger GT2. But get this, the six-speed manual is $600 extra, which means you really have to be committed, especially when the fuel economy won't be as good (about 2mpg all-round down with the stick).
The thing we appreciate the most is how the Forte GT is well equipped and doesn't need extras. Its design has been enhanced with the usual hot car revisions. However, we'd like to point out the tiny red accents in places like the grille or the wheels.
Standard features include dual exhaust tips, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with auto-leveling and High Beam Assist (HBA), smart key with push-button start, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel with paddle shifters. There's tint on the taillights, red stitching inside and a fake carbon engine cover.
Price-wise, we think the Forte GT is well worth picking up over a standard Forte. It's also way more affordable than a $26,890 Jetta GLI, which packs a 228-hp 2-liter turbo. But the rival Kia needs to watch out the most is the $24,300 Honda Civic Si, which gets a nice chassis and decent economy from its 205-hp 1.5-liter turbo.
You can have that with a seven-speed DCT for $22,290 plus $925 for the destination, bringing the total to $23,215, which is about $115 per horsepower or half the price of a Stinger GT2. But get this, the six-speed manual is $600 extra, which means you really have to be committed, especially when the fuel economy won't be as good (about 2mpg all-round down with the stick).
The thing we appreciate the most is how the Forte GT is well equipped and doesn't need extras. Its design has been enhanced with the usual hot car revisions. However, we'd like to point out the tiny red accents in places like the grille or the wheels.
Standard features include dual exhaust tips, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with auto-leveling and High Beam Assist (HBA), smart key with push-button start, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel with paddle shifters. There's tint on the taillights, red stitching inside and a fake carbon engine cover.
Price-wise, we think the Forte GT is well worth picking up over a standard Forte. It's also way more affordable than a $26,890 Jetta GLI, which packs a 228-hp 2-liter turbo. But the rival Kia needs to watch out the most is the $24,300 Honda Civic Si, which gets a nice chassis and decent economy from its 205-hp 1.5-liter turbo.
Google News