DETROIT – The redesigned Kia Forte compact sedan makes its global debut this morning at the 2018 North American International Auto Show.
The third-generation Forte’s design is inspired by Kia’s Stinger sport-luxury sedan, a 2018 North American Car of the Year finalist, 2018 Wards 10 Best Engines winner and the recipient of positive feedback for the automaker.
“(Kia’s) designers translated elements of the Stinger’s design language onto the compact to give it a commanding road presence,” the automaker says, noting the Forte’s long hood and short deck bring to mind the fastback appearance of the Stinger.
Called “Stinger-esque” is the third-generation Forte’s headlamp design and layout.
Taking a cue from Kia’s Sportage compact CUV, a thin trim piece connects the taillights.
Other styling cues on the ’19 Forte include the Kia brand’s tiger nose grille, a black lower valance, separate turn signal indicators in the front and rear of the car, as well as separate reverse indicator lights in the rear.
The Forte gains 3.2 ins. (81 mm) in length from its second to third generation, allowing for more passenger legroom and trunk space. Height and width of the compact grows slightly.
The Stinger’s interior is reflected in the wide instrument panel of the Forte, which has “clean lines and minimal buttons that are intuitively placed below an 8-in. (20-cm) color touchscreen,” Kia says.
From ’18 to ’19, there are more soft-touch materials inside the car; seat frames are stronger but lighter and outward visibility is improved.
Advanced high-strength steel content rises, and the car’s body-in-white is 16% stiffer for improved safety, handling and reduced noise, vibration and harshness levels.
The suspension geometry is tweaked, as is the car’s steering, throttle and brake feel, with Kia promising a smoother initial response at tip-in and a shorter stopping distance.
Kia says raising the Forte’s fuel efficiency was a top priority, so it is introducing its “Smart Stream” powertrains in the car, with a second generation of Hyundai/Kia’s 2.0L Nu 4-cyl., mated to either a 6-speed manual or what Kia is calling an Intelligent Variable Transmission or IVT.
Noting CVTs typically are slighted for their rubber-band feel, Kia says its engineers created an adaptive-style shift logic with a chain-type belt instead of a push belt to create smoother and more linear acceleration, as well as a step-shift feel during wide-open throttle or when more acceleration is required.
The Nu engine also uses Atkinson-cycle and cooled exhaust-gas-recirculation technologies.
All these measures result in a 3-mpg (1.3 km/L) increase to an estimated 35 mpg (6.7 L/100 km) combined, despite no increase in horsepower (147) or torque (132 lb.-ft. [179 Nm]) from ’18 Forte sedans.
Advanced-driver-assist systems offered in the Forte include blindspot collision warning, lane-keep assist, forward-collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control.
The car’s 8-in. (20-cm) touchscreen is standard, as are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Forte’s infotainment system can read aloud SMS text messages via Bluetooth depending on a driver’s or passenger’s smartphone.
The new Forte sedan is set to go on sale later this year in the U.S.
Last year, sales of the Forte (which include a hatchback variant) rose 13.8% to 117,596. The tally made it Kia’s best-selling vehicle in the U.S. in 2017, WardsAuto data shows, overtaking 2016’s No.1-selling Soul subcompact box and Kia’s No.2 of 2016 and 2017, the Optima midsize sedan.
