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The compact 2023 Kia Forte is loaded with a long list of standard and optional features, including some that were once exclusive to more expensive vehicles. In furthermore to the sedan, the Forte used to be offered as a practical hatchback and a sporty-looking coupe. Since its debut, the Kia Forte’s underpinnings have been shared with the Hyundai Elantra.
What’s different for the Kia Forte in 2023?
After a substantial redesign in 2022, the Forte remains largely unchanged for 2023. The GT Technology package is no longer available, but when equipped with an automatic transmission, the GT gains new standard safety features.
The Forte’s value proposition has become even more attractive as a result of the revisions made to its exterior and interior styling and the addition of more standard safety features.
The Forte may be better appreciated from the outside than from the driver’s seat, as the base 147-hp engine and CVT are a sluggish combination, reluctant to accelerate and vocal in their displeasure. The 201-hp turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is only available on the GT model and is paired with either a 6-speed manual or a finicky 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The cabin is sufficiently roomy to compete with class leaders in terms of comfort, despite the base LX’s abundance of uninviting plastic trim and inability to fold down the rear seat. There is ample head and leg room for tall passengers, and the trunk has a capacity of 15.3 cubic feet.
The NHTSA awards the Forte four stars overall for its performance in crash tests, but only three stars for front-row passenger protection. The top-tier Forte receives the IIHS’s Top Safety Pick rating. Standard across the lineup are automatic emergency braking and active lane control.
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Design
Yes, especially after last year’s redesign, which strengthened the Forte’s relationship with the larger K5. The body and cabin each receive one point for a total of seven points.
A slanted windshield and a lengthy wheelbase give the Forte an aggressive appearance comparable to that of the larger Stinger sport sedan. The car’s front end was updated last year with slimmer headlights and redesigned bumpers, which, when combined with a small trunklid spoiler and elegant taillight design, help distract from the car’s relatively plain sides. The Forte GT is adorned with large alloy wheels and dark trim.
2023 Kia Forte LXS IVT Perspective Front Exterior
The Forte features a dash-mounted 8.0-inch touchscreen, uncluttered controls, and circular vents for a sporty appearance. There is hard plastic throughout the LX base model, but all other trims feature substantial upgrades with quality soft materials and metallic accents. A flat-bottomed sport steering wheel and perforated synthetic leather upholstery contribute to the performance-oriented appearance of the GT-Line and GT.
Performance
The 2023 Forte’s acceleration and driving dynamics begin as cool and become slightly warm. Standard automobiles are sluggish off the line, but the GT adds turbochargers for a more engaging experience. The base engine outsells the GT by a wide margin, so it receives a score of 4, minus one point for its lackluster performance.
The majority of 2023 Kia Forte models are powered by a 2.0-liter inline-four engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. Given that the Forte weighs between 2,769 and 3,079 lb, acceleration is not the objective; rather, fuel efficiency is. The sluggish CVT does its best to maintain the engine’s power peak, resulting in a noisy and monotonous drive.
The Forte GT can reach 60 mph in 6.7 seconds thanks to its 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque from the 1.6-liter turbo-4. Under the condition that it is paired with the 6-speed manual transmission rather than the 7-speed automatic, we would award a score of 6. Under heavy load, the dual-clutch responds appropriately to requests for gear changes, whereas in city driving, it is constantly searching for the correct gear.
A genuinely sporty Forte model would be a smart move, and could be attained through suspension tuning that is more aggressive. The base models attempt comfort with a suspension that absorbs rough pavement reasonably well, but the GT’s independent rear suspension does little to counteract the Forte’s significant lean in corners.
Convenience & Quality
The Forte’s cabin is spacious enough for four passengers, or five if necessary, but the trunk’s 15.3 cubic feet of space exceed expectations. This trunk receives a 6, one point above average. The seats themselves do not merit additional credit, but they are adequate in terms of front legroom and comfort.
Standard upholstery is cloth, while synthetic leather is available on other trims, along with driver-side power adjustment and front heating and cooling as options. The GT features sport bucket seats with supportive side bolsters.
The LXS, GT-Line, and GT models feature upgraded interior materials, with the latter two also featuring a leather-upholstered steering wheel and red stitching.
The 2023 Kia Forte is a bit shorter than some rivals in terms of length, but the space is effectively utilized, as the rear leg room measures 35.7 inches. Skip the base LX trim if you desire the fold-down rear seat for greater cargo versatility.
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Fuel Economy
The Forte is fuel-efficient, particularly in the base LX trim, which achieves EPA ratings of 31 city, 41 highway, and 35 combined mpg. Kia sells more Fortes with the LXS and GT-Line trims, which continue to achieve 29/39/33 mpg. We assign a score of 4 based on volume models.
The Forte GT achieves 27/35/30 mpg despite the inefficiency of its turbo engine. The manual transmission models are the thirstiest of the group, losing 4 mpg across the board.
Price
The $20,585 Forte LX (formerly FE) includes a 5-year/60,000-mile warranty, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that operate wirelessly. We would pay $21,085 for the LXS’s interior upgrades and split-folding rear bench, or $22,785 for the GT-premium Line’s touchscreen display.
The entry-level Forte FE was renamed the LX for 2023, but it retains the same features and pricing: cloth seats, 15-inch wheels, power features, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
2023 Kia Forte LXS Exterior Rear View
The Forte LXS is only $500 more expensive and includes 16-inch alloy wheels, a split-folding rear seat, and upgraded interior trim; spend an additional $500 for blind-spot monitors and heated mirrors.
For $22,785, the GT-Line provides various exterior trim, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, cloth and synthetic leather upholstery, keyless ignition, a 10.3-inch touchscreen, and 17-inch wheels. It is available with front seats that are heated and cooled, a sunroof, an 8-speaker, 320-watt Harman Kardon premium audio system, a wireless charging pad, a rear USB port, and HVAC vents.
2023 Kia Forte GT Turbo
The Kia Forte 2023 continues to offer many improvements and many advanced features, and is equipped with a new, bolder look to strengthen the competition in the sedan lineup dominated by the Honda Civic 2023 and the new Mazda3. In this group, Kia also offers many other impressive cars as well, such as the Kia 2023 Kia K5 and also the new Kia Stinger 2023 with a higher price.
Redesign
The redesign of the Kia Forte 2023 of the latest generation also provides many improvements in terms of appearance, interior luxury, engine performance and also the technology provided to increase safety and driving comfort. The new Kia Forte 2023 offers a powerful engine in the form of a 2.0-liter engine capable of delivering 200 horsepower. This engine can also reduce fuel consumption, allowing it to produce high horsepower with efficient fuel.
Some of the improvements offered are the presence of the 2023 Kia Forte GT Turbo model which is equipped with many advanced features such as navigation, Harman Kardon audio system that can produce clear sound, wireless charging is also available, and the engine that powers the New 2023 Kia Forte GT Turbo through a manual transmission from Nine speeds. Great acceleration.
2023 Kia Forte GT Turbo exterior
In some circulating images, the latest generation of Kia Forte 2023 received many external improvements such as the front also with LED headlights and daytime running lights with a sportier appearance than before. Up front can also be found in the curved hood design of the grille with the new KIA logo, the front also gets a lower grille screen with LED lighting on both sides and gets a redesigned front bumper.
The rear also gets a slight upgrade with a new logo adorning the rear feel, but overall it looks a lot like the old generation. The overall overall length of the 2023 Kia Forte GT Turbo is approximately 182.5 inches and 71 inches wide, making the new 2023 Kia Forte’s dimensions roughly the same as the 2023 Honda Civic. For color choices, the 2023 Forte Redesign offers eight attractive exterior colors, Aurora Black, Graphite grey, pure white, currant red, deep sea blue, soft silver, snow pearl and hot orange.
2023 Kia Forte GT Turbo New cabin
In terms of interior design, the cabin offered for the latest generation of the new 2023 Kia Forte feels comfortable and elegant, even if it still looks like a cheap one in terms of materials. Not only that, but the cab is also equipped with many advanced features that can increase safety, comfort and security while driving. Several control buttons are located in the center of the dashboard which are easy to use and look elegant with the infotainment system in the form of a touch screen.
Some of the other features in the cabin include cloth seats that already support climate control and electric directional adjustment. The cabin of the Kia Forte 2023 seats five people in two rows. The second row or back row feels cramped when filled with 3 adults and still feels comfortable when occupied by 2 adults.
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Engine Model
In terms of engines, the latest generation 2023 Kia Forte GT Turbo is equipped with two engine options and three comfortable transmission options. Starting with a choice of base 2.0-liter engine, it has a displacement of 147 horsepower and a maximum torque of 132 lb-ft. Power from the engine is transmitted to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission and an optional CVT gearbox.
This was followed by a more powerful engine in the form of a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine with 201 hp and a maximum torque of 195 lb-ft. This powerful engine is equipped with either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that shifts smoothly.
Line Infotainment
The new Kia Forte 2023 is also equipped with many advanced functions that can increase comfort, such as the presence of an infotainment system in the form of a large 8-inch touch screen with full support for many other functions such as Apple Carplay, Android Auto, Bluetooth and a USB port for charging devices . Not only that, but many other advanced features are also offered in the 2023 Kia Forte GT Turbo such as SiriusXM, HD Radio, Navigation and Harman Kardon audio system capable of producing clear sound.
2023 Kia Forte GT Turbo Price and Release date
Kia always offers cars with a range of advanced features and reliable engines at affordable prices. With the various upgrades given to this latest generation, the base variant of the 2023 Kia Forte version is expected to cost $18,000, followed by the new 2023 Kia Forte GT Turbo line, which has a price tag of around $21,000, while the new Kia Forte 2023 is the longest-running model with a price tag of around $24,000.
