NOT WHILE DRIVING
No games behind the wheel
It’s no secret that Mexico is a pretty swell place to build cars. Labour is inexpensive, the workforce is motivated (as are the politicians) and it’s the only country that can export vehicles duty-free to most world markets; earnings from Mexico’s auto exports eclipses those of its oil industry.
With its new mega-factory in Monterrey, Kia joins the roster of auto manufacturers with Mexican facilities that includes the likes of Volkswagen, Audi, Ford and Nissan. First off the new assembly line is the 2017 Forte compact sedan. All-new factory, all-new car, right?
Not quite. We’re looking at an updated version of the current Forte, and these improvements pertain mostly to exterior and interior cosmetic changes, some fresh tech and driver’s aids plus a new base engine — the 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine borrowed from the 2017 Hyundai Elantra, rated at 147 horsepower and 132 lb.-ft of torque. This replaces the outgoing 1.8L engine and drops the combined fuel consumption from 7.6 L/100 km to 7.2, when paired with its second-generation sixspeed automatic transmission.
In the big bad world of compact car sales, the Kia Forte has been somewhat of an also-ran, lingering in the lower reaches of the charts since entering the fray in 2010. It can’t be much fun sitting on the bench while watching sister Hyundai Elantra become the Honda Civic’s biggest worry.
The 2017 Forte sedan will be in Canadian showrooms in early August and Kia is aiming to move this compact up a few sales notches. The target for 2016 is 14,500 sales, compared with 11,378 in 2015, and the hope of 18,500 for 2018, after which the all-new Forte will appear, using the platform from — you guessed it — the Hyundai Elantra.
You’ll spot the 2017 Forte by its new corporate “tiger shark” grill flanked by sleeker headlights that sweep way back over the front wheel wells. The rear gets a new bumper and fresh tail lights — LED on upper trim models — while the wheel designs are also new. The Forte has always been a handsome car, and these tweaks give it a dash more maturity and presence. Inside, we see a redesigned centre stack, new fabrics and more soft-touch surfaces.
Kia Forte pricing starts at $15,495 for the base, six-speed manual LX. This rolls on 15-inch steel wheels and gets a 60/40 splitfolding rear seat, heated mirrors, SiriusXM radio, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, and a heightadjustable driver’s seat. If you want air conditioning, step up to the $18,495 LX (A/T) — that also bestows a six-speed automatic transmission, Drive Mode Select (Eco/Normal/Sport), and keyless entry with a security system.
Kia Canada predicts the volume trim will be the $19,995 LX+ with the automatic transmission, building on the LX with automatic headlights, fog lights, one-touch front windows, a windshield wiper de-icer, cruise control, heated front seats, a rear-view camera, and illuminated vanity mirrors. It also gets a new seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system (UVO3) with Android Auto, plus a central 3.5-inch trip computer display in the instrument cluster. You’re still be riding on those bargain basement 15-inch steel wheels with hubcaps, though.
Next up are the EX and SX trims that punch harder with a carry-over 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with direct-injection, making 164 horsepower and 151 lb.-ft of torque and hooked only to the six-speed auto. At 21,795, the EX (A/T) gets 16-inch alloy wheels, chrome trim bits, upgraded seat fabric, dual-zone climate control, a leather steering wheel and shift knob, push-button start, folding side mirrors, auto-dimming interior mirror and Smart Trunk, which automatically unlocks the trunk when you’re standing behind with the key fob on you. Another $1,200 adds a sunroof and 17-inch wheels.
You need more? The $24,595 EX Luxury brings leather, blindspot detection, an enhanced gauge cluster, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats and a 10-way power driver’s seat with memory settings. The rangetopping, $27,295 SX (A/T) layers on paddle shifters, HID headlights that steer into corners, LED tail lights, GPS navigation, ventilated seats and a new radar/ camera-based safety suite that includes automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist. The latter has two settings — Standard and Active, with the latter allowing for a few seconds of hands-off, semi-autonomous steering if conditions allow.
Sadly, seat time in this refreshed Forte was limited to some parking lot shenanigans at the factory in the only six Canadian-spec cars on the planet at the time, and a few kilometres out in the “real” world with some Mexican Fortes. So, here’s what I can garner from all this: The interior is simple, logical, ergonomically sound and built to a high standard. The seats are reasonably comfortable and back seat room is fine for two adults, if not class-leading.
Since last driving a Forte sedan a couple years ago, it’s evident Kia engineers have been squirrelling away at steering feel and NVH. Both are vastly improved.
So, where does this place the 2017 Kia Forte? Until the all-new model arrives in a couple of years, it won’t be worrying the major players. What it offers is good value, sharp looks (when wearing alloy wheels), competitive fuel economy with its new 2.0L Atkinson-cycle engine and a whack of luxury trappings and tech in the top trim levels.