2011 Kia Forte5 Review

By Clare Dear, National Post

ANN ARBOR, MICH. - Kia's popular Forte lineup is expanding for 2011 with the addition of the Forte5, a five-door hatchback. It joins the Forte sedan and the two-door Koup in Kia's new line of compact models that made their debut a year ago. This hatch adds another level of function and practicality, with a generous rear cargo area to complement the already roomy cabin area. Behind the flat-folding 60/40-split rear seats, there is 19.4 cubic feet of space for cargo, compared with 14.6 cu. ft. in the four-door sedan. It should be noted, however, that you have to remove the headrests to fold the seatbacks flat, and there's a drop-off from the folded seats to the cargo area floor, so one can't simply slide bulky items on to a flat deck. On the plus side, though, the space is certainly useable as the torsion beam rear suspension eliminates protrusions in the cargo area to accommodate components such as struts, shocks or springs.

The Forte5 is offered in three trim levels - LX, EX and SX - with further variations within those groupings for a total of 11 different iterations ranging in price from the base LX at $16,695 to the fully loaded SX Luxury, which tops out at $26,195.

The engine choices are shared with the Koup and sedan - either the 2.0-litre four-cylinder, with 156 horsepower and 144 pound-feet of torque, which is standard in the LX and EX, or a 2.4L four that kicks out 173 ponies and 168 lb-ft of torque. This engine is limited to the SX models.

All Fortes, including the new hatchback, will benefit from Kia's shift to six-speed transmissions across the lineup. The Koup and sedan step up from a five-cog manual gearbox, while the automatic adds two speeds. The improvements in the automatic tranny are particularly noticeable, with far smoother gear changes that are also crisp in their execution. The additional cogs also have a positive impact on performance, with both engines demonstrating decent pep off the line yet impressively quiet in highway cruise mode.

During an afternoon spent driving all three trim levels of the new Forte5 around the scenic secondary roads in the Ann Arbor and Finger Lakes regions of Michigan as well as some stretches on Interstates, both the 2.0L and 2.4L four-bangers proved to be more than capable of delivering response and performance that should be at least adequate for most drivers. The larger four did have more jump in its step -as one would expect with 17 more ponies and additional torque available - but it also seemed to be a tad noisier, especially under hard acceleration.

What was unexpected, however, was the difference in ride quality when one moved from the base LX or mid-range EX to the sportier SX. While the ride was smooth and quiet in the first two models, one quickly learned there's a price to be paid in comfort and cabin noise with the higher-end SX. The shift to 17-inch alloy wheels with lower-profile (P215/45R17) tires from the base LX's 15-inch steel rims and P195/65R15 rubber, or even the 16-inch alloy wheels and P205/55R16 tires on the EX, resulted in a noticeable increase in ride harshness and the transfer of road noise on rougher surfaces. For example, the shorter, stiffer sidewalls of the sporty 17-inch tires don't absorb the shock of impacting with road seams as well as the taller, higher-profile sizes.

Adding to the situation is the fact that the suspension settings have been tweaked on the SX to add a slightly sportier flavour. Folks who enjoy flinging their Forte5s around on wonderfully twisty country roads probably won't mind the change in ride quality, but for most consumers, I'd suggest they opt for the smoother ride of the other two models - and they'll still get surprisingly solid handling, too.

Kia has made huge advancements in the styling of its products since European design guru Peter Schreyer joined the brand four years ago after stints with Audi and Volkswagen. This Forte5 is the latest to show the impact of Schreyer's design expertise - a very pleasing look that draws attention in a segment not typically recognized as a styling leader.

The Forte5's nimble appearance is largely due to the shorter rear overhang, which has been trimmed 190 millimetres compared with the Forte sedan. While the wheelbase is identical at 2,650 mm, the overall length has been reduced from the sedan's 4,530 mm to 4,340 - and the difference has come off its hind end. For comparison, while the Forte5's wheelbase is 50 mm longer than that of a Toyota Matrix, its overall length is 26 mm shorter.

Interior room has not been compromised, with the Forte5 providing the same front and rear legroom as the sedan, which even with the front seat well back on its track still had decent space behind for an adult's lower limbs. Shoulder room, too, is identical, while the Forte5 does provide 20 mm more headroom, thanks to its higher rear roofline.

The 2.0L engine, with the six-speed automatic, has a fuel consumption rating of 8.0 litres/100 kilometres in city driving and 5.5 L/100 km on the highway, while the 2.4L four is rated at 9.0 in the city and 6.2 on the highway.

The Forte5 broadens the already popular appeal of Kia's compact lineup with a model that delivers attractive styling, good dynamics and decent performance - attributes that should make it a winner with consumers.

2011 Kia Forte5 Review

2011 Kia Forte5 Review

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