His and Her Review: 2010 Kia Forte

anne fleming February 11th, 2010 By anne fleming

anne fleming

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There are always two sides to everything, right? Well, the truth is there are many more than that! To keep our car reviews innovative and well-rounded, we are providing you with not just one, but two points of view on the same exact vehicle Her and His perspectives.

Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate,women-drivers.com
His: Chuck Kerber, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com

PRICE

Anne:  MSRP:$19,290 as tested
Chuck: MSRP:Price as Tested: $19,290.00

PERFORMANCE

Anne: 

• A new KIA acronym: Kick 'In (some) Attitude
• 2.0 Liter four cylinder engine, 156 horsepower
• 6,200 rpm and 144 pound-feet of torque
• 4 speed automatic transmission
• Front Wheel Drive
• A "smart" alternator that runs only when the battery needs charging
• Handling and responsiveness are quite good. Acceleration on straight-aways or flats was good. However, on hills performance was not as consistent.

Chuck:

• 2.0 Liter 16-Valve DOHC CVVT 4-Cylinder Engine,
• 156 Horsepower
• 4-Speed Automatic Transmission with Independent Front Suspension, Front Stabilizer Bar, and Torsion Beam Rear Suspension
• Rack and Pinion Steering
• 195/65R15 Tires
• Front and Rear Disc Brakes
• 0-60 times for the new Forte run in the seven second range. Handling is predictable, but not necessarily sporty. With a comfortable ride, the driver feels connected with the road. The short wheel base helps make parking manageable.

FUEL ECONOMY

Anne:  25 mpg/City and 34 mpg/Highway

Chuck:  25 mpg/City and 34 mpg/Highway

THE CAR

Anne:

• A tremendous value whether your purchasing the LX - around a $14K sticker price - or the EX, as tested
• The car has a 104.3-inch wheelbase like the Hyundai Elantra, and its wide stance of 61.3"in the front and 61.6" in the rear make this vehicle the widest in the sedan economy class
• The interior is as pristine as the outside. An upscale, clean dashboard with easy to read controls; love having most panel controls at my fingertips
• Leather seating is the perfect touch to these pre-winter days but, ouch, with just an ON or OFF button, seats got quite warm quickly and would have to turn OFF
• Seats were adjustable and comfortable. Back seat hold two adults comfortably, three in a crunch; center console and arm rests in rear. Two (2) Lower Anchors and Tethers to secure children and child seats
• Cavernous trunk holds lots of luggage and travel gear
• Another bothersome thing was the front doors; seemingly light, they would not 'catch' in place once open

Chuck:

• Kia Motors offers several exciting and affordable options for the Forte; Prices for the new Forte start around $14,390 and top out close to $20,530. The Forte is available in three models: LX, EX, and SX.
• Additional options include sport-tuned suspension, fog lights, power sunroof, and dual-body remote power mirrors with turn signal indicator. The interior of the new Kia Forte is uncomplicated yet relaxed.
• Easy-to-reach, well marked controls make up an attractive instrument cluster, back-lit with a red glow. The sedan seats four comfortably, with enough leg room for two adults in the rear. The seats provide ample support, especially the six-way adjustable driver seat with optional heated seats on the SX model.
• Plentiful trunk space measures 12.6 cubic feet.

SAFETY

Anne: Dual seat mounted air bags, full length side curtain airbags, four-wheel disc brakes, ABS, stability control.

Chuck:  side-impact airbags for the front passengers, side curtain airbags, four wheel anti-lock disc brakes, active head restraints, and an electronic stability system.