Kia Forte

The design language inside the cabin of the Forte is very much in line with most of the premium KIA cars. The settings are very plush and likable. The top of the line model gets the GT logo on the seats. Both the rows are very comfortable with proper cushioning and under thigh support. The front dashboard looks very futuristic with two analogue dials and a small TFT display for the centre console. The dashboard holds a floating touch screen infotainment system with a few knobs for the controls below.

Moreover, even the music system down below has a couple of controlling round knobs on either side. The AC vents are rounded on the extreme sides of the front portion.

The new KIA Forte has the typical front fascia that we get in most cars from the company and there is a fine strip of chrome bordering the checkered grille. The headlamp housing is very sleek and swept back and offers good illumination from the projector setup.  The front fenders and wheel arches are very smooth and classy and there is no element of overly rough and bulkiness.

The rear profile has the combination tail light setup with LED elements. The tailgate has a gentle spoiler-like bump with the KIA moniker inscribed adjacent to it. The lower part of the rear has been done in black to add a slight amount of sportiness to the overall aesthetics.

The buyers have the option of choosing between 17-inch and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Little can one deny that the KIA Forte, even before it was pulled off the roads, did have a powerful engine that made a lot of buzz each time it zoomed past freeway traffic. The sole 1.6-litre Gamma engine is very powerful and grunty and can clock the 0-100 kmph acceleration in just 11.6 seconds. And with the gas pedal pressed further, it could hit a top speed of 195 kmph.

The high trim with 17-inch wheels offers better stability at high speeds and remains glued to the tarmac even while cornering.

Looking at the three engine trims that the new KIA Forte is available in, the company is likely to discontinue the bigger 2.0-litre Theta engine that used to make 161 PS at 6,500 rpm and 194 Nm at 4,800 rpm. On the contrary, there would just be the smaller 1.6-litre Gamma petrol mill that makes 130 PS of power at 6,300 rpm and 156 Nm of torque at 4,850 rpm.

The list of variants also reveals that the car will continue to come in automatic gearbox and manual will not make it to the list. The 6-speed automatic unit, as used by the company in the past as well, has proper shifts and there are absolutely no lags, even in the low rev range of the engine.

The KIA Forte gets disc brakes for all the wheels where the rear ones are slightly smaller than the front ones. Moreover, with the availability of ABS, panic braking even at a high speed is very much possible and safer than otherwise.

There are many other safety features like the addition of Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Vehicle Stability management, and Automatic Cruise Control.

Bringing back the KIA Forte has been good news for many prospective buyers. After all, not many would have liked the discontinuation of a car that had the potential of doing extremely well with solely its design. And now when it is back with a more comfortable cabin and fuel-efficient engine, it makes all the more sense to go for it.