2010 Kia Forte: More goodies for a lower price

The new Forte replaces the Kia Spectra compact sedan for 2010. Kia's biggest seller gets new skin and a wider, longer version of the Hyundai Elantra platform for the 2010 model year but falls short in simple things such as the workings of shifters and clutches. Still, it's only $14,390 to start, and that includes Bluetooth, an iPod jack and three months of Sirius satellite radio.

And don't forget that 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The Forte leads with a nicely styled exterior that Kia calls a “wider, more aggressive stance.” Now, every car made since the Ford Model A has come with a “wider, more aggressive stance,” but this one isn't just looks. In addition to a nicely sculpted sill line along the bottom and crisper, more rounded edges front and rear, the Forte gains an inch and a half in width and in wheelbase and is an inch longer overall than the Spectra. Inside, you get more shoulder room front and rear and more legroom in front. Luggage capacity rises by a significant 2.5 cubic feet.

A view of the interior.

Under the newly styled hood is your choice of a 156-hp, 2.0-liter or a 173-hp, 2.4-liter four, both of which lead their class in power and torque. You also get a choice of five different transmissions, depending on trim level and engine.

We drove two Fortes. The first was an EX 2.0 with a four-speed automatic. At first, the 205/55R-16 Hankook Optimos (yes, Optimos) made too much noise. Smoother roads deadened that noise considerably. The engine, however, wailed like a bag of empty cans even as low as 3,000 rpm. The 156 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque were up to the task, but the machine was nowhere near as smooth as fours from Toyota and Honda.

While the automatic was within the offerings of the competition, we looked forward to the promise of the manual trans to see if it really was more fun to drive a slow car fast.

The Forte offers two four-cylinder engines.

That was up next, and we piloted an SX 2.4 with a six-speed manual. Usually, a manual is more fun to drive, but clutch takeup and engagement were dicey no matter how long we practiced being smooth, and the shifter was more vague than a reluctant date.

Kia wants these vehicles to compete with the Honda Civic, the Toyota Corolla, the Ford Focus, the Chevrolet Cobalt and the Mazda 3, all of which outsold the Spectra by huge numbers--Toyota sold five times as many Corollas, for instance. But Kia is hoping that its added content and lower price will make up for the car's shortcomings.

2010 Kia Forte

ON SALE: Now

BASE PRICE: $14,390

DRIVETRAIN: 2.0-liter, 156-hp, 144-lb-ft I4; FWD, five-speed manual

CURB WEIGHT: 2,707 lb

0-60 MPH: 8.5 sec (mfr est)

FUEL ECONOMY (EPA): 29 mpg

By MARK VAUGHN