2017 Kia Forte S | Road Test

Kia is more competitive than ever in the compact sedan segment.

[@EllaBee90]

I have a Kia. I love it. It's a tough little car, starts well in the cold winter, economic and drives like a charm. My next car will be another Kia.

[@EllaBee90]

Oh, no, wait... you're so right. I might just change my mind because someone wrote big words in a comment thread. Oh dear, how couldn't I see the error of my ways! I've got to do what any stranger with a big opinion says.

[@sherrid5315]

I have this car in Red And Love It Forte Ex 2017

[@TheTechCguy]

I read this car up on Car Complaints, KBB, and the NHTSA. Very good reviews. I am considering one of these Korean cars as well.

[@mrslcom]

KIA's product line is quite impressive these days.

[@petloves1]

Rabbi Sheqelstein stuf it's a good car

[@disan9135]

I have a 2016 Kia Forte EX and I love it.

[@godzillasballs]

I had a 2015. 5 speed with the 1.8. Great comfort, control and averaged 38 mpg. Not a single problem. Only purchased tires and did regular oil changes before I traded it in. Great car!!!

[@DocRoe]

My 2017 Kia Forte is super fun to drive. It’s a great car.

[@jakey20022]

I just got a 18' forte S in blue . It's a pretty good car. I definitely didn't want anything with a cvt or a turbo to many problems I wanted to avoid. Plus most if not all CVTS are junk. I just did a road trip was pulling 35 to 36 mpg. 75 to 80 mph most of the time.

[@chuckers40]

I bought the Kia Forte's corporate cousin the 2017 Hyundai Elantra SE. Don't sleep on these vehicles. Hyundai and Kia have come a very long way. With some luck, I'm looking to add a second vehicle from Hyundai. (Santa Fe or Tucson)

[@aayonce4]

Charles allen jr honey good try but I had to rent a 2016 Elantra and it's a death trap on wheels . The skinny wheels and the horrible chassis makes the car more than terrifying in the highway I thought the car would go into the wall if I hit a pot hole while turning.. 🙅🏾‍♂️🙅🏾‍♂️🙅🏾‍♂️

[@chuckers40]

aayonce4. 2017 model is a completely different chassis. I got the model with 16 inch wheels. It rides. I'm sorry you an awful experience. Rent the current model, you may change your mind.

[@aayonce4]

Charles allen jr yeah I hope so because the one we had I thought I would fall through the floor 😂😂😂 I would NEVER even let my from drive that thing !

[@chuckers40]

@Mr Shane great tastes in Car and SUV's , The Kia Sorento is that the new model or the older models?

[@okkami676]

0.55..JESUS at the wheel!

[@noseefood1943]

kia seems to have better styling and performance than its parent hyundai.

[@KBzPTGT]

Except for the Elantra Sport. Waiting for Mrs. Salty pants to spew her BS.

[@alskndlaskndal]

How good do you think reliability will be?

[@johninama585]

A sporty "S" model should have an available manual transmission. The lack of a manual makes this car a non-starter for me.

[@blackericdenice]

A 4 door Kia take 8.3 seconds to do 0 to 60? That's 2 tenths of a second faster than an 87 GIT 16v Golf. That Golf was a fast car back then.

[@djkenny1202]

No, it was the 16v.

[@blackericdenice]

Yes 87 was the first year I think and it was a fast 4 cylinder until the Mirage turbo came out.

[@djkenny1202]

I have the last of the MK2 GTI 16vs, the 92 2 liter one. Love it so much. Owned since 99. I had a Turbo Chevrolet Sprint 93-2010 along side it many of the years. Also very fun. The GTI is by far the most composed, comfortable, and is something I cannot give up.

[@dbdigital57]

Mazda 3 sedan back door opening is too narrow and backseat space sparse. Driving Forte in sport mode gives an equally fun drive plus more features including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, powered mirrors for less $

[@s.h.5726]

Compared to the 17 Elantra review. The kia gets 16.3 in the 1/4mi and elantra gets 17.3 and yet the exact same engine?! My guess would be extra weight in the Elantra for that.

[@matt4398]

S. H. Not the same engine at all. Kia is direct injection, hyundai is port injection Atkinson engine

[@toddp7324]

It's a little complicated because there are a number of different engines across the Forte and Forte5 lineup, but the S (the car reviewed here) does have the Atkinson version of the 2.0, the exact same engine as the Elantra.

[@techmaven5900]

That Jesus guy is driving it!

[@LoyalmoonieProductions]

The only drawback is that the Forte Koup is gone. :(

[@MalamIbnMalam]

The only thing that needs work is the interior. Currently, I would say that the Corolla, Civic and Mazda3 interior do look better.

[@itz_sebiii]

You forgot about the Elantra

[@MalamIbnMalam]

@@itz_sebiii This was 3 years ago though. Of course the current Elanta looks better than the current Forte.

[@itz_sebiii]

@@MalamIbnMalam of course but i mean that the 2017 elantra looks better than the 2017 forte

[@michaelsuzio4268]

​@@itz_sebiiiforte interior beats Mazda about equal to Corolla...civic has the forte beat...depends which forte...the Ex beats out Corolla S doesn't... barely seen any elantras

[@SmangItDrums]

Great car all around. Correction, though: the Koup has been discontinued for 2017 due to slumping sales.

[@ivan23caravantes44]

I like kia, but the price gets bumped up 8k after tax and license here in California.

[@ivan23caravantes44]

@World Culture & Natural Landscapes if you do all the fluid changes that you are required to on time. Check your engine before leaving the shop so that you know they didn't spill the fluids all over your engine then your car should last well over 10 years. Especially if you do it all yourself.

[@ivan23caravantes44]

@World Culture & Natural Landscapes if you have a regular transmission and change that fluid every 30k then even better

[@ivan23caravantes44]

@World Culture & Natural Landscapes if you have Direct injection engine then make sure you put an oil catch can asap and if you have a regular injection engine 2.0L then put an oil catch can whenever you want. So that the valves won't get full of carbon build up.

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

But no manual option.

[@blackericdenice]

Nobody want manual transmission anymore. I use to love them until The Suzuki Sidekick came out. That was the first 4 cylinder I drove that could do a burnout.

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

blackericdenice because most drivers are lazy

[@slowanddeliberate6893]

Manual is available on the base LX version.

[@revolutionday1]

Had a 2012 SX, the engine blew @ 22k miles.

[@tacocruiser4238]

Terry Hesticles it's called an oil change. You should try it sometime...

[@VaunShiz]

Straight outta 2005

[@sportsMike87]

The problem with the forte it lies in that middle groud. Just ehh neither good nor bad

[@TJC450]

This S is rather disappointing. The new Cruze and Corolla seem like better deals. Also the Koup has been discontinued. jalopnik.com/dead-kia-forte-koup-1794768180

[@colin6898]

This car is so mediocre it makes my head hurt but I guess this is what you get for the money

[@justsumguy2u]

For about the same money, you could have a Mazda 3 sedan---it will be far more entertaining to drive than the Kia. The Forte is for people that don't care about driving---they view a car as a necessary appliance, nothing more.

[@slowanddeliberate6893]

This new Forte is actually fun to drive, even though it doesn't pull .92 G in the turns.

[@KrulciferEdenfelt]

Wtf the Mazda 3 is blah. The forte is really fun especially the koup or the hatch

[@latonyasaffo5360]

k

[@aayonce4]

Too expensive !

[@pbfloyd13]

Zzzz...

[@mohsinmed]

Not a competitive car in this crowded segment

[@alskndlaskndal]

What would you recommend instead? This seems well rounded and a good value.

[@Turboy65]

Kia is the cheapest, crappiest car you can buy new without stooping to a Chinese brand. NOT recommended if you appreciate good cars. A Kia is what you buy when you just don't know any better. If that's your budget, you're better off to buy a used Toyota at the same price.

[@HuntaKiller91]

johnsoncm65 used toyota is shitty..i wont buy a brandnew kia as well buy a used or recon one is perfect..most features are not present even in brandnew corollas

[@blackericdenice]

Kia is getting closer to Toyota.

[@brasolt04]

Kia makes great cars now. Where you been?

[@famousamos]

Kias are great cars.

[@zachg9065]

Mitsubishis are the crappiest cars made currently.