First Drive: 2015 Kia Forte5 SX Turbo

[@sirwhitecrayon2499]

I have owned this this car for model year 2015 since the end of 2014. It's a fantastic car for very little money! No issues so far.

[@MacktasticDazzle]

I've owned the 2015 SX since September of 2014, and I love the car. Never ever thought I'd own a KIA. I actually traded in my 2010 Mazda RX8 6 speed manual for this KIA due to commuter and family needs. I didn't want to pay for a $30k GTI to drive back and forth to work, I didn't want a Mazda 3 because you get absolutely NOTHING in regards to technology for $20K, so i chose a car that would still be fun but not break the bank. I paid just under $20K for the "basic" SX trim. Well, if this is "basic" then I must have robbed the dealership. I paid 28K for my RX8 and it had NONE of what this car has in regards to technology. The KIA has Touch screen, premium sound, leatherette wrap seats, all sorts of technology, 18 inch wheels, semi-high performance tires. Can't get any of that in any of these other cars for $20K. Then you add on a very competent Turbo 4 w/ a very very decent non DSG automatic tranny? Sold. 27K isn't GTI money if you don't get any of this technology for $27K in a VW. For a fully loaded GTI you're looking at over 30K and maybe then some. If you want to compare that, then at over 30K for a fully loaded GTI, I can grab a base WRX. Etc. ETc. I do agree somewhat regarding the steering issues. With 8,000 miles on my car already, I definitely notice the need for correcting constantly....however, I've never driven in anything but Sport mode. So I can't comment on Comfort and Normal. The chassis isn't really that bad. Yeah, the rear suspension should be independent, I do agree, but the Twist suspension isn't bad, and is far from "stone aged" technology as reviewers may lead you to believe. And I'm not really a fan of the weird flower design wheels. If the wheel had been all one color, this wouldn't look so strange, but because it's black with a polished spoke, it looks like a flower. I'd preferred all black or all polished and the rim would have looked fine. Braking is good. Though I think KIA needs upgraded pads and the car will brake very decently out of the box. The calipers and rotors seem competent to withstand my spirited driving but needs just a little OOMPH to put them over the top. I added EBC pads to remedy this. Same goes for the stock Hankook tires. Hankook can make decent tires if you go up to their V12 brand. Don't get me wrong the stock Hankook tires are alright, but if you want a bigger bang for your buck, go grab some V12's...and they aren't expensive. About $100 bucks per wheel. At this point, pads and tires have made this car very very fun for only $600 more. Trust me.

[@A.S.00662]

You sir made this 8 minute video seem like a total waste of time😂 that's why I always look at the comments while watching.

[@jonjsn]

I tried the car, obviously you are pro big three, the cars handling had none of the problems or mysterious wondering you complained about, it deserves a 4.5 stars at least especially for quality of build and design.

[@joeb1808]

being pro big 3 is tough. I could never trust them again. they definitely don't build a car as good as the Asians. in fact I think the big 3 suck.

[@Beanjuice]

+Joe B Focus/Fiesta ST are very good cars.

[@rrpostalagain]

+Beanjuice Yeah, it's not the 80's any longer. There are some decent options out there depending on what you're looking for.

[@dyoel182]

+Ryan Turner GM would be my #5 after Ford. They don't have anything amazing until you get to the Corvette now that everything caught up to the new Malibu.

[@rrpostalagain]

I was just shopping for a new car for the first time in forever. I find car payments an unnecessary burden and get whatever I can afford at the moment. My brother was just looking for a new car 6 months previously. But, anyway, I was really impressed by a bunch of modern cars. Depending on what kind of vehicle you're looking for, it really makes sense to look around and realize things can change. My brother and I both wound up with cars totally different than what we started out looking for.

[@Country_Girl63]

I took my Kia Forte5 down a 4 x 4 road, and it handled it really well, & the looks I got from the 4 wheelers was priceless.

[@SociaID]

$27k for one of these is indeed ridiculous. I paid $17,900 for mine in SX with the 6 speed manual brand new. Which at that price these are an absolute bargain and a great GTI alternative. Skips out on the nav you were annoyed with and the sunroof that adds weight up high. But the base SX trim still provides a lot of built in features. I owned a 2010 GTI prior to this and you're definitely talking about getting 90% of a GTI for a fraction of the price.

[@chairrules2007]

+SociaID Agreed ! Great alternative to a GTI when taking into account the price diff.

[@chairrules2007]

trueprice.com will show a fully loaded sx for 23k, Base model about 4 or 5k less (depending on what transmission you want). Beyond that, my local Kia dealer was very open to going at least 3k below msrp right from the start, and they are also always offering rebates.

[@SociaID]

+Jason Schulke I started off with the USAA Truecar price, which included a $1500 Kia rebate. Then got a further $1k off in negotiation just by repeatedly saying I was off to the VW dealer next to do a back to back test drive. Helped that I was in there on the last day of the month I'm sure.

[@bigsprinter]

+SociaID I used truecar as well. Was pretty funny, he was coming at me with a price but once he saw the truecar app open on the phone the conversation changed...

[@gatsbya4093]

I own a 2015 Kia Forte Koup Sx, and for me it has worked out superb. I've never had that issue with the start up menu when I first got my car, and that's that I bought without no mileage. Now I will agree, the steering did at one point made me get nervous. Though this happened, I grew accustomed to it in no longer than a couple of days. I personally love my car, as a Forte Enthusiast. I upgraded from my 2012 EX Koup before last year ended and I don't regret it. I have high hopes for my Koup and I'm already about to put in mods in it because I know I'm going to keep it for quite some time.

[@fuknames2123]

explore the infotainment screen a bit more. Go into your settings to turn of the disclaimer lol.

[@bigsprinter]

+Leroy Butts Mine actually turns off in like 20 seconds

[@ronnymb67]

Not everyone that buys a hatch needs it to be a "hot hatch." A loaded SX can be had well below the sticker price but since you insist the SX is in GTI territory, a $27,000 GTI with everything the tested SX has is a unicorn. It doesn't exist. Look at vw.com and build (5 door) even a non-performance pack GTI with the same equipment. It's $33,000. You will never find one discounted to even the SX full sticker price. To be even close to the full SX sticker price, you're looking at a 1.8T SEL Golf at $29,000. The GTI/Golf is more dash strokey and might drive nicer, but for near $10,000 more than an SX if you know how to deal, I expect it to. I expect a loaded $24,000 SX to be a bit less "refined" than a $30G plus GTI. And I've owned 4 VW's in my lifetime. I'm past the boy racer phase of my life. Fun with reliability and practicality is where I am now. So for reliability and a 10 year warranty, I'll take a loaded $24,000 Kia over a GTI with a couple of options and a lesser warranty for $30,000. Considering a new SX. Currently driving a 2012 Forte SX. No "hot hatch" but it's fun to drive and as reliable as sunrise. 61,000 miles today. Oil changes, a new set of tires and a brake light bulb. Not a one of my four VW's had that little maintenance by that mileage. Fuel sending units, temperature sending units, window regulators, electronic engine thermostat, control arms, oil consumption,brakes.. And on and on and on... The Focus St is a sharp little car but getting into that power range, I'd got rear or awd...

[@bigsprinter]

+ronny Brown Agreed, and why I got the Kia. Have 3k miles on it and I love it. All the car I need

[@bigsprinter]

+ronny Brown for president

[@Heyjullian]

Is this the first time you reviewed a car that has a legal warning in the Nav before accessing its content? It is something that is not very common now and days, BUT just one finger gesture and your good to go. Should not affect the greatness of the UVO.

[@DMKleinArts]

For your "stickpoint" bit, another word you could use is "deadzone". It's a term used for joysticks and triggers and such, the amount of pressure needed before the controller registers the stimulus as input. Nice video!

[@TestDrivenTV]

David Miranda-Klein Point well taken. In this case however "stickpoint" is a good descriptor as rather than a dead spot, this steering actually offers up a point of artificial resistance that's active. This gives the wheel a noticeable sticky point you have to turn past on and off center.

[@DMKleinArts]

hmm, I get what you mean. Keep it up!

[@chechoboost]

Great car FORTE 5 TURBO

[@chairrules2007]

Decent review but I think the reviewer should certainly get his facts and numbers straight before filming this review. The GTI is 210HP/258 lb/ft torque. The car you were driving is 201 hp/195 lb/ft torque. You said the gti has "quite a bit more hp than this car. "The GTI has about 25 more horsepower". That info is wrong, and your numbers are incorrect. Where are you pulling those numbers from ? Even with the performance pack, the GTI adds 10hp (up to 220), adds larger brakes, and a version of a limited slip differential. So by my basic math, thats either 9 more or 19 more hp. That doesn't translate to "quite a bit more horsepower" by my definition. The ford focus st does have "quite a bit" more hp than either one of these cars (252 hp/270 lb/ft torque). I have test driven all 3 of these cars. 2015 kia forte 5 sx (manual and auto), 2015 gti (dsg auto), and the 2014 focus st. I didn't experience any noticeable torque steer on any of my test drives, and didnt have any issues with the infotainment screen or ipod cables or navi buttons, or anything else unrelated to the actual cars in my opinion. But I was there to test drive the cars, not walk around the electronics dept. at best buy. (sarcasm)....At this point in time in 2015, the 2015 focus st is still not at ford dealerships. But you can get a great deal on any of the numerous 2014 models still on the lot. The GTI's are much more hard to come by, and the performance packs are still not available for 2-3 more months according to the dealerships I spoke to. As far as the test drives, the Kia was impressive and the steering was actually right on par with the gti. The GTI steering was a little loose and dull and somewhat underwhelming. The focus steering felt the sportiest and most responsive. The gti had the best transmission feel and very powerful torque curve; yet still not overwhelmingly sporty. Its powerful, yet composed and somewhat subdued. Again, the focus st felt the sportiest. The driving dynamics difference between the kia and gti are not as great as many reviewers will have you believe. But the GTI is a sportier car, but not enough to merit the price difference. Also, I personally dont trust VW reliability. I have no experience with KIa's reliability. The price points here also need clarification. The Kia fully loaded with some things that you dont truly need in my opinion is still the same price as a BASE MODEL GTI. Right about 27k. Take away the navigation system and you can get a kia forte 5 otherwise fully loaded for under 25k. That includes sunroof, leather, heated/cooled seats, etc. The base model gti's give you the heated plaid seats, which are great, but no sunroof, etc. Again, if you want the perf. pack, you still have to wait a few more months. Not to state the obvious, but for those out there that haven't gone thru the car buying process as much, that means you have little to no wiggle room as far as negotiation. VW is not budging that much if any at all from the sticker/msrp. Simple supply demand. As far as Ford, the 2015 models are still not available, and we are well into 2015. Why not ? Just a laughable side note, when speaking to a ford salesman at a local dealership I was told that the 2015 st's will drive the same as the 2014's. REALLY ??? I get it that he's a salesman, and he is just trying to sell cars and get rid of the 2014 models, but cmon buddy. You dont have to just lie right to my face. Read any info about the updated 2015 st's, and they go on and on about the changes made that they say over and over again will improve the driving dynamics of the 2015 model over the outgoing model. In summary, the kia is a very good car and attractive deal for under 25k. The gti is a better car, but not by as much as most people think, and its overpriced, and very hard to get the one you want (which is a common german import car theme). The focus st is a good value proposition, but only available in a manual transmission. I like manuals, but if you can only afford one car, do you really want a manual every day ? Day in day out in real world traffic, that can get old really fast. The Kia forte 5 sx looks like a good value if not the sportiest car here. These are 3 good cars, but all 3 are far from perfect.

[@TestDrivenTV]

Paul Lisanti The reviewer was referring to the GTI with the performance package, but alas not exactly on the numbers being about 5 hp off. He's human he makes mistakes.

[@242HP]

Your comments about the steering feel sound similar to what I'm experiencing with my 2012 Hyundai Sonata. It wasn't that way when I bought the car, but ever since I replaced the OEM tires with another brand, the steering is a lot less fluid than it used to be.

[@242HP]

Maybe "fluid" is the wrong word. But slight changes in steering, say going from lane to lane on the highway, seemed smoother before I put on this new set of tires. It's like the car is stuck in a groove, and you've got to jerk the wheel a bit to get it out of it. It's hard to describe in words; you have to experience it.

[@anthonyg6014]

I got rid of mine because of the constant steering correction... it made me get pulled over for suspicion of DUI... that's when I decided to trade it in

[@bigsprinter]

Sam, How is it that you hate the steering in this car but have no problem with it in the Hyundai Elantra GT? Aren't they the same?

[@TestDrivenTV]

+Paul Danek That's a very good question. We wondered the same thing. It could be proprietary tuning between the brands as they are quite different in how they set up the feel of their chassis.

[@JustinKelly]

+TestDrivenTV Not that anyone cares but we the Hyundai Elantra GT owners have the solution to the problem. The shafts u joints arent lucubrated with the correct lubricant thus providing a sticky feeling (Even more so in cooler climates). If you add some oil to the shafts it will smooth en out really nicely! Some may note it only happens in the winter or gets worse because it actually does.

[@bigsprinter]

+You Tube I bought one and have about 3,000 miles on it now. I don't have any problems with the steering when set on sport mode (others are too light). Rear suspension I would say isn't "poor" but is what it is-- torsion beam with a firm suspension-- It is a great daily driver but you definitely feel it's not an independent suspension when you push it hard through bumpy corners.

[@bigsprinter]

+Justin Kelly I care. Thanks for sharing. If I notice my car suffering from this problem I'll suggest this to my dealer.

[@drepop803]

I almost bought this car yesterday (9/29/2016). they were advertising it on a couple websites as $15,991. on their website as $18,995 - 3,004= $15,991 lol. 3198 down with 235 a month for 60months. they offered me 2000 down for 299m for 72months or 4000down for 262 for 72months. I said where is all this extra money coming from and he gave me a lot of bs. I backed out. really enjoyed test driving it though.

[@xTouragx]

It seems like a nice enough car...although for that much money I would want a bigger motor....also for 27K that is getting into a price point where I would rather have the Focus ST or GTI...although in my case I would still take my Fiesta ST over any of them. :)

[@philthypony]

The steering is the exact same on the hyundai elantra, electric assist is the reason it feels sticky my 13 Elantra does the same!

[@rio20d]

does this car have washer? The headlights is HID xenon lights right? I usually see cars with HID light have washer on their front bumper. This however doesn't seem to have one on its front bumper

[@davidst489]

100,000 MI /10 YEARS. I have heard that after 3,000 miles the computer takes the leash off and performance improves. I wouldn't get the Tech package and the GTi I priced out was 33K., have to get past plaid seats :-P Focus, Ford doesn't know how to do a Automatic.

[@PaulThompson-mn6sc]

This reviewer definitely has an OCD. Seriously - spending a good portion of the review griping about the infotainment system legal screen is insane, especially when it can be easily disabled. This car is a blast and a true bargain in the sporty auto segment. I have one and I love it . . .

[@TestDrivenTV]

The reviewer does indeed have OCD ;)

[@davidvalenzuela4529]

We test the 2015 Kia Forte5 SX Turbo to see how well it performs on the road. More importantly, we want to find out how it compares to chief rivals VW GTI and Ford Focus ST.

[@SaraK_69]

I have no idea about this legal disclaimer button that the reviewer keeps ranting about. Mine does not have this and I bought it in January 2015. So, maybe it was only an issue on his tester. Also, steering is fine I don't have any issues and I am coming from a Mazda3 after 4 years of ownership. I do understand the lack of independent suspension I do feel that, but this car feels more like how a GTI feels with steering. Lastly, not sure why this guy gave the chassis a 2 star rating. I love the chassis and it was the reason why I bought the car. It looks and feels like an Audi for $15,000 less!

[@TheWTFsauce]

1.6 and should be a rival to a focus or a gti? its better off going against the fiesta

[@JayzBeerz]

my next ride

[@JayzBeerz]

buildmorefarms100 Nice enjoy and drive safe.

[@joeb1808]

+buildmorefarms100 did you get the manual?

[@dkkli985]

Seriously, you don't talk about prices without warranties, right?

[@umerusman8523]

how do you upgrade the gps for free?

[@screwwattz]

Brought the Mpg at 42 on highway.

[@theofficer1199]

Read consumer reports ford=terrible reliability. Gti not much better. Kia very good and the warranty that ford and vw don't have the confidence to put on their car.

[@seremume]

You're just too lazy to press 1 button. I woulnt mind pressing it every time. Thats just laziness. But to each their own i guess.

[@Dklew9418]

i thought the same haha i'ts one button... you'll eventually grow into a habit of pushing it

[@cassiocm]

I agree 100% with TestDrivenTV. I think Kia is losing sight of the ball to use a metaphor. To spend 27K, I readily go to a GTI or ST dealer any day. Instead of thinking of themselves as a 'competitor' to VW or Ford, Kia should position themselves as a reasonable alternative for those who care more about value and still get almost the same performance. NOT position its car as a competitor. Kia cannot compete with a price like that. Kia take note: drop the price by about 4K loaded and go back to the drawing board, you are not there yet in this particular segment.

[@innovazero]

Except a loaded ST or GTI are more expensive. The base SX still has quite a bit of features and at 21k it is a very excellent value with good speed and space that the others don't match. The warranty tops both as well. It's also the only hatch in this segment to my knowledge that offers an automatic (not DSG level, but it's a pretty damn good 6sp auto), sure the GTI has one but then it gets really pricey. The Forte 5 is more of a competitor to cars like the Mazda 3s and the Fiesta ST. Similar in speed to the Fiesta ST, but with more space then the Mazda. To be fair though, it doesn't have the driving dynamics of either.

[@alvilla701]

Kia is moving on the right direction, although I trust more VW (for now)

[@fuknames2123]

I had doubts about Hyundai/Kia but their recent stuff is some of the best around. They have really gotten their act together as of late, and I'm most likely getting a Hyundai as my next vehicle. Just too many good reviews to pass up.

[@prd185]

Ford has disclaimers on their infotainment system too! By the way the Ford focus with the Dps6 transmission is a piece of shit. To many problems with the dual clutch shudder, and the TCM going out. Ford advertises the Dps6 transmission as an automatic. It's actually a manual transmission that is automatically shifted with servos. Ford copies everything the Germans do, except they do it cheaply. I would suggest people stay away from the Focus and the Fiesta. Also Kia is thinking about using a similar transmission in the Rio, which I thing will be a big mistake.

[@JOHNSMITH-zu8ku]

Bueller, Bueller, Ferris Bueller.

[@themegawarrior45]

the difference between Kia, Ford and VW is that Ford is a great car to have if your gonna lease it cuz if you buy it, after eight years or so it will break down, and VW parts if they break cost too much to replace. The Kia Forte is a cheap version of the st and gti, and it is for maybe somebody's first car and they are in highschool. it is cheap and will last you a good time until you can afford a ST or GTI.

[@fuknames2123]

if you can afford a $21000 Forte, you can afford a $23000 ST.

[@overzealousarborist]

+Guilherme Melo I don't think anyone should have a new car as their "first car"

[@themegawarrior45]

James Johnson​ why not?

[@Coupydog]

+Guilherme Melo Because humans learn from their mistakes. It's possible a new driver will bump something or leave the car where it shouldn't be... like across a driveway or somewhere it could be hit. They don't know everything & it's easier to make these "mistakes" on an older vehicle. Easier for you, if 'yah know what I'm say'n?

[@merza16465]

lool peace of dolls..same seat style... my 2016 seat Leon cupra top speed 272 km stock. on bad weather. sorry. no way