2012 Kia Forte Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Kia Forte review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Forte, and includes Kia Forte safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The Kia Forte is a compact sedan that can be stripped down to a bare minimum, no-frills, $15,000 econo-box in LX trim or pimped-out to a fully-loaded, $24,000 sporty techno-ride in SX trim.

The 2012 Kia Forte is carried over from the previous year with only two teensy changes: the EX trim level gains a tilt and telescoping steering wheel and a fancier gauge cluster is added to the optional Technology Package. Yep. That’s it.

The 2012 Kia Forte Sedan is available in LX, EX and SX trim levels. The LX is an exercise in austerity with few standard features. Among the basics are 15-inch wheels with plastic hubcaps, cloth upholstery, a height adjustable driver’s seat and little else. Manual locks and windows? What a drag. But the LX does offer what attracts young, callow, under-employed buyers, which is Bluetooth hands-free calling capability, plus a stereo system that has a CD/MP3 player, an auxiliary audio input jack, and a free three-month trial subscription to satellite radio. Options for the LX model include an auto-dimming rearview mirror with a compass, a cargo net and tray, floor mats, and a HomeLink remote control. Choose the available automatic transmission, and you’ll also get air conditioning.

Unless you’re a monk, or really strapped for cash, an upgrade is in order to the Forte EX. Included on its standard features list are a greater array of colors, floor mats, a standard automatic transmission, air conditioning, power windows, power and heated mirrors, power door locks with remote keyless entry, a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, and cruise control. You’ll also get a surround sound audio system with a Power Bass feature. On the options list is a Premium Package that includes a power moonroof and 16-inch alloy wheels, and a Technology Package that gives you Smart Key entry and push-button ignition, a navigation system with a reversing camera, automatic headlights, fog lights, an upgraded gauge cluster and automatic climate control. You can also turn the Forte into more of a fuel miser with the Fuel Economy Package that uses electric steering, low rolling-resistance tires, and aerodynamic modifications to increase efficiency.

Driving enthusiasts will prefer the Forte SX, which boasts 17-inch alloys, a larger, more powerful engine, a sport suspension, and bigger brakes. Red stitching accents the upholstery, shift paddles are standard, and unique metallic trim is applied too the foot pedals and dashboard. The same Technology Package as the EX is also available for the SX, as is a Leather Package with heated front seats and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. You can also equip your Forte SX with a power moonroof, remote engine starting, a HomeLink remote, and a rear spoiler.

A 156-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is standard on the Forte LX and EX. The LX models without air conditioning have a six-speed manual transmission. LX models with air conditioning and all EX models are equipped with a six-speed Sportmatic automatic. You can expect to get 25 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway with the manual transmission, while the automatic should return 26 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. Equipping the EX model with the Fuel Economy Package increases the numbers a bit to 27 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.

The Forte SX benefits from a 173-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine matched with the six-speed Sportmatic automatic transmission, which includes shift paddles on the SX’s steering wheel. The EPA rates this model at 23 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.

Like every Kia, the Forte is protected by an impressive 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The basic warranty is a five-year/60,000-mile plan that includes free roadside assistance.

Just because the 2012 Kia Forte is an economy car, don’t assume that it skimps on safety. Indeed, the Forte is fortified with six airbags, a four-wheel-disc antilock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, and both traction and stability control.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the Forte’s crash performance an overall rating of 4 Stars in all parameters, an improvement over the 2011 Forte’s performance. However, some clarification is necessary. In the frontal-impact evaluation, the front passenger rating is 3 Stars while the driver gets a 5-Star award. In the side-impact test, the driver’s protection rating is 3 Stars, while the rear passenger receives 5 Stars. However, during the test the rear passenger dummy was struck by the rear door panel at greater force than normal. Worse, in the side pole test, the driver rating is a measly 2 Stars. Based on this performance, it appears that Kia has some work to do fortifying the Forte’s structure.

The NHTSA results stand in sharp contrast to what the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says. The IIHS has yet to test the 2012 model, but it gave the 2011 Forte Sedan a Top Safety Pick rating, which means that it received top scores in every parameter.

Neither Consumer Reports nor J.D. Power and Associates have made predictions for the 2012 Forte Sedan reliability, but last year both of these firms gave the Kia average predicted reliability ratings.

There are three distinct members of the Forte family: a sedan, a 5-door hatchback and a coupe called Koup. Like most clans, each have their own personality but they’re all essentially the same underneath and inside.

We’d also like to note the Forte Sedan’s trunk, which provides 14.7 cubic feet of space. That’s about the norm for a midsize sedan, and quite generous for a compact.

Middling predicted dependability scores concern us, and there’s clearly room for improvement when it comes to crashworthiness according to the NHTSA. We’ve also had issues with driver’s seat comfort – as in, none was to be found – and the ride is a little bit more jarring than expected. Nevertheless, the 2012 Kia Forte boasts handsome and understated exterior styling, an easy-to-use interior, a value-priced window sticker, a generous warranty, and a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS. It wins a tentative recommendation.

By Christian Wardlaw and Liz Kim