No compensation was received for this post. A one week loan of the vehicle was provided to facilitate this review.
Purchasing a car is one of the bigger decisions in life and one that my husband and I have been seriously contemplating for at least 6 months. Apart from cost and safety features, our lifestyle plays a huge role in determining what our next purchase will be. Now that we have children, we look at things like trunk space for road trips and how big the backseat is to accommodate car seats as opposed to whether or not we can go off-roading.
As you probably have guessed, I love test-driving cars. While a drive around the city is a good starting point, I have found that actually being a car for a week really gives me time to get acclimated to a majority of its features and helps me determine whether or not I could see our family in it. One of the brands I’ve been really getting familiar with is Kia, and recently we spent some time test-driving the 2014 Forte EX. Bigger than the Kia Rio, this four-door sedan is in the same class as Ford Focus and the Honda Civic. We have spent the last 6+ years of our life as a family driving all over the country in a sedan and it makes sense that our next vehicle will likely be in the same class.
Image: Kia
As a parent, I can’t talk about a vehicle without providing commentary on its safety. Even without children, I want to know that the car I purchase has some inherent protective mechanisms within its design. Some of the stand-out safety features of the Forte include airbags and plenty of them. Front and even side airbags have become the standard in most vehicles, but Kia takes it up a notch with its full-length side curtain airbags. Obviously getting a photo of this would have meant I did something seriously wrong so I’ll show you what this looks like:
Image: Kia
Additional noteworthy, family-specific safety features include Height-Adjustable Front Seat-Belt Anchors, LATCH, and Rear Child-Safety Door Locks. The Forte also has multiple systems in place to help drivers maintain control of the vehicle.
Apart from safety, fuel efficiency is a top priority given we live in a state where gas prices are amongst the highest in the nation. The Forte EX averages 24/36 (city/highway) which is lower than vehicles in its class, but not by much.
The look of the Forte is sporty and attractive, influenced by European sport sedan styling, yet the 2014 model is longer and wider than previous generations and can seat up to 5 passengers. The vehicle’s design sets it apart from others in its class, primarily because it doesn’t really look like a sedan. Driving the Forte was seamless, comfortable, and fun. We packed up the roomy trunk with beach essentials, installed both of our children’s full-sized car seats into the back, and headed out to the beach for the afternoon. Nothing about the vehicle says “compact” to me save the price. Starting at just $15,900, it offers one of the best deals in its class.
Testing out a new car is always fun, particularly when it’s filled with innovative luxury features for which the Forte is definitely not lacking. Even the base LX model includes steering wheel-mounted audio controls, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Bluetooth wireless technology, power windows, air conditioning, and power heated outside mirrors. Affordable upgrades include keyless entry, push button start with Smart Key, cruise control, UVO with eServices, navigation system, rear camera back-up display, FlexSteer which offers a choice of three steering profiles and much more.
For a compact car, the 2014 Kia Forte stands out amongst other vehicles in its class in areas like safety, performance, and innovation. Despite it’s mediocre fuel economy (which isn’t far off from its competitors), it still offers much in the way of value. Its broad appeal makes it attractive to young adults and families with children. For more information, visit Kia.com/Forte.
Images: Rockin’ Mama unless noted.
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