2010 Kia Forte Reviews, Pricing & Specs

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$13,695 to $17,195

Original MSRP

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expert review

3.7

avg user rating

(20 reviews)
2010 Kia Forte Preview summaryImage

The 2010 Forte will replace Kia’s best-selling U.S. model, the Spectra, which was a replacement for Kia’s original compact, the Sephia. Why would Kia want to replace its best-selling model? Well, the Spectra was known primarily for three things: great value, great efficiency, and styling that would put a meth head to sleep. Kia hopes to enervate their compact entry with the Forte, touted as larger, faster, and sexier than the outgoing Spectra.

This front-wheel-drive four-door sedan offers two inline four-cylinder (I4) engines and four transmissions across three trim levels - LX, EX, and SX. LX and EX trims get a 156-hp, 2.0-liter inline four with the choice of a standard five-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic, however a Fuel Economy Package offering a five-speed automatic, electronic power steering, and low rolling-resistance tires that is said to produce a 36 mpg rating on the highway will be available. The SX trim gets a 173-hp, 2.4-liter inline four mated to either a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional five-speed automatic. EPA estimates show 25/34 mpg for the 2.0-liter engine when mated to either the five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, while the 2.4-liter gets 22/32 with the six-speed manual and 23/31 with the five-speed automatic.

With its increased dimensions, the Forte boasts 96.8 cubic feet of passenger volume, something Kia touts as “class-leading.” Standard features include a six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, dual 12-volt power outlets, a tilt steering wheel, a four-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo with a three-month trial of Sirius satellite radio, an auxiliary audio input jack, USB port, and Bluetooth. EX and SX trims get a six-speaker stereo with steering-wheel controls, power windows and doors with remote keyless entry, air conditioning, and cruise control. SX trims exclusively get a tuned suspension, sport seats, a telescoping steering wheel, larger brakes, a rear spoiler, and 17-inch alloys. A sunroof and leather upholstery are on the long list of options.

Standard safety features for the Forte include dual-stage front airbags, side curtain airbags, active front headrests, four-wheel antilock disc brakes, traction and electronic stability control, as well as a tire pressure monitor.

Michael Perkins
Published May 31, 2022 by Michael Perkins
A CarGurus contributor since 2008, Michael started his career writing about cars with the SCCA - winning awards during his time as editor of Top End magazine. Since then, his journalistic travels have taken him from NY to Boston to CA, completing a cross-country tour on a restored vintage Suzuki. While his preference is for fine German automobiles - and the extra leg room they so often afford - his first automobile memories center around impromptu Mustang vs. Corvette races down the local highway, in the backseat of his father's latest acquisition.

User reviews for 2010 Kia Forte

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User rating:
by Corey L
Oct 11, 2023
Needs lots of work. Would rather walk. Too costly Oct 11, 2023
by Anonymous
May 11, 2022
Terrible couldn’t even take it for a drive the brakes and rotors were toast.May 11, 2022
by GILLES L
Nov 18, 2021
tres satisfait ces clair et net Nov 18, 2021

2010 Kia Forte Pricing

Original MSRP
$13,695 to $17,195
Price range
$4,667 to $4,956
Average price on CG
$4,667
YoY price change
$4,956 to $4,667

Trims & specs

Airbags

Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags

Audio System

Antenna Type: mast · Auxiliary audio input: jack · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 4

Brakes

ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.3 · Rear brakes: disc

Comfort Features

Floor Mat Material: carpet

Convenience Features

Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Power outlet(s): two 12V · Power steering: speed-proportional · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: phone · Storage: door pockets · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual

Driver Seat

Manual adjustments: 6

Drivetrain

Axle ratio: 3.68

Exterior Features

Door handle color: body-color · Mirror color: body-color

Headrests

Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2

Instrumentation

Fuel economy display: range

Lights

Headlights: Auto off

Mirrors

Exterior mirrors: manual · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night

Passenger Seat

Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Manual Adjustments: 4

Rear Seats

Type: 60-40 split bench

Safety

Active head restraints: driver · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear

Seatbelts

Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt pretensioners: front

Seats

Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth

Suspension

Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front

Telematics

Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth

Tires

Type: all season

Tires and Rims

Wheels: steel

Wheels

Wheel covers: full

Windows

Front wipers: variable intermittent

Air Conditioning

Single front air conditioning zones

Airbags

Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags

Audio System

Antenna Type: mast · USB auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 6

Brakes

ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.3 · Rear brakes: disc

Comfort Features

Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather

Convenience Features

Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Power outlet(s): two 12V · Power steering: speed-proportional · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: accessory hook · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual

Driver Seat

Manual adjustments: 6

Drivetrain

Axle ratio: 4.19

Exterior Features

Door handle color: body-color · Mirror color: body-color

Headrests

Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2

Instrumentation

Fuel economy display: MPG

Lights

Headlights: Auto off

Mirrors

Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night

Passenger Seat

Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Manual Adjustments: 4

Rear Seats

Type: 60-40 split bench

Roof

Sunroof: power glass

Safety

Active head restraints: driver · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear

Seatbelts

Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt pretensioners: front

Seats

Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth

Suspension

Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): rear

Telematics

Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth

Tires

Type: all season

Tires and Rims

Wheels: steel

Wheels

Wheel covers: full

Windows

Front wipers: variable intermittent

Air Conditioning

Single front air conditioning zones

Airbags

Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags

Audio System

Antenna Type: mast · Auxiliary audio input: jack · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 6

Brakes

ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.8 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.3 · Rear brakes: disc

Comfort Features

Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather

Convenience Features

Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Power outlet(s): two 12V · Power steering: speed-proportional · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: sunglasses holder · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual

Driver Seat

Manual adjustments: 6

Drivetrain

Axle ratio: 3.10

Exterior Features

Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color

Headrests

Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2

Instrumentation

Fuel economy display: MPG

Lights

Headlights: Auto off

Mirrors

Exterior mirrors: heated · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night

Passenger Seat

Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Manual Adjustments: 4

Rear Seats

Type: 60-40 split bench

Roof

Sunroof: power glass

Safety

Active head restraints: driver · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear

Seatbelts

Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt pretensioners: front

Seats

Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather

Suspension

Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): rear

Telematics

Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth

Tires

Type: all season

Tires and Rims

Wheel type: aluminum alloy

Windows

Front wipers: variable intermittent

See all trims (3)