2012 Kia Forte5 Reviews, Pricing & Specs
Write a review$18,100 to $19,600
Original MSRP
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Kia has expanded its Forte line to include a hatchback, unimaginatively christened the 5-Door. Names aside, the hatch adds cargo space and versatility and should appeal to families on a budget.
The 5-Door comes in 2 trims: the EX, with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with 156 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque, and the SX, with a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder making 173 hp and 168 lb-ft. The front-wheel-drive car is also features a 6-speed automatic transmission, with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters standard in the SX. The EX sits atop 16-inch tires, while the SX has 17-inchers. The EPA rates the EX with a middle-of-the-pack 26 mpg city/36 highway and the SX at 23/32; an optional fuel economy package for the EX ups mileage by 1 mpg.
Outside, Kia has kept the Forte clean and tight, and the 5-Door is no exception. It has no wind-swept curves or jutting angles, and that's a good thing. Unlike other wagons that tend to have an elongated tail section, the 5-Door is well-proportioned while still having almost 20 cubic feet of rear cargo space. When the 60/40 split rear seat is folded, the advantages of this compact hatch are readily apparent.
The interior is clean and uncluttered, although the red LED digital lighting used on the center stack and generous helpings of plastic remind you this is not a luxury vehicle. Still, it is quite roomy with 55.7 inches of shoulder room in the front seats and just an inch less in the rear.
Kia appeals to the discerning budget buyer with a host of features that used to be reserved for higher-end vehicles: Bluetooth, a USB port, keyless entry and a 6-way adjustable driver's seat are a few of the standard options included. The 6-speaker sound system has a feature to automatically increase volume at higher speeds to overcome increased engine noise. Navigation and a rear-view camera are part of an optional Technology package.
The 5-Door's drive is reported to be fun, yet unremarkable. It is recommended that buyers opt for the SX with its more powerful engine and sport-tuned suspension for a better ride.
It's no-nonsense name may not inspire, but perhaps that is the point: The Kia Forte 5-door is a good hatch at a reasonable price that will get you, your family and your gear from point A to B relatively comfortably. The host of standard features, as well as Kia's extensive 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty add to the car's value.
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2012 Kia Forte5 Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
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: 6
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.0 · Front brakes: disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.3 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front
Convenience Features
Assist handle: front · Cargo area: floor luggage box · 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 and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: phone · Storage: in-floor · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 6
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 2.89
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: Auto off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: integrated turn signals · 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: front
Seatbelts
Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Steering
Turns lock-to-lock: 2.90
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 wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed · Rear wiper: 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: 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
Assist handle: rear · Cargo area: floor luggage box · 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: phone · Storage: in-floor · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 6
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 2.89
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust tip color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: Halogen
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
Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium cloth
Steering
Turns lock-to-lock: 2.90
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 wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed · Rear wiper: intermittent