2016 Kia Forte Reviews, Pricing & Specs

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$15,990 to $19,900

Original MSRP

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expert review

4.3

avg user rating

(12 reviews)
2016 Kia Forte Preview summaryImage

Kia builds on its reputation for value and family-friendliness with the 2016 Forte lineup. This compact 5-seater is again available as either a sedan or hatchback (Forte5), with its coupe variant (Koup) covered in a separate preview. Each edition remains surprisingly well-equipped and offers a number of high-end add-ons.

Despite all this, however, most reviewers consider the Forte just a tad less polished than most of its rivals. That being said, Kia’s Forte stable offers an attractive alternative to such perennial favorites as the Mazda Mazda 3, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, and Volkswagen Golf and Jetta. The 2016 Forte also happens to be in dealer showrooms right now.

The Forte sedan comes in the base LX and EX trims, while the Forte5 hatchback is now available in a new LX trim, along with the returning EX and SX. The debuting Forte5 LX introduces a few added perks over those offered for its 4-door counterpart, allowing Kia to tout reworked standard features and options among the various trims for the upcoming model year.

Trunk space in the sedan versions remains a healthy 14.9 cubic feet, while cargo area in the 5-door Forte 5 is again listed as 23.2 cubic feet to the rear seatbacks (capacity with the rear seats folded remains unavailable). The Forte is again offered in front-wheel-drive (FWD) only.

Power for the Forte LX sedan is a 1.8-liter inline 4-cylinder (I4) mill, managed by either a standard 6-speed manual transmission or an available 6-speed shiftable automatic. Look for 145 hp and 130 lb-ft of torque from this base I4 with either transmission, and mileage of 25 mpg city/37 highway/30 combined with the stick-shift and 26/29/31 with the automatic.

The 2016 Forte EX iterations, along with the brand new Forte5 LX trim, get a 2.0-liter I4 engine paired solely with the 6-speed shiftable automatic. Expect 173 hp and 154 lb-ft of torque in the standard edition, with an available super ultra-low emissions vehicle (SULEV) version putting out 148 lb-ft of torque. Estimated mileage returns at 24/35/28.

The Forte5 SX comes powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter I4 that throws down 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, managed by either the 6-speed stick-shift or the 6-speed shiftable automatic. Look for 21/29/24 from this force-fed 4-cylinder when equipped with either transmission.

Reflecting the subtle changes for the upcoming year, not to mention an unusually abundant set of standard perks, the entry-level LX sedan features 15-inch steel wheels, heated power-adjustable mirrors, cloth upholstery, full power accessories, telescoping tilt-wheel steering, air conditioning, and a CD/MP3 player complemented by 4 speakers, satellite radio, and a USB port. Bluetooth hands-free calling also returns standard. The debuting Forte5 hatchback LX offers standard front fog/driving lights, turn-signal-integrated mirrors, and cruise control.

The 2016 Forte EX editions in both 4-door and hatchback configurations add 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome exterior trim pieces, power-folding outside mirrors, a rear-view camera, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering-wheel, and Kia’s unique Flex-Steer driver-selectable steering assistance feature. The turbo-powered Forte5 SX includes standard 18-inch alloy wheels, alloy pedals, distinct front and rear styling cues, larger front brakes, and LED front fog/driving lights.

Trim-dependent options for 2016 Forte variants include the Premium and Premium Plus packages, which add GPS navigation (with 7-inch touchscreen), keyless entry and ignition, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, a power sunroof, leather upholstery, a ventilated power-adjustable driver’s seat, LED taillights, and an upgraded gauge cluster. HD radio remains available as a standalone option on all trims.

Standard safety equipment aboard the 2016 Forte includes 4-wheel antilock brakes, traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags, and front and rear head-protection airbags. Be advised, however, that reviewers point out a significant number of upgraded safety technology features that are not available on the Forte, such as blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Be that as it may, the government gives the 2016 Forte its best 5-star rating for overall crashworthiness. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awards the Forte its highest rating of Good on all tests, except for the newly instituted small-overlap frontal-offset testing, where the Forte scored a next-to-worst Marginal rating. The Forte also earned a second-best IIHS Acceptable rating for the ease-of-use of its child-safety-oriented LATCH system. In fairness, however, there seem to be very few automobiles out there that score any better on the insurance industry’s recently introduced front-impact criteria.

Published May 31, 2022 by Eric Tallberg

User reviews for 2016 Kia Forte

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User rating:
by Anonymous
May 19, 2024
Purc 4 my granddaughter. So far north a bad purchase She likes the car and that pleases me Good options all appear working properly very clean May 19, 2024
by Anonymous
Oct 04, 2023
Theres a lot to like in the Kia Forte for those in the market for a small car. Unassuming in nature yet considerably more refined than previous Kia compact sedans, the Forte feels mature and solid, thanks to having a quiet cabin and one of the most comfortable rides in its class. The spacious, nicely finished interior also wins praise. Braking performance is excellent.Oct 04, 2023
by Carlos H
Sep 16, 2023
Rey O magnífico trabajador, lo recomendamos totalmente, excelente servicio, agradecidoSep 16, 2023

2016 Kia Forte Pricing

Original MSRP
$15,990 to $19,900
Price range
$8,247 to $8,958
Average price on CG
$8,247
YoY price change
$8,914 to $8,247

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: diversity · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · 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 · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 11.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.3 · Rear brakes: disc

Comfort Features

Floor Material: carpet · Shift knob trim: urethane · Steering wheel trim: urethane

Convenience Features

Assist handle: front · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): two 12V front · Power windows: lockout button · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: accessory hook · Vanity mirrors: dual

Driver Seat

Manual adjustments: 6

Drivetrain

Axle ratio: 2.93

Engine

Alternator: 90 amps

Exterior Features

Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Window trim: black

Headrests

Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3

Instrumentation

Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: low fuel level

Lights

Headlights: Halogen

Mirrors

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

Rear Seats

Type: 60-40 split bench

Safety

Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front

Seatbelts

Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point

Seats

Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth

Steering

Steering ratio: 15.7 · Turns lock-to-lock: 3.0

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

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: diversity · 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 · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 11.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.3 · Rear brakes: disc

Comfort Features

Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Floor Material: carpet · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather

Convenience Features

Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): two 12V front · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: sunglasses holder · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating

Driver Seat

Manual adjustments: 6

Drivetrain

Axle ratio: 3.06

Engine

Alternator: 90 amps

Exterior Features

Door handle color: chrome · Exhaust tip color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Window trim: chrome

Headrests

Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3

In Car Entertainment

Infotainment screen size: 4.2 in.

Instrumentation

Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: low washer fluid

Lights

Headlights: LED

Mirrors

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

Rear Seats

Type: 60-40 split bench

Safety

Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Rearview monitor: in dash

Seatbelts

Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point

Seats

Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth

Steering

Steering ratio: 15.7 · Turns lock-to-lock: 3.0

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

See all trims (2)