2019 Kia Forte - All New Stinger-esque (First Impressions)

All new 2019 Kia Forte

For 9 years of work, Kia Forte has become a real competitor in the compact sedans market.

Back when the Forte was first introduced in 2009, it sold less than 27,000 units.

Sportier Look, Stinger Inspired

Our journey begins in the great city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Walking through Forte, you immediately see a lot of clues from Stinger.

Front 2019

2019 Forte Front Right Side

2019 Forte Rear

Forte dimensions grow slightly longer (182.7 inches), taller (56.5 inches) and wider (70.9 inches), although the wheelbase remains unchanged at 106.3 inches.

I found the interior materials and construction to be very good, with one exception.

2019 Forte Interior Front

2019 Forte Interior Rear

The overall control and instrument layout of the Forte was very organized and Kia did a great job of keeping the control layout as simple as possible.

2019 Forte center console location

Security and Technology

The previous Forte was a II Safety Top Pick+ and the new Forte was supposed to take that mantel.

One of the biggest benefits for many buyers is the technology that goes into the car, and thankfully, all new Forte's come with a plethora of technology.

2019 Forte Harmon / Cardon with navigation

2019 Forte Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Standard

2019 Forte Wireless Charging

All new Engine and Transmission

There will be only one engine choice for the 2019 Forte to launch, a second-generation NU 2.0 MPI gasoline engine running on the Atkinson cycle.

2019 Forte second generation Nu 2.0 MPI Engine and CVT (5 speed manual with FE trims only)

Much of the improvement in mileage can be attributed to a new proprietary continuously variable transmission (CVT), which Kia calls IVT ("I" stands for intelligent).

Kia Forte 0-60 in sport mode: ~9.5 seconds (Note: this was done with three three adults in the car.)

Kia even has a Shift Mode that lets you manually shift up or down.

While the Forte still uses a torsion beam for the rear suspension, Kia has indeed improved the geometry of the suspension components and along with a stiffer body due to the use of high strength improved steels, the complete package delivers a relatively smoother and improved ride.

Run in Fort

As already pointed out, Kia will also release an EX Launch Edition this fall, which will add a host of additional exterior, safety and technology features.

2019 Kia Forte Edition with Fire Orange

Safety improvements in the Launch Edition include direct collision avoidance assistance with pedestrian detection and smart cruise control.

Still of great importance

Prices start at $ 17,690.00 for a Forte FE with a 6-speed manual.

Car manufacturers such as Kia often fly out and provide facilities for journalists to test new car models.