Chicago Auto Show: 2014 Kia Forte 5-Door

by Alex L. Dykes

Published: February 7th, 2013

Kia has officially entered the traditional hot hatch market today at the Chicago Auto Show with the 2014 Kia Forte 5-door. Based on, you guessed it, the redesigned Kia Forte sedan, the four-door-plus-hatch seems to have Volkswagen’s Golf in its sights with an optional 1.6L direct-injection turbocharged engine good for 201 horsepower. Kia has yet to release full details but with 201 ponies and a curb weight likely to be under 3,000lbs, it should give VW a run for their Euros.

Kia seems to have heard the complaints of hard interior plastics and the model on the show floor is a definite improvement over the first Forte. Kia is also throwing in their revised UVO infotainment systems that seem to look Ford SYNC without the glitches. It may be hard to notice in the pictures, but Kia decided to give the 5-door a more aggressive bumper cover, smaller grille and large lower air intake for a sportier look than the sedan.

#2014KiaForte5-Door #AlexDykes #ChicagoAutoShow #Kia

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3 of 32 comments

Ehaase on Feb 07, 2013

My favorite small car is the Golf. This is the first Kia I would consider buying.

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Sportyaccordy on Feb 08, 2013

Keep in mind, this is not conventional HP, but Hyundai/Kia's own brand specific HP, which amounts to about .8-.9 conventional HP. Conversion is the opposite for the "gallons" they use in their fuel economy calculations.

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- Bd2 on Feb 08, 2013
  
  And yet, H/K has faster times and better fuel economy than Ford's ecoboost engines. Btw, 0-60 times has more to do with H/K's still balky MTs - Car & Driver got a significantly faster time in the Veloster Turbo with the AT than with the MT.
  
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