2010 Kia Forte at 2009 Chicago Auto Show

• Competes with: Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus
• Looks like: Kia borrowed heavily from the Civic and added its own grille
• Drivetrain: 156-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder with five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, or 173-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder with six-speed manual or five-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: Late spring, early summer 2009

For the past few years, Kia has been playing catch-up with Korean partner Hyundai in the styling department. With the release of the 2009 Optima, Kia says it has a new corporate look, and the all-new Forte carries that new style into the compact sedan segment with eyes clearly set on the big players, like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus, and — to a lesser extent — even the Hyundai Elantra.

The second our eyes saw the first picture of a Forte, we immediately thought “Civic” in terms of styling. It’s hard not to think that way, with the thin, horizontal headlights and the raised lines on the hood sweeping up into the A-pillars. Heck, even the trim levels of LX, EX and SX sound like Honda terminology.

Two four-cylinders will be available. The thriftiest will sit in the LX and EX trims, with a more powerful, 173-hp engine in the sport-oriented SX trim, which also gets a sportier suspension setup. The base engine will get an estimated 25/34 mpg with a four-speed automatic transmission. The LX and EX will also come with an optional Fuel Economy Package that adds a five-speed automatic and low-rolling-resistance tires that boost mileage to an estimated 26/36 mpg city/highway. Mileage numbers were not released for either the SX model or the manual transmissions. The Forte’s estimated mileage is right in line with the competition: The Focus gets 24/33 mpg with an automatic, while the automatic Toyota Corolla gets 27/35 mpg.

The Forte also sports one of the larger trunks in its class, at 14.7 cubic feet. That’s compared to 13.8 cubic feet in the Focus and 12.3 and 12 in the Corolla and Civic, respectively.

Standard safety equipment on all Forte models includes stability control, antilock brakes and active front head restraints. Other standard features include a stereo with CD, auxiliary input and USB input. Move up to the EX and SX trims, and you get power windows, keyless entry, air conditioning, a six-speaker surround-sound audio system with steering-wheel controls, and cruise control. Bluetooth is also standard on all trims, which is a rarity for this class. Fifteen-inch wheels are standard on the LX, while the EX gets 16s, and there are 17s on the SX.

The new look, standard features and fuel-efficient engines make the Forte seem like a winner. As with all things, though, pricing will be the final determination on whether this compact sedan measures up to some hefty competition.