2011 Kia Forte Five-Door at the 2010 New York Auto Show

• Competes with: Mazda3, Toyota Matrix, Subaru Impreza
• Looks like: The Forte grew a hatch
• Drivetrain: 156-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder or 173-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder with six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Mid-2010

Kia’s compact Forte is already offered in two-door coupe or four-door sedan form, and for 2011 a new hatchback version joins the lineup — ostensibly the successor to the Kia Spectra5. It’s available with the same engines as the other body styles, but it ushers in a new six-speed automatic transmission that should help improve the Forte’s already-competitive gas mileage; the sedan is rated at 25/34 mpg city/highway with the base engine.

The transition to a hatchback has been a fairly graceful one for the Forte. It has the same clean lines as the current sedan and incorporates a few changes including an updated front grille. The taillights have the same premium appearance as the sedan’s but utilize a different design. Company representatives said the interior of the show car was not finished to production standards, but when it is complete it should resemble that of the sedan.

The Forte has already proven itself a competitive small car that’s worth a look if you’re in the market for one. The addition of a hatchback body style broadens its appeal and currently makes it the only value-oriented small car to come in three body styles.