That styling is simply fantastic. Kia has been on a roll lately with the styling of its latest products, and the new 5-Door is no exception. Sporting aggressive front and rear ends with LEDs aplenty, it’s a shape not unlike the Europe-only Volkswagen Scirocco: low-slung, racy and more appealing than its Hyundai cousin.
The big question is price. The Elantra GT is one of the more expensive versions of Hyundai’s compact platform; the same likely will be true for the Forte — especially since the Forte 5-Door’s entry model is the midlevel trim for the sedan. Given the high level of equipment, however, and the Korean penchant for offering only a few build combinations to keep costs to a minimum, it is likely to be a well-outfitted car for the money. If it drives as well as it looks — and judging from our impressions of the sedan it has a good chance — this could be a big winner for Kia.
Detroit Bureau Chief
Aaron Bragman
Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman has had over 25 years of experience in the auto industry as a journalist, analyst, purchasing agent and program manager. Bragman grew up around his father’s classic Triumph sports cars (which were all sold and gone when he turned 16, much to his frustration) and comes from a Detroit family where cars put food on tables as much as smiles on faces. Today, he’s a member of the Automotive Press Association and the Midwest Automotive Media Association. His pronouns are he/him, but his adjectives are fat/sassy.