2012 Kia Forte consumer reviews

After several months of test driving and researching cars, I bought the 2012 Kia Forte 5 SX. All I can say is...wow! I would have never believed this was a Kia if the Kia badge wasn't on the front. This is a fine automobile at a good price! I feel like I'm driving an Audi or Acura, not a Kia. I think Kia is poised and ready to dominate the market. The handling, acceleration, and quality are second to none. Some have complained about a "stiff" ride. If you want a car that rides like a boat, then buy a Buick. The ride is firm but responsive, I give it 5 stars for a compact car. Visibility is excellent and the steering is refined and accurate. Pleanty of room for my 100lbs German Shepherd in the back with the seats folded down. I am 5'11" / 175 pounds and have pleanty of room. After I positioned the front seat, I jumped behind it to check the leg room. I had enough room for my legs, shoulders, and head to fit comfortably. If you are in the market for this type of car, then buy the Kia.

I had my heart set on a Hyandai Elantra until I went into a local Kia Dealership to kill time between appts. The Kia dealership offered tons of incentives & the Forte has more trunk space, a roomier interior, & more base model features then the Elantra. The Kia also felt more "solid" & had a smoother ride. I've owned the car for 4 months(5,200 miles) & LOVE IT! Highway MPG is 33-34 @ 65-70mph & city is around 28-30mpg. The trunk is HUGE! The seats are comfortable & the interior is roomy & user friendly (I love the side water bottle holders). I traded in a Volvo S60 for my new Kia Forte and feel as if I "traded up" in comfort. Acceleration is quick and there is a super tight turning radius which I love. The car does feel a little light (out of control) if a curve in the road is taken too fast. That and the poor rear view visibility are the only negatives I have with the car.

I was looking for a new car for over 3 months and had test driven 11 different compact cars that were on my list. A KIA wasn't on that list until I saw a photo of of a Forte SX 5dr. Took one for a test drive and I was sold. The car has a definite personality. It's not perfect, the ride is a bit harder than it has to be, the interior could use some additional soft touch plastics here or there, and the brakes could be a bit more progressive. But, the pluses way out number the negatives. The main plus is value. The price to feature equation beats all its competition hands down. It's styling is tasteful and distictive. It's performance is on par or better than everything else I test drove. Also with the ridiculously fair deal I got, plus a $1000 rebate, I can buy a ton of gas with the many thousands of $ I saved over comparable/liked equipped competitors that may get a few more mile per gallon.

The 2012 Kia I bought is a good buy if you are zipping around the city. The only thing that I did not like was how it handled going over bumpy roads at 70mph. It felt like you could lose control very easy. Bought the car in September of 2011 and have traded it in for a new car with a better suspension. I worried because I have a teenager that drives this car and did not like how it handled. Everything else was great about the car. Would not recomend this car if you have young drivers.

My 2012 Kia Forte Koup 6 speed manual transmission is one amazing sporty car for the money. It is packed with accessories at a reasonable price. The sport suspension ride holds true on twisty country roads and has firm but comfortable leather bucket seats. There is lots of room up front with all instruments within easy reach. The 6 speed stick shift is the most fun on twisting country roads as it has a smooth short throw between gears which mesh willingly. The power and gear ratios are in perfect harmony for this 4 cylinder engine riding on 17" Good Year Eagle tires. The steering is very direct and precise. My mileage is about 26 MPG around town on regular gas. The stereo sound and mood lighting are super. Rear fold down seats provide extra cargo space when needed. Overall, this car is a winner and a sleeper to be feared by other Japanese competitors. Also, how could you beat a 5 year 60,000 mile basic warranty which is a testament to a quality product. I would recommend a test drive to validate my positive assessment. Minor negative comments: <> The glove box and trunk can not be locked. <> The left foot rest and clutch pedal could have greater separation distance. <> Map pockets behind the front seats are omitted.

I narrowed my search based on price and reliability. You can't beat 100k miles. Most cars I looked at had most of same features, so it came down to price. The size of the Forte is deceptive. I rides like a high end sedan, but looks sporty and easily fits five passengers with lots of rear seat legroom. It is luxury without a high price. It fits my needs.

The car runs. I wanted something reliable, as my last Japanese car lasted more than 25 years but got too expensive to maintain. The Forte operates and has more bells and whistles than the last car but gas mileage and handling hasn't improved all that much in 25 years. I've only put about 2,000 miles on it so far, so I don't know how long it will hold up. But both the windshield and rear mirror are small and give less view than I'm used to. Also, for whatever reason, reflections appear in the windshield and side windows which are annoying and obstruct the view. And there are big blind spots in the back. These view problems can be safety hazards. Fortunately, I haven't needed the safety features (anti-lock brakes, airbags, etc.), so I can't say if they work. It is comfortable to drive, though.

I'm a 23 year old recent grad and this is my 5th car. I originally wanted the optima turbo but it just got a little to pricy. Saw the Forte SX Sedan on the lot, fully loaded. Nav, Backup Cam, Leather, Auto Dim Mirror, and Bluetooth. I was just thrilled. Car drives very nice and the warranty is even better. I love the push button start and the little beep it makes when I lock the door. I especially love the auto headlights. It's one less thing I have to worry about. I walked away at a 25k price tag but I'm very pleased with my Forte.

Favorite color, low to the ground for excellent turning, easy to park and plenty of room. 2nd Kia I have bought and great incentives, too.

I took this car on a road trip to Missouri. It got 38 mpg. Very comfortable car, handles very well and roomy enough for us. I made a great choice!