Video: 2010 Kia Forte

It's a new compact car from Kia that replaces their Spectra model and goes up against in the competitive small car segment against models like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Mazda3. The new Forte has a pretty athletic look and it incorporates styling cues you may have seen on other models. The front grill is very reminiscent of a Honda Civic Coupes grill. As you come around to the back of the car, you can see that it has taillights that recall a Mitsubishi Lancer. Forte's going to be offered in three trim levels. There's the LX and EX models that come with a two liter four cylinder that makes 156 horsepower. Or you can step up to an SX trim level like this one here that comes with a larger 2.4 liter four cylinder that makes 173 horsepower. Both engines are available with manual or automatic transmissions and though official fuel economy figures haven't been released, expect the Forte to be competitive in the small car segment. Forte's cabin has decent material qualities and pretty good fit and finish overall for a small car. And there are also some upscale touches like this SX model's steering wheel audio controls that have a nice feel to them. The Forte comes with a lot of standard safety features like standard ABS brakes, standard side curtain airbags, and a standard stability system. And for those that want to connect a portable music player, it comes with a standard USB port for plugging in an iPod. Though the outside of the Forte doesn't look much bigger than its compact competitors, when you get into the back seat of the car, it actually feels larger than 'em. I have pretty good leg room here, and though I'm pushing the limits of headroom, it's still comfortable and the backrest has a nice recline to it, as well. The Forte's trunk measures 14.7 cubic feet, and that's on the large side for a small car. The 60/40 split folding back seat is released from these levers right here on the upper portion of the trunk lid. And when those seats are folded down, it's not completely flat. There's about a four inch ledge that you have to clear if you're pushing something long into it. Pricing hasn't been announced yet for the new Forte, but expect it to be close to what the outgoing Spectra started at, which is about $14,000. <v Announcer>For additional information on this car or any other, go to cars.com and our blog Kicking Tires.