The 2023 Kia Forte Philippines is a four-door compact sedan that comes in a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. In South Korea, it is known as the K3, and the current version sold in the Philippines is the third-generation model that was initially released in 2018.
Under the hood, the Philippine-spec Forte uses a naturally-aspirated 1.6-liter inline-4 gasoline engine, as well as a turbocharged version of the same engine. For the non-turbo version, it can make up to 126 horsepower and 155 Nm of torque. It then uses a six-speed automatic gearbox.
The turbocharged variant meanwhile, can produce up to 201 horsepower and 265 Nm of torque. The said engine is then paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox with paddle shifters.
Size-wise, the forte is 4,640mm long, 1,800mm wide, and 1,450mm in height. It also has a ground clearance of 150mm, and a wheelbase length of 2,700mm.
Available variants for the Forte in the Philippine market include the Forte LX priced at Php 1,095,000, the Forte EX priced at Php 1,195,000, and the Forte GT Turbo priced at Php 1,650,000.
In the Philippine market, the Kia Forte competes agaisnt the likes of the Toyota Corolla Altis, Mazda3, Honda Civic, among others.
Launch
Kia Motors has been producing this compact automobile since 2008. It is known as the K3 in South Korea, the Shuma or Forte K3 in China, and the Cerato in Australia and South America. The Kia Forte was a replacement to the Kia Cerato or Spectra.
In the Philippines, a revamped version of the Kia Forte was unveiled at the 2019 Manila International Auto Show. The Kia Forte Turbo GT, a higher variant, was also introduced together with the powerful Kia Stinger.
The Kia Forte is also known as the Cerato in other markets (Cerato model shown)
Kia Forte Exterior
The exterior of the Kia Forte exudes an athletic vibe. Its front flaunts the company’s signature tiger-nose grille that gracefully complements its sharp projector headlights. Entry-level variants are affixed with halogen projector setup and halogen daytime running lights, while higher variants get LED headlights with LED daytime running lights and fog lamps.
The ForteGT version is designed with distinct elements in the side mirrors, grille, trunk lid spoiler, and door handles.
At the back, the base model features an efficient bulb for lighting while higher variant gets LED lamps.
Kia Forte Interior
The interior of the Kia Forte is subtle yet modern with a hint of luxury. Sturdy plastics dominate its cabin, and the dashboard offers innovative necessities such as a 3.5-inch LCD multi-function display.
Drivers will enjoy the GT steering wheel, sports pedal, power seats with lumbar support, electronic rearview mirror, and leather seats with red trimmings accents on the Forte GT variant. Five fully grown passengers will enjoy its spacious cabin with 60:40 folding seats. The EX and GT variants offer second-row ventilation.
Other elements for convenience include front console cup holders and foldable rear armrest with drink carrier. For trunk storage, it has a decent capacity of 502 liters.
Technology & Safety Feature
Top-of-the-line trim of the 2023 Forte comes with speed-sensing door locks, automatic headlights, rear parking camera with front and rear sensors, and dual-zone automatic climate control. All variants are equipped with an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with six speakers.
In terms of safety, the Kia Forte is fitted with a good number of SRS airbags, ISOFIX child seats anchor, anti-lock braking system, electronic stability control, and hill-start assist.
Kia Forte Platform & Chassis
This compact car is built using a unibody structure to ensure safe and pleasant performance. The Forte GT model uses a Macpherson Strut suspension on its front and multi-link at the rear paired with an all-disc brake setup for the vehicle’s stopping.
On the other hand, the LX and EX versions of the Kia Forte are equipped with a torsion beam suspension at the rear. For braking, it is affixed with rear drums.
Engine & Drivetrain
The Kia Forte runs using either a 1.6-liter T-GDI gasoline engine that produces 201hp with a torque of 265 Nm of torque for the GT variant, and a 1.6 D-CVVT motor engine for the LX and EX that guarantees 126 hp with a torque of 155 Nm.