Whether it’s obstinacy, sentimentality, foresight, or just going with the flow, Kia isn’t about to let the hatchback die just yet. The carmaker has recently updated the five-door version of its K3 model (also known as the Kia Forte, you could find more info of the model specs, reviews and price list here ), following the release of the facelifted sedan counterpart.
The revamped styling gives it a more aggressive appearance
The revamped aesthetic also comes with the letters GT added to the name, hinting at the model’s more athletic underpinnings. More importantly, the compact duo one-ups their bigger K5/Optima midsize sibling by featuring the new Kia corporate logo.
Revised LED headlamps now flank the slimmer and stretched tiger-nose grille, surrounded by three-segment daylight running lights on the top and bottom edges. Triangular elements, possibly faux air vents, can be found on the corners of the redesigned front bumper. Touches of red on the fascia give the Forte GT hatchback a somewhat aggressive appearance.
The updated Kia logo sits on top of the red accents on the fascia
Two rows of three LEDs are positioned diagonally on both sides of the front lip, possibly serving as foglights, while the rear styling still stands with LED taillights and dual exhaust tips on the gloss-black rear diffuser.
The sporty touches continue on the interior by way of more red accent stitching found on the upholstery and shift boot, complemented by aluminum pedals for the brake and accelerator. A digital 10.25-inch instrument panel rests just beyond the leather flat-bottomed tiller, with a similarly sized floating-type touchscreen infotainment screen at the center of the dashboard.
The red accent stitching on the interior should get you excited to take the wheel
Under the hood, the facelifted Forte hatchback GT retains the 1.6L turbocharged gasoline mill that serves up 201 hp and 265 Nm of torque. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox spins the front wheels, actuated by either the console-mounted gearshift lever or the twin paddle shifters on the steering column. Performance tweaks include a multi-link suspension for the rear paired with Bilstein shock absorbers, upgraded brakes, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 radials on all four corners.
An electric parking brake now comes standard, and the Forte GT hatchback echoes its sedan version in offering a suite of upgraded safety kits, including Highway Driving Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Safe Exit Warning, Blind-Spot Monitoring, and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.
A 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster lies just beyond the steering wheel
The facelifted Kia Forte GT hatchback retails in South Korea at a base price of $23,600 (Php 1,141,543 exclusive of taxes and other duties). Would you like Kia Philippines to bring this model over anytime soon?
Get more updates on the latest releases at Philkotse.com.
Know more about Kia Forte 2024
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.
₱ 1,095,000 - ₱ 1,650,000
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