2011 FORTE5 EX

The Forte5, as its name indicates, is a four-door Forte with a . It displays the same dimensions as the except in length; the hatchback is 19 cm shorter. Its front wheels are powered by either a 2.0-litre or a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder. The Forte5 is offered in LX and EX trims with the smaller engine, and SX trim with the 2.4L.

Interior and trunk

Access to the front is easy, but you have to watch out for the grime that collects on the wide doorsills. The seats prove very comfortable, and the driver enjoys a very good driving position. Headroom and legroom are relatively generous.

Rear entry is easy but exiting is difficult because there is so little space between the B-pillar and the seat cushion. The bench seat provides average comfort, with room for just two people. Headroom and legroom are adequate for most occupants. The floor that’s formed by folding the 60/40-split seatback is a few centimetres higher than the trunk floor and angles up slightly towards the front.

Trunk capacity is good, and the large hatch opens high and out of the way. The LX offers 112 litres more cargo volume than the EX and SX versions, which have a removable under-floor tray that raises the cargo floor 10 cm.

Convenience and safety features

Cabin finish and materials are very good. Soundproofing is adequate, and there are good storage spaces.

Gauges and controls are logically laid out, but several controls, and the glove compartment, are not lighted at night. The wheel-mounted controls are a tad small, especially for gloved hands. There is no engine temperature gauge—not even a small blue light during the warm-up period. Heating is efficient, despite a rather weak blower. The windshield wipers are a bit slow.

Safety equipment includes six airbags (dual front, side and side curtain), four-wheel antilock disc brakes, stability control, five head restraints, and good headlights. The front head restraints are active-type. Outward visibility is good except on a three-quarter-rear angle. It is hard to judge distances when backing up. For some drivers, the inside mirror can create a blind zone on a right angle.

Photo: Kia Engine and

The 2.0-liter 4-cylinder develops 156 horsepower and 144 pound-feet of torque, for relatively energetic acceleration and pickup. In average to strong acceleration, the engine produces a bit of a growl and some vibration. We’d like the throttle to be a bit smoother. Fuel consumption during our test was a rather disappointing 9.5 L/100 km.

The six-speed generally shifts very smoothly. Gears are well spaced, and the vehicle can be driven off in second. Manual mode is relatively quick.

On the road

The front suspension is independent McPherson strut, whereas the engineers settled on a torsion beam for the rear. The result is a nice blend of suspension suppleness and firmness, and a very smooth ride on practically all surfaces. Some bumps can set off a firm reaction, but nothing more. The Forte5 is not a sports car, but it holds the road well and behaves predictably.

Though a bit heavy at low speed, the power steering proves stable, precise, and fairly quick. It transmits a bit of road feel. The vehicle has a tendency to easily follow road ruts.

The brakes are efficient in normal driving, and they resist well to fade. However, emergency stops with our test vehicle were long.

Inspection

In an inspection at a CAA-Quebec technical inspection centre, we saw that the Forte5’s platform is relatively sturdy and well protected against corrosion. However, the plastic lining of the fuel and brake lines can accumulate damaging grime and humidity. The computer in the engine compartment and the fuel filler tube are exposed to damage. Three hooks in front and one in back allow a canoe, for instance, to be securely attached onto the roof. The overhead camshafts of both engines are chain driven.

Conclusion

With the arrival of the Forte5, the Forte family offers a relatively full line of models to meet the needs of a range of buyers. Obviously, the Forte5 is the most versatile of the sedan-coupe-hatchback trio. Like Hyundai, and more and more, there’s no getting around Kia products because of their price-quality ratio. However, fuel consumption still needs some improvement.

PROS: smooth ride, smooth automatic transmission, handling, front-seat comfort, relatively generous standard equipment, warranty

CONS: wide doorsills collect grime, lack of throttle smoothness, rear exit, wipers a bit slow, ¾-rear visibility, steering a bit heavy at low speed

2011 KIA FORTE5

Engine: 16-valve, 2.0-litre 4-cylinder; 16-valve, 2.4-litre 4-cylinder Horsepower: 156 hp at 6,200 rpm; 173 hp at 6,000 rpm Torque: 144 lb-ft at 4,300 rpm; 168 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm Transmission: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic Suspension: independent/semi-independent Brakes: disc/disc : 265 cm Length: 434 cm Width: 177.5 cm Height: 146 cm Weight: 1,261 to1,370 kg Tires: P195/65R15; P205/55R16; P215/45R17 Maximum towing capacity: not recommended Airbags: dual front, plus two side and two curtain airbags

Fuel consumption with 2.0-litre and automatic transmission Natural Resources Canada rating: City: 8 L/100 km (35 mpg) Highway: 5.6 L/100 km (50 mpg) Test result: 9.5 L/100 km (30 mpg) Test temperature: - 21°C to -3°C

CO2 emissions: 3,174 kg/20,000 km

Fuel tank capacity: 52 litres

Fuel requirement: regular grade gasoline

Acceleration ( 2.0-litre and automatic transmission) 0–100 km/h: 9.1 seconds 60–100 km/h: 5.5 seconds

Competition: Chevrolet Cruze, Dodge Caliber, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, , Mazda3, Mitsubishi Lancer, Nissan Sentra, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Golf, Jetta

Warranty:  Full basic coverage: 5 years/100,000 km  Powertrain: 5 years/100,000 km  Surface corrosion: 3 years/60,000 km  Perforation damage: 5 years/unlimited km  Emissions control system: 5 years/100,000 km (full coverage); 8 years/130,000 km (catalytic converter, electronic control module, onboard diagnostic system).

Factory replacement parts:  Rear bumper: $988  Front brake disc: $143  Brake pads: $146  Muffler: $1,102 (for the two mufflers)  Front fender: $225

Price according to trim level (freight and preparation included):  LX: $18,150  LX Plus: $20,750  EX: $20,650  SX: $23,950  SX Luxury: $26,250

Main options:  Automatic transmission: $1,200  Sunroof: $900 (EX)

Price as tested: $21,850

Dealers: Quebec: 55 Canada: 166

© January 2011. All rights reserved, CAA-Quebec