2024 Kia Forte GT Redesign, Colors, Interior – Despite its considerable luggage space and five-seat capacity, the Forte is not a crossover vehicle. The four-door car competes with other sedans that have survived the SUV assault; the Hyundai Elantra, Honda Civic, and Toyota Corolla are its primary competitors. The Forte’s slanted windshield and extended wheelbase are reminiscent of the vast Stinger.
With its shorter headlights and redesigned bumpers, the new nose takes the design to the next level; it has many lines without seeming cluttered or tacky. Forte’s typical economy-car design is disguised by adding a minor spoiler and more attractive taillights to its plainer sides and trunk lid. The GT models include bigger wheels and black accents.
2024 Kia Forte GT Redesign
The 2024 Kia Forte cabin has an 8.0-inch touchscreen, a streamlined design, straightforward temperature controls, and stylish circular vents. In contrast to the FE models’ more stiff plastic and cloth upholstery, the other models feature softer materials and matte metal accents. The GT-Line and GT Forte sedans have synthetic leather seats with holes, contrast stitching, and a flat-bottom steering wheel.
With its shorter headlights and redesigned bumpers, the new nose takes the design to the next level; it has many lines without seeming cluttered or tacky. The Forte’s typical economy-car design is disguised by the addition of a small spoiler and more attractive taillights to its plainer sides and trunk lid. The GT models include bigger wheels and black accents.
Interior
The 2024 Kia Forte can carry four or five passengers, but its trunk capacity of 15.3 cubic feet exceeds its size. Here we have a six, with the trunk scoring one point more than usual. Even though the Forte’s seats provide appropriate support and room for a pair of tall passengers in front, they do not get extra points. Standard in fabric, the Forte’s 6-way manual front seats are available in synthetic leather at higher trim levels. Additionally, the driver’s seat is power-adjustable, and the front seats are heated and cooled. Standard on the GT are side-hugging sport seats with strong bolsters and enhanced support.
The Forte is not as large as the Civic or Jetta, at 182.7 inches in length and 106.3 inches in width, but its rear bench seat provides considerable leg room for two 6-foot-tall passengers. Other model levels include a foldable rear seatback, but not the Forte FE. Also, the materials on the inside of the Forte LXS, GT-Line, and GT are better. The GT-Line and GT have red stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and more metallic accents.
Engine
From the FE to the GT-Line trim levels, the 2024 Forte is powered by a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. With a curb weight between 2,769 and 3,079 pounds, the vehicle’s acceleration is not its strong feature, but its fuel efficiency is. It is connected to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that sloshes between gears to keep the engine humming around its maximal power output; it travels slowly and is extremely noisy.
It responds gently when driven with care. Alternatively, the Forte GT’s 201-horsepower 1.6-liter turbo-4 would receive a 6 if paired with the 6-speed manual transmission instead of the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. With 195 lb-ft of torque, the vehicle can reach 60 miles per hour in 6.7 seconds. We haven’t tried it with the manual transmission, but it must be better than the Kia’s dual-clutch transmission, which has jerky shifts.
When the Sport driving mode is enabled and the accelerator is continuously depressed, the dual-clutch reacts consistently to demands to change gears; otherwise, it hunts for the correct cog, which is uncomfortable at city speeds. The Forte also lacks adequate handling. The basic models have a standard torsion-beam rear suspension that does a good job of smoothing out bumps in the road.
The GT’s independent rear suspension does not mitigate the vehicle’s excessive lean in corners or during rapid lane changes. If you want a more sporty car than the Forte, you might want to look at the Civic Si or the Hyundai Elantra N Line.
2024 Kia Forte GT Release Date and Price
The $20,085 Forte comes standard with power features, a 5-year/60,000-mile warranty, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay wireless connectivity. Upgrade to the LXS for a more opulent cabin and a split-folding rear seat, or the $22,885 GT-Line for a display that is even bigger.