There’s a new Kia and town, and its name is Forte—finally putting an end to months of Internet speculation surrounding the official moniker of the long-awaited Spectra successor. Now that the name game’s out of the way, upon initial examination, the Forte badge is affixed to a familiar Kia package, but with lots of welcome additions.
Click Here For More 2010 Kia Forte Images
The first thing you’ll likely notice about the new 2010 Kia Forte (pronounced FOR - TAY) is its styling, which appears to crib several cues from competitors Honda and Toyota. While a clear departure from the outgoing Spectra, the new look is relatively conservative from a design standpoint and likely won’t prove controversial. The new car’s grown an inch in wheelbase, length, and width, but the Spectra’s MacPherson-strut front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension are still there and the interior volume has changed less than a cubic inch. Cargo volume is up though to 14.7 cu ft from 12.2 cu ft.
Heavy praise was also heaped upon the Spectra’s interior, and the Forte looks to pick up where that car left off. All models keep the Spectra’s six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, tilt steering column and dual 12-volt outlets in the center console. You’ll also be treated to an updated four-speaker stereo with a USB input added next to the auxiliary input, standard Bluetooth connectivity and Sirius Satellite Radio with a free three-month subscription.
When the Forte hits the road in late spring, it will also come with Kia’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty, a 5-year/100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty, and a 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but expect at least a small premium over the Spectra’s $13,700 starting price.
| 
|