2020 Kia Forte GT Test Drive Review: Turbo Sport Compact with Great Value
Kia Forte GT takes a different, more luxurious approach to the sport compact segment.
Kia has come out swinging in the sport compact segment with the new Forte GT, a heavily amped up version of the Forte sedan. In an effort to take on competitors like the Honda Civic Si, the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Jetta GLI, the Kia Forte GT features some incredible revisions to the standard Forte formula.
Under the hood is a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder, while doles out 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. It comes on power hard at 2,500 rpm and pulls nicely to the 6,500 rpm redline, all the while offering a harder-edged whomp from the sport-tuned exhaust system. This is clearly an area where the Civic Si could stand to take some notes. Despite the 37% power bump over the standard Forte, the GT returns a commendable 27 mpg city, 35 mpg freeway and 30 mpg combined.
The high-strung four pot can be paired to either a 7-speed dual clutch automatic (DCT), or a 6-speed manual, though, interestingly, there is a $600 upcharge for the privilege to row your own gears. This test vehicle was equipped with the DCT, and it proved to be a smooth operator, though, perhaps not quite as frenetic as Volkswagen’s DSG unit when driven hard. It would be very interesting to see how the 6-speed DIY transmission fares, in comparison.
Indeed, despite the flashy 18-inch wheels, which were shod in the optional $200 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer rubber, the Forte GT doesn’t like to be hustled with too much gusto. While Kia has gone to great lengths to amplify the GT in the dynamics department, with the biggest change being the rear suspension design evolving from a simple torsion beam to a juicy multi-link independent setup, an overeager stability control system reigns in the fun before the going gets good, even when it is supposedly turned off. The more aggressive drivers in the pack will have to look for their fun elsewhere.
More than that, however, is that when consumers tick the $2,200 GT2 option box, the Forte GT offers unparalleled value in the segment. At $26,445 as tested, this Forte GT with the GT2 package has leather seating, Harman Kardon audio, a large power sunroof, and an array of additional safety features baked into the standard 8-inch touchscreen display, like rear cross-traffic collision warning, blind spot monitoring and parking distance sensors, among other goodies. Oh, and those front bucket seats are both heated and ventilated. Don’t forget the requisite Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability, either. Getting comparable equipment in the Volkswagen GLI would set you back an extra $4,000 over the Kia, and the Honda? Forget about it.
In addition to the array of features that sound good on paper, the interior of Forte GT just feels good, in general. Soft touch plastics, padded surfaces and leather abound throughout the cabin. Everything feels substantial inside. Also, the infotainment system is a breeze to operate, thanks to a mixture of the touchscreen along with physical knobs and buttons.
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The only notable gripe is that the power-adjustable driver seat sits notably higher than the passenger seat, and will make the taller drivers out there feel a bit hard up for headroom. Back seat space is also a bit tighter than what you would get with the Civic, but, passengers up to about 6’2” should be able to make it work in a pinch.
It may not have the raw Autobahn-blasting accelerative ability of the more potent GTI and GLI cousins, nor the outright cornering agility of the Civic Si, but Kia has, instead, gone a different route with the Forte GT. In offering more standard or available luxury-oriented features at an extremely competitive price, Kia is banking on attracting a wider customer base with the more approachable Forte GT, and it seems like it’s a bet that will pay off.
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