We see a lot of bands and performers doing farewell tours. Last chance to enjoy the experience and say a fond goodbye.
Well cars can do that, too. And our latest tester is a fine example. Kia recently introduced the all-new K4, to slot below the K5, naturally and the 4 will replace the Forte sedan.
That’s kind of bittersweet for us – the new 4 is stylish, a bit larger and roomier and looks more in line with the brand’s latest direction, including everything from the EV6 to the Niro and more.
It’s bittersweet because we really liked the Forte, especially in GT form with a powerful turbo engine, quick shifting DCT automatic transmission and sport-tuned suspension. It all adds up to a great little package for the enthusiast, and all at a reasonable price. So how about one last lap in the 2024 Kia Forte GT?
Hunkered Down and Sporty
The Forte is from the previous generation styling of Kia vehicles, which were more traditional looking and handsome.
The final bow starts with an aggressive front end featuring Kia’s “Tiger Nose Grille” with sporty red inserts and braced by cool segmented LED driver’s lights. A lower grille is also blacked out for maximum impression, and additional red trim around the fogs, and side inlets make for a strong first (or is that last?) impression. Speaking of impressions, it’s always worth noting the updated KIA logo, which we think looks especially cool.
The profile is traditional small sport sedan, and we think it’s aged well, especially when you look at the more conservative lines of the latest Honda Civic. Clean and tasteful is in! Adding to the sweetness are the GT-specific, 18-inch machine finished alloy wheels with a sporty multi-spoke pattern and red trim on the center caps.
The rear keeps the aggressive story going with segmented-style rear LED taillights, a sporty lip spoiler, contrasting lower fascia and fat dual exhaust pipes poking out from underneath. We also liked the tasteful Snow White Pearl (who thinks up these names?) finish on our tester, it’s classy, rich and helps to show off the contrasting GT performance bits.
Analog You Can Love
Inside, you really notice this is the old guard – but we like it! Where most new Kia products have a seamless dual-digital display, the Forte takes us back to when big analog gauges were still king. And the royalty here includes a large 8,000 rpm tach and 160-mph speedometer. Sharp and clear with red pointers, it’s a classic look.
OK, it’s not all old school, you have a nice 4.2-inch driver’s TFT cluster with plenty of useful info, a fat leather-wrapped steering wheel with a flat bottom for that Formula One look, and supportive front sport seats. It all feels focused on serving up a sporty driving experience, and it works.
It also works well in the day-to-day, with a table-style 10.25-inch info-tainment touchscreen on the dash, with easy-to-use touchpoints below. And another old-school thing we love – volume and tuning knobs for the system, including the sweet-sounding optional Harmon Kardon premium audio. The tech is up to date with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a nice tray for wireless smartphone charging.
Below that are easy-to-use dual climate controls, and a sporty chrome trimmed center console, with a chunky shifter, and controls for the optional heated and cooled front seats, drive mode selector and rear-view camera. All stuff you’ll appreciate every day.
Like we mentioned, the front seats are sporty and supportive, and covered in Kia’s Cloth/Syn Tex combo (sorry no leather at this price), and the rear seats will fit adults. With the rear seat up, the trunk space is quite good, and folds flat easily. With a generous pass through, you’ve got impressive cargo space for a small sedan. Maybe you don’t need that crossover after all.
The Sport Sedan Lives!
While crossovers and SUVs rule the day, there’s still a group of people who want an exhilarating drive over just cargo and convenience. Here the Forte GT serves up a great experience.
Garden variety Forte models feature a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder that produces 147 horsepower and uses a CVT automatic transmission to keep things smooth and efficient.
But it’s probably not much fun. That’s why we would recco the GT, with a turbocharged, 1.6-liter that pumps out 201 horsepower (that’s one more pony than the Honda Civic Si!) and 195 lb.-ft of torque. And while both the Honda Si and Kia offer manual transmissions, only the Forte offers an automatic transmission, and it’s a honey, a DCT gearbox with lightning quick shifts – the same kind you find in VW GTI’s and other performance machinery.
The 1.6 turbo with DCT is a dynamic duo. The engine starts with a deep rumble, and in Sport mode, keeps the shifts quick and aggressive – it even downshift matches for sporty vibe. Paddle shifters on the steering wheel add to the fun. Acceleration is brisk, with 0-60 in the mid 6’s, and the slightly boisterous exhaust makes it feel and sound even quicker.
The GT is more than a one-trick pony, with a sport-tuned suspension that’s firm but not harsh, good steering feel, and plenty of grip. Brake feel is notably solid, too. It’s the kind of car that always is up for a fun drive, a quick on ramp or a twisty road. The solid acceleration even makes the commute more fun than most cars. We also appreciated the Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go feature. This is a sweet ride!
Kia, Like Hyundai also gives you an impressive suite of safety features to deal with the real world, including Forward Collision Avoidance with cyclist detection, Blind Spot Collision Avoidance, Rear Cross Traffic Warning, Lane Departure, Lane Following and Lane Keep Assist, and Safe Exit Assist warning.
Sweet Departure
The Forte GT may be leaving us, but the price should keep you smiling for years to come. If you like the lines, but really want a grocery getter, the Forte LX starts at just $19,990 – not many cars come in under $20k anymore!
The GT is the top of the line and starts at $24,690 – not a lot more for everything you get! Our tester added the Snow White Pearl Paint ($295), GT2 Package ($1,900) which includes lots of goodies, like power sunroof, Harmon Kardon Sound, Heated and Cooled seats, plus more. Add in a Cargo Mat ($95), Floor Mats ($175), and $1,155 for destination, and we rang the bell at $28,310. And when you’re considering value, don’t forget the Forte has a 10-year/100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty – especially nice on a turbo motor!
Competition would include the Honda Civic Si, at $31,500 a bit more, but we’d argue it’s probably even a bit sportier than the Forte. But remember the Si is manual transmission only, and it’s over $3,000 more. And the warranty is much shorter, too. The VW Jetta GLI is another sporty sedan worth a look with true European road manners, but at $33,940 it’s much more expensive than the Forte GT.
In its final year, the 2024 Kia Forte GT continues to be a performance bargain!
Ben Lewis grew up in Chicago, and after spending his formative years driving sideways in the winter – often intentionally – moved to sunny Southern California. He now enjoys sunny weather year-round — whether it is autocross driving, aerobatics, and learning to surf.