![]() That’s not as quick as the Volkswagen Jetta GLI ($29,235), but about on par with the Honda Civic Si ($30,195), and it doesn’t feel slow. In both cases, it makes 201 hp and 195 pound-feet of torque, enough to move the manual Forte to 60 mph in a bit under 7 seconds by my unscientific measurements. The 1.6-liter turbo is shared with the Hyundai Elantra N-Line ($29,430), but in that car, you can only get it with the DCT. The six-speed version weighs less than the DCT version (2,989 pounds to the DCT’s 3,079) and comes with a conventional pull-up handbrake instead of an electronic one. ![]() Even on paper things look a little better, too. The DCT is more responsive and shifts quicker than any CVT, but manuals are always going to be more involving. Like the pricier Acura Integra, the Forte GT is probably best as a manual, although it has a better automatic than the Acura or the fancier Honda Civics. Isn’t that exactly what enthusiasts always say they’re after? More people should want it, because even though it isn’t meant for hard-core racers or a cut-price BMW M3, it’s light, small, fun and accessible. ![]() Manual GTs account for roughly 1% of Forte production, company spokesperson Jeffrey Jablansky told Forbes Wheels, but “Kia is keeping this option for people who want it.” The question is, does it drive like its pricier rivals? I got the chance to find out along the empty, winding roads around Walla Walla, Washington and the nearby Wallowa mountains of Eastern Oregon at a recent Kia-hosted media event.Īlthough the gathering was meant to showcase the automaker’s EVs, Kia brought along a manual Forte GT to emphasize that it’s still building this kind of vehicle. The Forte is likely to be replaced in 2025 by a new model revealed abroad this summer, the K3, but in the meantime, it’s the bargain entry of the hot-rod compact clique. The Forte GT’s cabin isn’t the poshest, but it’s perfectly functional and filled with nice features, including standard heated seats and a 10.3-inch infotainment screen with easy-to-use systems. There are other mechanical upgrades too, including a multi-link rear suspension in place of a torsion beam axle, larger wheels and bigger front brake discs. It swaps the standard car’s 147-horsepower 2.0-liter non-turbo four-cylinder engine and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) for a turbocharged 201-hp 1.6-liter four mated to either the six-speeder or, for $700 less, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (DCT). One of the cheapest new cars you can buy at $20,915, the standard Forte is quite a good car for what it is and far more substantial feeling than a Nissan Versa or Mitsubishi Mirage, but sporty? Not so much. This could be down to the fact that the regular plain-jane Forte is all about being a competent, value-oriented, fuel-efficient commutermobile. That value proposition is as smile-inducing as the GT’s performance, and best of all it comes with a six-speed manual transmission.ĭespite that amazing price, the Forte GT has flown under most buyer’s radar since its 2019 debut. At just $26,315, destination included, it costs $3,000 to $6,000 less than cars like the Honda Civic Si or Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn. Is the Kia Forte GT the fastest, most aggressive mainstream-brand compact sports sedan you can buy? No, and it isn’t meant to be but depending on your budget, it might be the one you could buy. The Kia Forte GT sits at the very top of the Forte lineup, and the manual-transmission version is the priciest of the lot, but there aren’t any other 201-horsepower, three-pedal cars that cost $26,315 off the lot.
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