Best Car Reviews - 2014 Kia Forte

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Introduction

The 2014 Kia Forte is a fully redesigned front-wheel-drive compact sedan that is often cross-shopped with midsize-classified value cars. Aimed at budget-conscious commuters, first-time buyers, and small families, it combines a roomy five-seat cabin, sharp styling, useful standard equipment, and an available 2.0-litre direct-injection four-cylinder engine. It stood out at launch for offering upscale available features at an accessible price.

Design and Exterior Features

The 2014 Forte adopted a lower, longer, and wider shape than the prior sedan, with a wheelbase increased by two inches. Its clean grille, swept-back headlights, pronounced shoulder line, and deeply creased rear deck give it a more mature, European-influenced look. The sedan measures 179.5 inches long, 70.1 inches wide, and 56.5 inches high, making it easy to place in town while providing useful interior room.

Redesigned four-door sedan body with a 106.3-inch wheelbase.
Standard 15-inch wheels on basic models; 16-inch and available 17-inch alloy wheels on better-equipped versions.
Available HID headlights and LED taillights through the Technology Package.
Heated power-folding mirrors and a rear spoiler were available depending on trim and options.

Interior and Comfort

The cabin is laid out around the driver with clear controls, supportive front seats, and considerably more polish than many entry-level sedans of its era. The Forte seats five and provides 14.9 cubic feet of trunk space, while split-folding rear seatbacks improve practicality. Base models use durable cloth upholstery, while equipped EX models could add leather, a power driver’s seat, heating, ventilation, a heated steering wheel, a sunroof, and dual-zone climate control.

Five-passenger seating with 96.2 cubic feet of passenger volume.
14.9-cubic-foot trunk and folding rear seatbacks.
Available 10-way power driver’s seat with memory settings and ventilation.
Available heated front and outboard rear seats, heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control.

Performance and Handling

The supplied configuration is a front-wheel-drive, four-cylinder Forte with a six-speed automatic transmission and regular gasoline. In the U.S. sedan range, the automatic EX used a 2.0-litre gasoline direct-injection engine producing 173 horsepower and 154 lb-ft of torque; the LX used a 1.8-litre, 148-horsepower engine. Independent testing recorded about 7.4 seconds from 0 to 60 mph for the 2.0-litre EX automatic. The supplied consumption figure is 10.6 L/100 km, although factory ratings for the 2.0-litre automatic were substantially lower in idealized testing at approximately 8.4 L/100 km city, 6.5 L/100 km highway, and 7.8 L/100 km combined. Real-world consumption depends heavily on traffic, maintenance, weather, and driving style.

Available 2.0-litre direct-injection four-cylinder with 173 horsepower and 154 lb-ft of torque.
Six-speed automatic with manual-shift capability on the EX.
Front-wheel drive, MacPherson-strut front suspension, and torsion-beam rear suspension.
Optional FlexSteer system with Comfort, Normal, and Sport steering settings.

Technology and Connectivity

The Forte was notably well equipped for its price when new. Bluetooth, steering-wheel audio controls, SiriusXM capability, USB and auxiliary inputs, and power accessories were widely available. EX models included Kia’s UVO infotainment and telematics system, while higher-option cars could add navigation, a rearview camera, HD Radio, a color instrument display, and push-button start.

Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity.
Available UVO infotainment with voice recognition and connected services.
Rearview camera standard on EX models.
Available navigation, HD Radio, color instrument display, and Smart Key push-button start.

Safety Features

Every 2014 Forte sedan included antilock disc brakes, electronic stability control, traction control, front airbags, front-seat side airbags, and side-curtain airbags. The four-door Forte earned a five-star overall rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing rated the sedan Good in moderate-overlap frontal, side, roof-strength, and head-restraint evaluations, but Poor in the driver-side small-overlap frontal test.

Six airbags, including front-seat side and side-curtain airbags.
Standard antilock disc brakes, stability control, and traction control.
Five-star overall NHTSA rating for the four-door sedan.
IIHS Good ratings in several conventional crashworthiness tests, with an important Poor small-overlap result to consider.

Pricing and Variants

Original U.S. pricing started at $15,900 for the Forte LX with a manual transmission, excluding destination. The LX automatic began at $17,400 when announced, while the automatic 2.0-litre EX began at $19,400; later published pricing listed small increases. Sedan buyers could choose LX and EX trims, with the EX offering the stronger 2.0-litre engine and more standard convenience equipment. Its main rivals included the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Hyundai Elantra, Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cruze, and Volkswagen Jetta. The Kia was competitive on equipment and interior space, while rivals could offer stronger long-term reputations, more refined driving manners, or better safety-test consistency.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Attractive redesigned exterior that still looks contemporary.
Generous passenger room and a large trunk for a compact sedan.
Strong available 2.0-litre engine performance.
Long list of available comfort and technology features.
Low original entry price and generally affordable routine servicing.

Cons

Poor IIHS driver-side small-overlap frontal-test result.
Torsion-beam rear suspension is less sophisticated than some rivals’ setups.
Engine can become coarse when pushed hard.
Base LX trim is less powerful and less richly equipped.
High-mileage examples require careful inspection for engine and electrical concerns.

Maintenance and Common Issues

RepairPal estimates average annual repair and maintenance costs for a 2014 Forte at about $478, though an older vehicle’s mileage, service history, location, and repair needs can change that substantially. Owner-report databases most often flag engine knocking or oil-consumption concerns, serious engine failure reports, fuel-system complaints, steering or electric power-steering concerns, and wheel or tire-pressure-monitoring issues. Some owners also report loss of sound from all speakers related to the audio or navigation unit. A used-car inspection should include a cold-start listen, oil-level and service-record review, steering operation check, scan for warning lights, and a VIN-specific recall check.

Rating

Overall rating: 7.3/10. Design: 8.0/10. Comfort: 7.5/10. Performance: 7.5/10 with the 2.0-litre engine. Technology: 7.5/10 for its era. Safety: 6.0/10 because strong conventional crash-test results are offset by the weak small-overlap evaluation. The Forte remains appealing when condition, maintenance history, and recall status are verified.

User Reviews and Feedback

Owner feedback commonly describes the 2014 Kia Forte as an attractive, comfortable, value-oriented daily driver. Positive impressions center on equipment, room, fuel economy, and the EX engine’s responsiveness, while less favorable feedback often concerns aging-car repairs and the importance of monitoring engine health.

Owners often appreciate the stylish exterior and well-equipped cabin.
Many find the sedan comfortable and easy to use for commuting.
The EX 2.0-litre engine is frequently viewed as adequately quick for everyday driving.
Drivers value the trunk space and practical rear-seat folding capability.
Long-term owners recommend regular oil checks, documented maintenance, and a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

Best Cars in This Category

2014 Honda Civic
2014 Mazda Mazda3
2014 Toyota Corolla
2014 Hyundai Elantra
2014 Volkswagen Jetta

Summary

The 2014 Kia Forte is best suited to shoppers seeking an inexpensive, well-equipped used sedan with modern styling, a comfortable cabin, and good everyday practicality. An EX with the 2.0-litre engine offers the most satisfying performance and feature set. Its value remains compelling, but buyers should prioritize a complete maintenance history, confirm all VIN-specific recalls have been completed, inspect for engine noise or oil consumption, and weigh its mixed crash-test profile against alternatives.