Kia Forte K3 1.6 (A) First Drive Review
11 Mar 2013|61,637 views
The current Kia Forte is one of those cars that your friend or colleague might own and you'll probably be oblivious too. Not that there's anything wrong with it but just that it's very normal.
Its like that Korean gal from the Accounts Department who gives you your monthly claims and is average looking and friendly enough but you never really bothered to take note of how to spell (or correctly pronounce) her name.
Well, the all new Kia Forte looks set to change all that. It's like what's-her-name in Accounts going for plastic surgery. The results are simply amazing. It's not just a makeover but a whole new car.
Exterior
Just like the gal in the Korean movie '200 Pounds Beauty', the Kia Forte (or K3 as it'll be called in Singapore) has ditched its conservative three-box shape for a more swoopy, organic design that boasts a wind cheating Cd of just 0.27.
Its like that Korean gal from the Accounts Department who gives you your monthly claims and is average looking and friendly enough but you never really bothered to take note of how to spell (or correctly pronounce) her name.
Well, the all new Kia Forte looks set to change all that. It's like what's-her-name in Accounts going for plastic surgery. The results are simply amazing. It's not just a makeover but a whole new car.
Exterior
Just like the gal in the Korean movie '200 Pounds Beauty', the Kia Forte (or K3 as it'll be called in Singapore) has ditched its conservative three-box shape for a more swoopy, organic design that boasts a wind cheating Cd of just 0.27.
The new face with chrome trimmed 'tiger nose' grille is bold and assertive without being over styled. And while it has hints of a certain Hyundai sedan in the side profile, the overall design is quite unique, although the rear of the K3 has hints of the Ford Mondeo.
LED daytime running lights and Xenon projector main beams are standard equipment and so are the 17-inch five spoke alloys.
Interior
And if you think the exterior makeover was impressive, wait till you get behind the wheel of the new K3.
The interior of the car has been improved by leaps and bounds. While the Forte might be previously at best on par with the Japanese makes in terms of fit and finish, the K3 is definitely a class leader.
The design of the cabin is top notch with a driver-centric dashboard and high quality switch gear. All the buttons, levers and factory fitted leather seats reek of quality - perhaps not quite Audi levels but definitely better than cars like the Altis or the Civic.
And if you think the exterior makeover was impressive, wait till you get behind the wheel of the new K3.
The interior of the car has been improved by leaps and bounds. While the Forte might be previously at best on par with the Japanese makes in terms of fit and finish, the K3 is definitely a class leader.
The design of the cabin is top notch with a driver-centric dashboard and high quality switch gear. All the buttons, levers and factory fitted leather seats reek of quality - perhaps not quite Audi levels but definitely better than cars like the Altis or the Civic.
The wheelbase of the K3 has been increased by 50mm compared to its predecessor and as a result, it translates to a touch more legroom.
Kia's Senior Marketing Manager, Chin Kee Min, tells us that Cycle & Carriage Kia will be ticking off all the boxes when it comes to equipping the K3s that are bound for Singapore. Everything a customer desires will be standard equipment on the car. The only option that will be left out is the heated steering wheel, of course.
Oh, and the sunroof will also be a cost option. All other niceties like keyless entry and ignition, cruise control, integrated rear view camera and air-con cooled driver seat would be all be included in the base price.
Kia's Senior Marketing Manager, Chin Kee Min, tells us that Cycle & Carriage Kia will be ticking off all the boxes when it comes to equipping the K3s that are bound for Singapore. Everything a customer desires will be standard equipment on the car. The only option that will be left out is the heated steering wheel, of course.
Oh, and the sunroof will also be a cost option. All other niceties like keyless entry and ignition, cruise control, integrated rear view camera and air-con cooled driver seat would be all be included in the base price.
The Drive
Silence. That's the first thing that strikes the moment we set off in the new Forte K3. On the billiard table smooth bitumen of Dubai, the cabin of the K3 encased one in a tomb-like silence. Kia's engineers have paid special attention to make sure that the noise, vibration, harshness (NVH) of the car has been dramatically reduced.
The use of new dual frequency engine mounts, foam filled A-pillars are just two of the many measures employed to make the cabin a class leader in insulation from road, wind and engine noise. Speaking of engine noise, while there's not much racket from the all new 130bhp 1.6-litre power plant, the performance is also not much of a note.
Mated to a smooth shifting six-speed automatic transmission, the K3 offers barely adequate performance. While it is not horribly slow, a century sprint time of around 12 seconds is very pedestrian by today's standard. Especially after how high the bar has been set by the rather sumptuous cabin.
At least the all-aluminum four-cylinder is clean enough to qualify for the $5,000 CEVS rebate. We didn't get a chance to really put the K3 through its paces, handling wise, as the test route was as straight as an arrow.
Silence. That's the first thing that strikes the moment we set off in the new Forte K3. On the billiard table smooth bitumen of Dubai, the cabin of the K3 encased one in a tomb-like silence. Kia's engineers have paid special attention to make sure that the noise, vibration, harshness (NVH) of the car has been dramatically reduced.
The use of new dual frequency engine mounts, foam filled A-pillars are just two of the many measures employed to make the cabin a class leader in insulation from road, wind and engine noise. Speaking of engine noise, while there's not much racket from the all new 130bhp 1.6-litre power plant, the performance is also not much of a note.
Mated to a smooth shifting six-speed automatic transmission, the K3 offers barely adequate performance. While it is not horribly slow, a century sprint time of around 12 seconds is very pedestrian by today's standard. Especially after how high the bar has been set by the rather sumptuous cabin.
At least the all-aluminum four-cylinder is clean enough to qualify for the $5,000 CEVS rebate. We didn't get a chance to really put the K3 through its paces, handling wise, as the test route was as straight as an arrow.
On the few chances we had to corner hard, the K3 exhibited a fair amount of roll. But more importantly, the ride was comfortable without any hint of float at speeds.
Conclusion
The K3 should arrive on our shores by the third quarter of 2013. Timing could not be better as COE prices should have settled to a more affordable level by then. Objectively, the new Forte K3 has all the creature comforts that a potential car buyer will want in a vehicle.
Yes, more power will be welcomed and sources indicate that a turbocharged version of the 1.6-litre four-pot would be offered in the upcoming coupe version of the K3. Until then, if the pricing level of the new K3 can be kept in line with the current models', Kia looks to have a best seller in their hands…
Conclusion
The K3 should arrive on our shores by the third quarter of 2013. Timing could not be better as COE prices should have settled to a more affordable level by then. Objectively, the new Forte K3 has all the creature comforts that a potential car buyer will want in a vehicle.
Yes, more power will be welcomed and sources indicate that a turbocharged version of the 1.6-litre four-pot would be offered in the upcoming coupe version of the K3. Until then, if the pricing level of the new K3 can be kept in line with the current models', Kia looks to have a best seller in their hands…
The current Kia Forte is one of those cars that your friend or colleague might own and you'll probably be oblivious too. Not that there's anything wrong with it but just that it's very normal.
Its like that Korean gal from the Accounts Department who gives you your monthly claims and is average looking and friendly enough but you never really bothered to take note of how to spell (or correctly pronounce) her name.
Well, the all new Kia Forte looks set to change all that. It's like what's-her-name in Accounts going for plastic surgery. The results are simply amazing. It's not just a makeover but a whole new car.Exterior
Just like the gal in the Korean movie '200 Pounds Beauty', the Kia Forte (or K3 as it'll be called in Singapore) has ditched its conservative three-box shape for a more swoopy, organic design that boasts a wind cheating Cd of just 0.27.
Its like that Korean gal from the Accounts Department who gives you your monthly claims and is average looking and friendly enough but you never really bothered to take note of how to spell (or correctly pronounce) her name.
Well, the all new Kia Forte looks set to change all that. It's like what's-her-name in Accounts going for plastic surgery. The results are simply amazing. It's not just a makeover but a whole new car.Exterior
Just like the gal in the Korean movie '200 Pounds Beauty', the Kia Forte (or K3 as it'll be called in Singapore) has ditched its conservative three-box shape for a more swoopy, organic design that boasts a wind cheating Cd of just 0.27.
The new face with chrome trimmed 'tiger nose' grille is bold and assertive without being over styled. And while it has hints of a certain Hyundai sedan in the side profile, the overall design is quite unique, although the rear of the K3 has hints of the Ford Mondeo.
LED daytime running lights and Xenon projector main beams are standard equipment and so are the 17-inch five spoke alloys.
LED daytime running lights and Xenon projector main beams are standard equipment and so are the 17-inch five spoke alloys.
Interior
And if you think the exterior makeover was impressive, wait till you get behind the wheel of the new K3.
The interior of the car has been improved by leaps and bounds. While the Forte might be previously at best on par with the Japanese makes in terms of fit and finish, the K3 is definitely a class leader.
The design of the cabin is top notch with a driver-centric dashboard and high quality switch gear. All the buttons, levers and factory fitted leather seats reek of quality - perhaps not quite Audi levels but definitely better than cars like the Altis or the Civic.
And if you think the exterior makeover was impressive, wait till you get behind the wheel of the new K3.
The interior of the car has been improved by leaps and bounds. While the Forte might be previously at best on par with the Japanese makes in terms of fit and finish, the K3 is definitely a class leader.
The design of the cabin is top notch with a driver-centric dashboard and high quality switch gear. All the buttons, levers and factory fitted leather seats reek of quality - perhaps not quite Audi levels but definitely better than cars like the Altis or the Civic.
The wheelbase of the K3 has been increased by 50mm compared to its predecessor and as a result, it translates to a touch more legroom.
Kia's Senior Marketing Manager, Chin Kee Min, tells us that Cycle & Carriage Kia will be ticking off all the boxes when it comes to equipping the K3s that are bound for Singapore. Everything a customer desires will be standard equipment on the car. The only option that will be left out is the heated steering wheel, of course.
Oh, and the sunroof will also be a cost option. All other niceties like keyless entry and ignition, cruise control, integrated rear view camera and air-con cooled driver seat would be all be included in the base price.
Kia's Senior Marketing Manager, Chin Kee Min, tells us that Cycle & Carriage Kia will be ticking off all the boxes when it comes to equipping the K3s that are bound for Singapore. Everything a customer desires will be standard equipment on the car. The only option that will be left out is the heated steering wheel, of course.
Oh, and the sunroof will also be a cost option. All other niceties like keyless entry and ignition, cruise control, integrated rear view camera and air-con cooled driver seat would be all be included in the base price.
The Drive
Silence. That's the first thing that strikes the moment we set off in the new Forte K3. On the billiard table smooth bitumen of Dubai, the cabin of the K3 encased one in a tomb-like silence. Kia's engineers have paid special attention to make sure that the noise, vibration, harshness (NVH) of the car has been dramatically reduced.
The use of new dual frequency engine mounts, foam filled A-pillars are just two of the many measures employed to make the cabin a class leader in insulation from road, wind and engine noise. Speaking of engine noise, while there's not much racket from the all new 130bhp 1.6-litre power plant, the performance is also not much of a note.
Mated to a smooth shifting six-speed automatic transmission, the K3 offers barely adequate performance. While it is not horribly slow, a century sprint time of around 12 seconds is very pedestrian by today's standard. Especially after how high the bar has been set by the rather sumptuous cabin.
At least the all-aluminum four-cylinder is clean enough to qualify for the $5,000 CEVS rebate. We didn't get a chance to really put the K3 through its paces, handling wise, as the test route was as straight as an arrow.
On the few chances we had to corner hard, the K3 exhibited a fair amount of roll. But more importantly, the ride was comfortable without any hint of float at speeds.
Conclusion
The K3 should arrive on our shores by the third quarter of 2013. Timing could not be better as COE prices should have settled to a more affordable level by then. Objectively, the new Forte K3 has all the creature comforts that a potential car buyer will want in a vehicle.
Yes, more power will be welcomed and sources indicate that a turbocharged version of the 1.6-litre four-pot would be offered in the upcoming coupe version of the K3. Until then, if the pricing level of the new K3 can be kept in line with the current models', Kia looks to have a best seller in their hands…
Conclusion
The K3 should arrive on our shores by the third quarter of 2013. Timing could not be better as COE prices should have settled to a more affordable level by then. Objectively, the new Forte K3 has all the creature comforts that a potential car buyer will want in a vehicle.
Yes, more power will be welcomed and sources indicate that a turbocharged version of the 1.6-litre four-pot would be offered in the upcoming coupe version of the K3. Until then, if the pricing level of the new K3 can be kept in line with the current models', Kia looks to have a best seller in their hands…
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