2010 Kia Forte (photo: Kia)

By Clint Williams
Green Right Now

The 2010 Kia Forte, an all-new offering from the Korean automaker, is a handsome entry in a category filled with cute. Crisp lines and swept-back headlamps give this compact car a look much bolder than that of competitors such as the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla.

But that bold look doesn’t mean bold driving dynamics. Driving the Forte is pleasant enough, but a bit bland.

The Forte comes in three trim levels – LX, EX and SX. The LX and EX are powered by a 2-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 156 horsepower. The SX has a 173-horsepower, 2.4-liter inline four.

The four-speed automatic transmission in the EX test car is calibrated for fuel-efficiency, not fun. The standard five-speed manual might coax a bit more out of the engine.

While not a lot of fun to drive, the Forte is frugal. The EPA fuel economy estimate is 25 mpg in city driving and 34 mpg in highway driving. We drove from Atlanta to Huntsville, Ala., on a little more than half a tank.

Fuel economy is even better if you buy the optional Fuel Economy Package, available on the EX model. The package includes a five-speed automatic transmission, Motor Drive Power Steering (MPDS), “smart” alternator, silica tires and aero enhancements. These improvements bump the EPA fuel economy estimates to 27/36 mpg and a combined fuel economy of 30 mpg.

The Forte is frugal before the first trip to the gas pump, offering a lot of features for not a lot of money. The base LX trim has a base sticker price of $13,695 (and no air-conditioning), but most people will want to start with the EX trim with a base sticker price of $16,795.

The EX list of standard features includes air conditioning; power windows and door locks; remote keyless entry; steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls; six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities with three months free service; iPod input jack and USB port.

Safety features include front seat-mounted and side curtain airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with antilock brake system, brake assist and electronic stability control.

The interior is roomy for four adults and thoughtfully laid out. Rear storage is limited to one seat pocket. The front seats, however, are slightly concave, like a shallow inverse C, and won’t offer some riders decent shoulder and neck support.

But if the seats fit, the Kia Forte represents a bargain. A good-looking one at that.

Copyright © 2009 Green Right Now | Distributed by Noofangle Media

Don’t be fooled. Gasoline prices won’t be bumping around $2 a gallon for long. Driving a car with good fuel economy still makes sense. Higher mpg means lower operating costs for the household budget and fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Happily, car shoppers today have a myriad of options among fuel frugal 2009 cars. You can find something getting 30 mpg or better on the highway at nearly every dealer lot. In some cases, you’ll have to settle for a trim line with a smaller engine and manual transmission to hit the 30 mpg mark.

Here are 30 with 30 mpg:

Audi TT

Gorgeous lines, 200-horsepower and a crisp six-speed manual transmission make the Audi TT a swell sports car. The fuel economy of the base 2-liter model makes it an earth-friendly sports car.
EPA estimated mpg: 22 city/30 highway