But with its roomy interior, upscale features, strong engine lineup and sharp styling, the 2015 Kia Forte, which earns a spot in both our 2015 Sedan and Coupe Buying Guides, is an excellent choice if you're shopping for an affordable sedan, coupe or hatchback.

The 2015 Kia Forte is a five-seat, front-wheel-drive compact car that competes with the Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Chevrolet Cruze, Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla. It is offered in LX, EX, and SX trim levels.

The most severe problem with the Kia Forte is with the Theta II engine found in 2012 to 2015 models. This engine design is known to be highly problematic, with serious issues affecting Fortes equipped with the 2.0L or 2.4L engines. Engine problems include oil leaks, knocks, and complete engine failure.

The 2023 Kia Forte gets the top “Good” rating in all but one crashworthiness category by the IIHS. It also earns a 4-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

Forte engines from 2012 to 2015 are likely to fail before 100,000 miles, costing upward of $5,000 to replace. 2019 models use a new CVT known to fail with just 10,000 miles. Kia Fortes from 2016-2018 are the most reliable and have the best chance to reach 150,000 miles or more.

According to various reputable auto sources, like the Vehicle History website, a Kia Forte can last about 150,000 to 200,000 miles with proper maintenance. If you drive over 14,250 miles per year, like the average American driver, the Forte will provide you with 10-13 years of service before needing any major repairs.

All 2023 Forte cars feature Kia's standard Drive Wise suite of active driver assist technologies that include automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane keeping. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic monitoring, automatic high-beams, and parking sensors are also available.

Forte. The K3 in Korea was released as the four-door Forte sedan in America in 2010; its name comes from the Middle French word “fort”, meaning “strong.” We know it as a reference to a person's strongest skill or characteristic.

The worst problem with the Kia Forte is with the engine. Unfortunately, this trouble is the most expensive to handle, right along with the transmission. It can be frustrating to handle engine troubles constantly. The 2010 and 2013 models are the worst with the engine.

2020-2022 Kia Forte The first-year kinks of the 2019 Forte appear to have been worked out with the arrival of the 2020 edition (and later model years) - owner complaints are modest. So, unless something unexpected arises, the 2020-2022 editions deserve a place among the most reliable Kia Forte years.

There are, however, some issues surrounding the Forte across various model years. Some of these include defective speakers, faulty ignition coils, lighting issues, and leaky interiors, among others.

Kia vehicles are inexpensive compared to comparable models from other companies because they have a considerable cost advantage over the rest of the competition. In case you don't know, the Hyundai Motor Group bought Kia in 1998 to keep it afloat. As of now, Hyundai owns 33.88% of Kia Motors' interest.

If I was in the market for a simple “A to B” commuter, I'd go with the 2023 Kia Forte LXS with the LXS Technology package. Only $500 more than the base LX, the available Technology Package comes packed with useful driver assist and safety tech.

Third generation (BD; 2018)

We recommend staying away from the 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2017 models. These may need pricey fixes and could lead to risky situations on the road at the worst time. The most apparent trouble area for the Kia Forte is in the engine.

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