AS a value for money proposition, the Forte 2.0L SX is tough to beat in the four-door, five-seater sedan C-segment.
It is roomy and comes with generous comfort and safety features.
The Forte's dynamic exterior styling is thanks to Kia Motors Corporation chief design officer Peter Schreyer who was formerly from Audi.
We found features such as leather seats, an engine start/stop button, automatic air-conditioning, and an MP3/USB/iPod playable audio system with steering wheel-mounted controls to our liking.
The boot has a large 495 litre capacity, and a 2,650mm wheelbase afforded more than adequate leg room for all occupants.
Rear headroom was also adequate for two of our 1.7m friends.
Fit and finish in the cabin was excellent, and there was a sporty ambience as the black leather-clad interior combined well with the reddish lighting of the instrumentation.
The 2.0-litre Theta II engine revs eagerly and, according to Kia Motors, the Forte can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 10.5 seconds with a 1,326kg kerb weight.
The four-speed automatic transmission is a crisp shifter, and the Forte provided very smooth drives for us on small neighbourhood roads and highways.
Running on 17-inch alloy wheels, and featuring a McPherson strut front and coupled torsion beam rear suspension, the Forte offers a ride quality that struck a nice balance between comfort and sportiness.
The tilt and telescopic steering enabled us to settle into a relaxed driving position.
Wind and road noise was quite muted when we drove at 110km/h on the Elite Highway. Engine noise was not overwhelming when we stepped hard on the accelerator pedal.
Our only complaint was the motor driven power steering (MDPS). Although it was precise, the MDPS felt quite light and was a tad lacking in road feedback, especially when we took corners in an aggressive manner. The MDPS is essentially an electric powered system which is said to aid in providing better fuel economy compared with the hydraulic power steering found in both the 1.6-litre variants of the Forte. Still, the MDPS is a boon as we did not need to stretch our arm muscles in tight parking situations.
The Forte 2.0L SX is a well-packaged and solid set of wheels that offers nice levels of occupant comfort and competent handling at a very attractive price tag.
In the same class:
Toyota Corolla Altis 2.0V : RM131,990 OTR with insurance
Honda Civic 2.0S : RM130,980 OTR with insurance
Mazda3 2.0L sedan : RM134,890.90 OTR with insurance
Nissan Sylphy 2.0L X-CVT Luxury : RM118,880 OTR with insurance
Ford Focus 2.0L Ghia : RM116,097.40 OTR with insurance
Hyundai Avante 2.0 : RM98,888 OTR with insurance
Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0 EX : RM120,980 OTR with insurance
Kia Forte 2.0L SX
Engine: 1,998cc DOHC with multi-point fuel injection (MPI) and continuous variable valve timing (CVVT) with timing chain
Max power: 154hp @ 6,200rpm
Max torque: 194Nm @ 4,300rpm
Transmission: Four-speed automatic with shiftronic
Features: Six airbags, ABS, electronic stability control (ESC), traction control system (TCS), electronic brake force distribution (EBD), cornering brake control (CBC), brake assist, all-round disc brakes
Price: RM93,800 OTR with insurance
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