2014 KIA Forte

Second-Hand Kia

Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 5

I wanted something a little better than my outgoing Altima Coupe (2008 2.5S) with CVT. I combed Autotrader and Cars.com for something under 11k that met my needs for efficiency and value for money. I mostly found Nissan Versa(s) and Hyundai Accent(s). The Versa(s) should be considered when all else fails on financing and the Hyundai Accent is actually pretty good if you just commute. I found my 2014 LX Forte with 36k miles at a local dealership, they were great in answering all my questions. I have a black LX sedan with the popular equipment package (cruise control, mainly). It is actually albeit better than my previous car. The A/C is great in this car, even on low settings, turns into a refrigerator for me. The 1.8 Nu MPI motor borrowed from Hyundai is very good in keeping with traffic and is quick enough for me. As of this review, I haven't had the car a week and have already seen improvements over the Altima. The cargo space is much better, with eight cupholders, better driving position, (7 out of 10) comfortable seating, and great ergonomics. The fuel economy has been great with 400+ miles per tank. The sound system is just okay, if you are playing CDs, however with Bluetooth audio, and aux/usb integration is just ok, as well. It has Nexen CP-671 tires, which are OEM, but do the job just nicely. They are smooth, cheap, and get the job done. The suspension is nice on good roads and coarse on terrible roads. The transmission (coming from a CVT for over eight years) is a welcome change. It is smooth going through gears 3-6, but in normal driving under 35 mph, it can a little bucky. Overall, a get car under $11k if you can properly find one.