The 2019 Kia Forte is finally on sale. Kia’s compact has an MSRP of US$ 17,690, excluding the US$ 895 destination fee. This represents an US$ 890 jump over
the previous MY but the premium is justified as the 2019
Forte now has more standard features.
Among the equipment offered at no extra cost are the
dusk-sensing headlamps, 8-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple
CarPlay smartphone integration and a 3.5-inch LCD supervision cluster. The car
benefits from Forward Collision-Avoidance Assistance and Lane Departure Warning
on all grades, and it can be specced with a wireless charging pad, ventilated
front seats and a Harman/Kardon premium sound system.
Powering the 2019 Forte is a new 2.0-liter
four-cylinder with 147 hp and 179 Nm of torque
that comes standard with a six-speed manual gearbox. Opting for the CVT means
paying an extra US$ 900, or US$ 100 less compared to last year’s optional six-speed
auto.
Next comes the 2019 Forte LXS, which starts at US$ 19,985, destination fee included, followed by the Forte S, from US$ 21,085, and
the range-topping EX, which will set you back for at least US$ 22,885. The latter
two are US$ 790 and US$ 290 more expensive than the 2018 models.
