Used 2013 Kia Forte Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2013 Forte, so we've included reviews for other years of the Forte since its last redesign.
Great car for the money!
Dave, 10/14/2015
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
23 of 23 people found this review helpful
I have had no major complaints about this car. Nothing outstanding, but it is a high quality, problem free compact car. The engine is peppy and acceleration is surprising for this car. The only issue I have is the remote start feature. It doesn't function properly all of the time. I haven't taken it in for that problem since it is out of warranty and I don't use the feature often. The dashboard and controls are very simple and easy to use. There are no annoying design features.
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Great value at a very good price!
bd21, 02/25/2012
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
37 of 38 people found this review helpful
The Kia Forte is a well engineered vehicle that I believe is best in class for the price. I paid $17,713.00 out the door for a EX 5-door in Titanium with stone interior. My car was equipped with auto-dimming mirror w/compass, wheel locks, rear bumper applique, cargo net, cargo tray, spashguards and an i-pod cable. I had no trade-in and the price included 6% sales tax and all dealer fees. I did get $2,000.00 in rebates. This car is fun to drive around town and on the interstate. I'm very impressed with the design, quality and functionality of this car. I don't think you will find a better car under $21K.
Best car I've ever owned!
Lou, 10/14/2015
updated 05/02/2022
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
42 of 44 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2012 Forte brand new. It's still going at 217k miles. I had to replace the pulleys which were loud and going bad at about 120k. I also replaced the steering bar and bushings because they had worn out. Other than that, this car has given me absolutely no problems. I have maintained it and its runs great and looks good. I plan on driving this car until the wheels fall off. So far it looks like that's going to be for a really long time. Love this car!
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Great Compact Car!
Alan Sloan, 01/26/2016
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
17 of 17 people found this review helpful
Keep in mind this is a compact car. You are not going to get ride/room or power of a mid-size car. We purchased our Forte 5 door new on 6/2012 and have 50,000 miles on it. THE GOOD - a/c, engine power, drives nicely, cup holders and storage room, big back seat (5 door), blue tooth, only one repair - the key would not unlock the driver's door but the remote has always worked. Also a great warranty - 10 yr/100,000 mi We live in Texas and the a/c can handle the hottest days. I am 6'3" and I have room in the back seat. THE BAD - No Water Temperature gauge (has light), head rests are very uncomfortable, and the fuel mileage. If I use the cruise control I get poor fuel mileage. If I drive into a head wind I get poor fuel mileage. Keeping the speed at 70 mph or less with a tail wind and accelerating down hill and backing off going uphill I have gotten 35 mpg as advertised or better several times.
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Love my new Kia
paulestep, 10/20/2012
2013 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
I recently purchased a 2012 Kia Forte EX. I absolutely love my car. It has plenty of pick-up, very quiet, great features and great gas mileage. Recently took it on a little road trip and was very impressed with how well it ran. It has more than enough room for my family of 4 and the trunk is large enough for our luggage plus my guitar.
Wow, this car was a great ride!
connelly.carol@gmail.com, 12/30/2015
2012 Kia Forte SX 4dr Hatchback (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
29 of 31 people found this review helpful
For the first 56,000 miles, this car is dependable and looks great; however, do not be fooled by the "normal" KIA noise coming from the engine. I live in Tampa, Florida, and dealership support has been poor thus far. The clicking sounds in the engine base ended up needing a tension pulley at 60,500 miles, just 500 out of warranty. Kia USA agreed to honor and pay as it was 600 $ for repairs. I still heard a metal whirling sound, but was told that was a "normal" KIA sound...what? At any rate, about 3000 miles later, the whirling sound is getting louder and now it has been diagnosed as needing a new compressor..haha. seriously? I still like the car; it handles a little better than the Honda fit (which is out of my league, it seems pricewise), but the Forte is still the riff raff of the hatchbacks, and honestly? With this happening at 60,000 miles, holy moly, I do not see the car having any value whatsoever at 100,000. P.S. I had an Isuzu Trooper 290,000. It was the sweetest 20,000$ I ever spent. I feel I was a bit rough with the scoring, but if I was to get mezmerized and sucked in on a 100,000 power train warranty, it would be with an Elantra. Right now with the boom shakalaka noise and rattle and roll, anything is better than what I am dealing with...1200$ for a compressor, wow!
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Perfect little car
Don Bambarger, 10/02/2015
2013 Kia Forte Koup EX 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
Bought for my daughter out right out of college, she got to keep about a year and I took car from her. I love this car for my daily driver, bought her an Optima as I like this car a little better. You can't beat a Kia for the price and warranty, but they also are great cars!! I always bought American until I bought this Kia, l don't think I would own anything else now.
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Great car for smooth flat roads Awsome MPG
Nicole, 12/01/2015
2013 Kia Forte SX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
19 of 20 people found this review helpful
I had this car a year and a half now and drove it on a 3 month cross country road trip by myself. This car gets excellent gas mileage 39 mpg on highway the lowest in the city was 22mpg but i think thats because the tires got a little low. This car has a lot of great features, bluetooth to sync with phone, usb and Aux inputs were great on long roadtrips to listen to flashdrive or another device, and cd player too, sat radio is available too. I loved all the controls on the steering wheel to control stereo, phone and cruise control. Loved all the storage space in front as well. The front and rear seats are comfortable, the headrests are adjustable in all directions which is nice. Im pretty tall so having a telescoping steering wheel is really nice to have less strain on body. The cons are the suspension, shocks or maybe the tires i am not sure what the cause is but can feel every single crack, bump and rough part of the road. Its ok if you live in the south where the roads are smooth and flat but once you get on roads it kind of rough on your body. The shocks were so bad that after exploring on some rough dirt roads that one of the heat shields broke on my trip. Also when i was in the mountains it seemed to have trouble going up steep hills maintain constant speed with cruise control and had to put the gas to the floor to get up some of them when people behind me seemed to want to go faster. The fan for the air conditioner heater is super loud but not as loud as the road noise when going on the highway add them both together and people cant barely hear ya when you try to make a call using bluetooth and you have to yell to talk with someone next to you. Overall this is a great car to get around town in or if you live where their is nice smooth roads!!! This car doesn't work for my lifestyle at the moment so im looking for an SUV with better socks, less noise, more cargo room, but i think i will have to sacrifice the excellent gas mileage of this Kia Forte has.
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Good car for my money
dreadnought, 07/21/2014
2013 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
I have owned my Forte for two years now. It has 17000 miles on it and we have driven it in all weather, all terrains, over much if the country without a problem. Ride is comfortable for class. I recently got 42.6 mpg on a trip from the northeast to Georgia and back , and The car usually averages about 36-38 highway, 28 local. Love the exterior staying for its classic, clean look.interior is bland, yes, but not junky, either. This is my second Kia, the first,a Sportage was a great car which I traded in at 80K to get better more economy, never gave me a problem. I trust this car will of as well.
Perfect little car!
mai_sai, 12/17/2014
updated 12/27/2017
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
Don't let the price tag fool you, this car is well built. It doesn't give that cheap feel you'd expect from a lower budget vehicle. The interior is very comfortable for my petite frame, I don't have trouble seeing the road or maneuvering. My larger passengers seem quite comfortable as well. Has a peppy engine and tight suspension, shifts smoothly, very quiet, brakes effortlessly.. This car does well on winding roads. The feel of the car when driving it is very similar to the '11 Ford Focus. My Forte has high mileage (70,000 miles) & hasn't had a single problem, runs great, & is very dependable which is great since the Focus started having problems at 21,000 miles. Update: car now has 115,000 miles and still runs great! It’s only needed regular scheduled maintenance and new shocks, that’s it! Car still runs and drives flawlessly!
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2012 Kia Forte Hatch SX - dead at 93k
CG from WA, 08/30/2019
2012 Kia Forte SX 4dr Hatchback (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
Purchased a new to me 2012 Kia Forte at a Kia dealership with 66k miles. After 3 years and 33k miles, light driving, the engine seized on the highway. Car was good well it worked. Scary when it failed at 65 mph. 8k for engine replacement. Appears that Theta II failures are common even with the MPI engine, according to my mechanic and certainly in my limited experience. Should have bought the warranty--no factory powertrain to 100k for second owner. Really don't recommend this car, or KIAs, maybe as a lease it makes sense but don't buy it.
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So far, great purchase
fallis, 06/06/2015
updated 06/08/2018
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
13 of 14 people found this review helpful
Let me first say that I'd never thought I'd look twice at a Kia until recently. THey've certainly improved their vehicles in every way. Purchased a certified 2012 Forte EX 5-door at a Kia dealer w/ 27k miles after trading in 07 Toyota Rav. This is a great design as a small wagon. Seems like a best kept secret too, since I don't see too many out there. Great looks, great mileage (30 average, more on hiway), and MUCH better acceleration than my Honda Fit. I was doing hiway speeds of 75 mph, and the tach was still under 2500 rpm! I've had it for 1 1/2 months and already put almost 3k miles, no probs. Can't beat the warrantee either. Way to go Kia. Hi again. It's now been 3 years owning this vehicle (June 2018) and I now have 105k miles on it. So total so far from purchase I've driven approx. 80k miles with no major problems with the car. I've purchased a set of tires, brakes all around, and regular check ups/oil changes. Still getting great mileage, so it's a keeper for at least another year.
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quicker than you expect
rb7385899, 12/12/2011
2012 Kia Forte SX 4dr Hatchback (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
12 of 13 people found this review helpful
I have the hatch with the 2.4 liter. this is a seriously fast car (for its class/price) with 0-60 in about 7 seconds (A/T). i've owned mine since february 2011, and have about 11,000 miles on it. no service issues so far.
Great car!
kevohyuh, 04/20/2014
2013 Kia Forte SX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
15 of 17 people found this review helpful
Currently at 15,006 miles and loving it. I heard a lot of complaints about the gas mileage and I have to tell you.. I get 32 to 35 miles to the gallon easy and have nothing to complain about. The car looks great. Inside and out. I would suggest better stock speakers and a metal fuel door, but other than that, perfect little car for the money. Can't go wrong.
My Kia Forte SX Koup
rskipk2, 05/13/2012
2012 Kia Forte Koup SX 2dr Coupe (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
13 of 15 people found this review helpful
This is a short review of my new Kia which I have had for several months now. I am still getting to know the car but these are my impressions so far: First off, I know the Koup will be completely changed for 2013 but I love the look and style of the one I have, light silver with black leather interior w/red stitching. About the interior: It is well built and very comfortable however some of the materials used in the door panels are just average.The car is quick, good looking, and very easy to live with on a daily basis. Average mpg is about 23, it likes to be driven and that is what I love. There are no rattles or noises, it feels solid and is very fun to drive, especially on two lane roads.
Great Cash Car
Kevin, 01/16/2017
updated 01/24/2018
2013 Kia Forte SX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2013 Kia Forte SX certified pre-owned with 14k miles when it was just 1 year old. Today it's 5 years old at 115k and still running strong. The engine and transmission have been great. Great performance, though the gas mileage could be better for such a small car. The radio went out at 95k, which was kind of frustrating, but not the end of the world. My only real complaint is the resale value. Depreciation is an issue with all financed cars, but Kia's resale value is ridiculously low. It'd make a great cash car. I'd buy another 2013 today in cash no problem, but I wouldn't finance another Kia.
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Engine Problems
Summer, 08/22/2020
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
After hearing a knocking sound coming from my engine a few months back at 70k miles, it has progressively gotten worse. I went to the Kia dealership and they explained that there’s an engine recall for 2012 kia’s with the exact same problem but the forte ex model is not included. They wanted more money to replace the engine than I paid for the car. When I went to a local mechanic, I was told everything else about the car is perfect but the engine needs to be replaced. Kia has refused to help financially and after doing some research, there are a lot of other people experiencing the same frustration. I’ve read many reported complaints that these engines have seizures while driving on highways and even caught on fire. Overall, I would not recommend this car or any other Kia due to their large engine failure and company negligence.
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Just as I spoke highly of this.....
Ms. CC, 01/14/2020
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
Well I bought the Kia Forte used, about 4 years ago, just needed as gas saver at the time as my Ford Expedition was such a guzzler. I haven’t had any real issues, until now at 180,000 miles I need a new oil pump and the mechanic said he found copper shavings in my oil so that tells me it’s more than likely the engine giving out, NOT to mention the horrible knocking noise prior to me taking to the mechanic which led to the current diagnosis. Other than replacing wheel bearings I just was saying to myself how well the car has been. Then this happens....such a bummer too since my 2001 expedition has well over 200,000 miles on it and still runs to this day! I’m now disappointed, I was expecting the kia to last a little while longer.
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surprising gas mileage
my_forte, 05/12/2013
2013 Kia Forte SX 4dr Hatchback (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 11 people found this review helpful
Since I was starting a new job that entailed a considerable commute, I needed a car with good gas mileage that didn't hurt the wallet too much. However, since I was going to be spending a considerable amount of time in the car, I wanted as many creature comforts as possible for a low price. The Kia Forte SX 2.4 litre does not sip fuel as well as the 2.0 litre, but I found that driving 100km/hour(legal speed limit here in Ontario), I could attain exactly the 6.2 litres/100km that was advertised...until my last fill-up. The odometer reached 9700 km and at 70-80km/hr while taking the scenic route home, the average consumption dipped to 5.1litres/100km. The 80km trip averaged 5.5litres/100km.
Thyrome
abair1, 08/26/2013
2012 Kia Forte Koup EX 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
This car is a tank! I was not paying as much attention as I should have been and nearly rear ended a truck but instead jerked the wheel at like 40 mph skidded sideways like 50 ft and hit and then jumped a curb, all it did was give the rim a small bit of rim rash it still drives fine and is still in alignment. The mileage though is not what it said it should be even though using medium grade does make a notable difference in this and power. And it is sorta peppy. It has plenty of room, I am almost 6'' and am not skinny. And yes it drives like butter, only problem is the stock tires are not very shall we say "grippy". I am at 35,000 miles with absolutely no issue just tune-up type stuff.
The car is okay, but the gas mileage is not very good.
soxmamma, 01/29/2013
2013 Kia Forte EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
I have had my Kia Forte Hatchback since September and have not been impressed by the gas mileage. Highway miles I have not gotten over 30 and city miles are only at 20-22. I do not drive the car hard or jack rabbit starts at the stoplight. Not impressed and would probably go with a Honda or Toyota with my next car.
2013 Forte SX
justin53955, 04/19/2013
2013 Kia Forte SX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I've had my Forte since Sept of '12 and thus far I have to say my major gripes are the crappier than expected fuel mileage... a tire that buldged out on me that they wouldn't cover under the warranty "because I must have hit something to make it break", and the leather on the steering wheel is so soft that if you happen to get out of your car with your keys in your hand, it tends to scrape the leather on the wheel as you grab it to get out and tear it... so within the first month of having it, they had to totally replace my steering wheel. Ride gets a tad stiff after a couple hours of driving for a long ways but awesome style and love the features
2013 KIa forte coup bad engine at 106,000 miles-
KAT, 01/23/2021
updated 01/25/2022
2013 Kia Forte Koup EX 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Motor blown at 106,000 miles!??? Kia won't help. I know it's over the warranty, but ridiculous! I will not buy another KIA. Do yourself a favor and stick with Honda and Toyota. They are much more reliable. Very disappointed that Kia wouldn't do anything. If you look at other reviews, you know they have problems with their engines, and they won't stand behind them. I don't recommend them at all. Took them 4 months to give me any answers. Update- found a used motor with 60k- still no help from Kia or the dealership. Paid for out of pocket. Not sure how long this motor will last. Seems to run great. Still don’t recommend Kia
My experience with this car
Oscar Bonilla, 08/21/2021
updated 02/23/2023
2012 Kia Forte SX 4dr Hatchback (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I bought this brand new from Yonkers Kia in New York I had for 4 years at 55k I was driving the car and then all of a sudden I saw fire coming from the hood minutes later my car was on fire I lost it even my maintenance was on time I complained to Kia and the dealer and they did nothing. I never in my life would never buy a Kia brand don’t even look at it . Really bad experience they look good but they don’t last.
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Sporty Little Car
Germz, 03/15/2018
2013 Kia Forte Koup SX 2dr Coupe (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I bought my blue Koup SX new in 2013 with sunroof and spoiler package, for the price of a regular version (saved about $2,000 + or -). Five years later, it's still as solid as day one. Other than regular oil changes, tires, and the occasional light bulb replacement, the car has been problem free. I plan on keeping it until it dies. The drive is sporty, though bad roads do make the cabin louder; not a deal breaker for me as that's what my radio is for :) lol. The gas mileage is good and so are the looks. I have done some modifications to it since I have bought it, such as Megan Racing OE-RS exhaust, E-Line drilled+slotted rotors, Angel Eyes headlights, drop-in K&N air filter, dark tint all around, stubby antenna, metal scuff plates, K badges on wheels, steering wheel, and front and back emblems. I plan on maybe new rims, lower ride, and turbo in the future. Everyone I know is always telling me how nice it is, especially for being a four banger. I have had strangers come up to me at gas stations wondering what car I have. I feel like I am driving a car that is twice the price. If I had to do it all over again, I would.
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Absolutely LOVE this car!!
sarbronson, 04/03/2012
2012 Kia Forte LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I bought my car two weeks ago and I am so happy with it! I have four kids ages 13-4 including a car seat and we fit comfortably in this car!! My transaction was clean, and simple and I cannot recommend this car enough!
Great lil koup!!!
Dreamz sims, 06/18/2017
2012 Kia Forte Koup EX 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is one best most reliable cute sporty and fast.handles great too.best gas mileage!!
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COMPAC-MEDIATE
Curt Utton, 04/05/2016
updated 04/15/2020
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
Size of car implies a compac, yet overall handling & performance feels closer to an intermediate-size vehicle. Happy with overall handling on VT roads. Vehicle is light so during high wind conditions vehicle gets pushed around. Engine & transmission performance very good. Higher speeds on interstates /thruways car felt very controlled & gas comsumption/mpg is surprisingly very good. Lent car to visiting family members and all were impressed with this Forte. Traded car in 2016. Now own Lexus. 450h.
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Honda/Acura Dreams on Kia Credit & Income
petitemeow, 05/17/2015
2013 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 10 people found this review helpful
Very fun to drive! Was a lovely car at first, but now I have to turn my air off while on the interstate so it will move in traffics. Love the leather wrapped shift knob. Basically the seats are cheap uncomfy and hard, the interior materials are cheap too , the paint cheap and cheaper. I know it's supposed to be cheap but now it looks cheap and rides cheap. My radio and satellite radio keeps going out every 5 minutes. I'm paying more for this than I should but oh well better than being carless. The led signal lights on the side mirrors are cool. I've got 23,000 miles on it in its 2nd year and brakes and alignment and tired needed...too quick
Love my Forte!
double77s, 12/13/2011
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
25 of 41 people found this review helpful
I decided to purchase the Forte Sedan because of all the features I got for the best price. Kia also has the best warranty in the business and that is what truly sealed the deal for me. I do not have a great history with cars and was reluctant to have a car payment again. I chose Kia because if something goes wrong...it's covered by warranty. Also, I am driving the most fun car I have ever owned. Sunroof, satellite radio, and very comfortable seats sold me when I took the test drive. This is the smallest car I've owned but it drives like a bigger car and is great on gas. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a great car with great features and warranty at a great price.
Nice Tweener Car
brianth, 02/22/2012
2012 Kia Forte SX 4dr Hatchback (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
11 of 19 people found this review helpful
The five-door SX lives between base-level economy hatches and higher performance (and higher cost) cars like the GTI, WRX, and Mazdaspeed3. You will likely not see many of these, probably because the Soul gets most of the attention in Kia's sub-Sportage slot, but we use ours as an urban family car, and for that purpose it is an excellent value--ample interior room and good cargo space with the rear seats in use, nice standard features and reasonable options, and classy "European" styling. Given the pricing available on this Kia, particularly in relation to newer-model used cars these days, we are still very happy with our choice.
Amazing car for the price
marco34, 07/28/2014
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I purchased the Kia Forte Hatchback (really a wagon) with 16,000 miles for $12,400. I drive short distances to work and weekly long highway trips to family. Recently got 43.7 mpg on a flat highway for a 100 mile drive. Normally average 25 mpg in the city. Easy to hit 36 mpg on the highway at 70-75 mph. Absolutely no problems at current miles of 27K miles on the odometer-only oil changes so far.
new car
crunchyed, 09/14/2013
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I traded my 2009 Nissan Versa Hatchback for the 2012 Kia Forte Ex. So far I love it. It had all the bells and whistles that I wanted without the extra cost. It's a lot more fun to drive than the versa.
Economical Car
smrast, 10/20/2014
2013 Kia Forte SX 4dr Hatchback (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I needed a car that got good gas and good value. I commute 160 miles a day (20 miles dirt road). Getting 31 MPG on average. This is my 4th Kia and one of the reasons of staying with them is the 100,000 warr. & all the options that are included with them. We drive our cars till they fall apart so the resale value means nothing.
Perfect little ride for an urban dweller.
Tyler J, 06/20/2019
2013 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Since the age of 16 to present (will be 40 at the end of 19) I've owned over 100 different cars. Some people drink, I buy and sell cars. Only 2 of my cars were ever bought new and the Kia is the first. My Mom is a displaced homemaker so she doesn't have a lot of money. I've always taken the lead in making sure she has safe and reliable transportation. I purchased the Kia new in 2013 for her. Whenever it needed maintaining she would take it to Firestone and put it on my account. Thing is, she always did this late... In 2015 I bought my second new car which is a Ford Focus Ecoboost. Also a really great car. Over the years I had driven the Kia every now and then and always liked it but recently I decided to trade cars with my Mom. I no longer travel for work and my Ford ends up sitting in the garage during the week and only comes out for weekends or the occasional grocery run. My Mom on the other hand drives my niece and nephew around as well as various other things she has to do. It made better sense for her to have the car with the better mileage and lower miles. So, I bring the Kia home knowing it was behind on maintenance but not realizing it was 13,000 miles behind (thanks Mom) so I took it to Firestone and had them do all the basics from oil to air filter as well as check all the majors. Turns out Mom did have them change the coolant and transmission service 13000 miles ago. I'm sure I paid for it but don't remember. So all that was golden. What impressed me was that even though this car had not been serviced in 13000 miles it still drove AMAZING! Normally a car will feel sluggish and weak but not the Kia. I had the people at Firestone do a full check and they said everything was perfect. The only thing I need to do is have the brakes replaced ($1200 for all 4 discs) which I find impressive for a 7 year old car driven by a woman who is constantly slamming on them... The servicing I did last week only cost me $250 so I am not only impressed by how long this car can go without service but also how cheap it is to service! At 63,800 miles this car is running strong and can even withstand some abuse. As for styling, I love the look of it! I think the 2010 to 2013 styling is much more attractive than the new styling. I love the ride. It is stiff but it is also solid. You feel planted in the ground where as the focus made me feel like I was floating all the time. So, I have more fun taking corners in the Kia than I did in the Ford. The seat material is cheap but at 7 years it is still holding up nicely. Even the back seat looks decent regardless of my niece and nephew. I am 6'2" and I fit perfectly in this car. I do have the seat all the way back and I raised it with the lever about 4 pumps. I actually find this car to be more comfortable than the Ford when it comes to driving and I feel it would be just fine on a long car trip. The only thing I will say is that over the years my Mom had me replace several headlight bulbs and brake light bulbs. It seemed this car just burns through them. Even when I went down to trade her, I discovered the brake light was out... My solution was to move to LED's. I replaced all the back lights with LED's which I'm sure will pay off in the long run. I have a set of low and high beam lights ready to throw in the front but I'm going to wait until one of the current bulbs goes. I'm sure I won't be waiting long. I don't drive much and when I do it's usually on a motorcycle so I anticipate putting another 100k miles on this car which means I'll be running it until it falls apart. However, I wouldn't be surprised if it's still going even after that. The paint is crap! I agree with that. Taking it in next month and having it repainted with better paint and having the windows tinted. The speakers are also crap and I will be upgrading all of them this weekend. I presume that upgrade will make the stock stereo sound much better so planning to leave that. However I may upgrade it later. I am having a backup camera installed via rearview mirror next week as after 4 years in the Ford I realize I cannot live without that anymore. It's an upgrade I would recommend for any car but once I do it on the Kia it will actually end up with more features than the Ford had. If I were in the market for a used car today I would likely buy this car. The service it has given my family over the last 7 years has been great. My Mom has not been stranded anywhere once.
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Work Commuter
finzphan68, 01/12/2013
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Needed a new car for my daily commute, and have wanted a hatchback for a while too, so came across the Kia Forte, and found that while its not the top of the line model, it offers everything that I needed in a functional and stylish package.
Safety first
John, 07/31/2019
2012 Kia Forte LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
My initial opinion of this car is that is sucked. We bought the car in 2012, after a year we had to replace the motor because of a manufacturer defect. A year after replacing the motor we started having issues in the wiring (issues to this day that were never solved by Kia.) The car after those two big issues has been a dependable daily driver for my mom who commutes back and forth an hour each way everyday to work at the hospital. We also took the vehicle to Ohio and back multiple times (1,000 mile trip one way.) However what I absolutely love about the vehicle is it saved my families life. I am a Firefighter in the state of Arkansas and have seen countless vehicle collisions. Friday my mother and sister were driving the Kia outside of Little Rock when she was cut off by an 18 wheeler. She swerved to avoid the collision and as a result over corrected causing the vehicle to rollover 3 times before sliding in an embankment and landing on some trees. The car was totaled and the body was pretty well mangled. However, the generous amount of airbags as well as an astonishingly strong frame saved the cab of the car during the rollover & prevented serious injuries to my mother and sister. During my time as a firefighter it's very rare to see a rollover accident have as little damage to the cab as their wreck did. Kia did an amazing job on that aspect of the car IMO.
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Great for a year
vmpage, 05/20/2015
2012 Kia Forte Koup SX 2dr Coupe (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
My car is cute. It handles great. It has also jerked, lurched and felt like it was going to stall, intermittently, since it was one year old. I've gone to the dealer repeatedly only to be told there is no computer code and they can't replicate the problem. I've complained to Kia corporate only to again have nothing done. My car feels like it is going to strand me in Honolulu traffic, and I'm told I'm crazy. Meanwhile, there are forums with hundreds of other people with the same complaint.
Great Car, But Drinks Gas
tekwrek, 11/04/2012
2013 Kia Forte EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
10 of 21 people found this review helpful
We are pleased with all of the features except the mileage. Based on Kia's specs and Edmunds city/highway mileage calculator we expected mileage of 30 to 32 mpg. (The specs said 34+, but you never get that mileage.) However, we are averaging 26-27 mpg for primarily highway driving. Kia should have included the Forte in its fuel economy rating correction program and should have included Forte owners in its Vehicle Owners Compensation program. We have written to the company and EPA about the omission.
Overpriced Cheap Money Pit
petitemeow, 01/19/2015
2013 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 15 people found this review helpful
I've had it for about 1.5 years...seemed like a lovely little deal with the XM radio, I got an ex...I was wrong about 1 yr in the amfm and satellite radio acquires signal every 5 or so minutes, the heat barely wants to work, the steering wheel looks horrible, the seats look horrible and the drivers seat sits like a hard church bench, it takes longer to stop running the ac and now it's starting to drink gas. Yes I've taken it in for service and had gas treatments...at first I was in love now I'm very unpleased and am stuck with it bc it's worth nothing, come to find out its not even that safe to drive...so when they wanted me to trade up to the new body style I was like no
Almost 7 years
Mark, 01/30/2019
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Almost 7 years and 152000 miles. Yes the engine is clicking. And the sounds it makes are wacky. Never anything done but matinence. But now it won't stay in gear? When over 70 mph. I have heard of this on other Kia models but not the Forte. Will be taking it in and I'm sure it will be fun😉.
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2012 Kia Forte
Austin, 08/16/2015
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
Comfy little car, trust it on long trips, but the interior design is basic, bunch of rattles here and there. engine makes weird noises sometimes, clutch started feeling weird 10 minutes after i left the dealer.
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why buy anything else!!!!!!!
bmorelock, 09/21/2012
2013 Kia Forte Koup EX 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
12 of 32 people found this review helpful
This is the best car i have ever owned. I work for ford and this car puts the ford focus to shame i will never buy another ford again
Love, love, love my Kia Forte!
doitalone, 07/28/2012
2012 Kia Forte SX 4dr Hatchback (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 7 people found this review helpful
It's a fun car to drive. Even with being one of the bigger hatchbacks on the market, (I call it a mini-SUV) it's got great handling and fun engine. My previous car was a suped up Ford Focus, and I actually like driving this Kia more. The back seat provides a ton of room for passengers. Seats are comfortable to sit in, and I drive 40 minutes to and from work most mornings and never have problems with my knees or back - which was a problem with my focus and sometimes my boyfriends civic. The price is a little high for the SX version - but see if you can find rebate deals. I got mine on a lease fully loaded for $250 a month. If I choose to buy it out I'll only pay $20,000 total.
Good bang for the buck
Cw, 05/26/2020
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have had my Kia Forte 8 yrs now and could not be more pleased. I have 165,000 miles on it and have done only normal maintenance to date. The car rides nice. It handles corners really well. It is comfy and gets great gas mileage. I paid 18k for it and it was worth every penny.
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Perfect So Far
mustrockon, 07/22/2012
2012 Kia Forte SX 4dr Hatchback (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I've owned this car for 3 weeks and absolutely love it. I traded in my 2010 Nissan Sentra SR. I have a dog that is close to 100lbs and he fits in the hatch area no problem. It came with leather, a sunroof, bluetooth, all cargo accessories, heated seats, great radio, and Ipod plugin. It has some serious getup and go even transferring from Nissan's CVT which I wasn't sure about. My nissan was fully loaded, but didn't have all the features of this Kia for the same drive out price 21K. I have gone on 3 long distance trips already getting 29+ mpg hwy/city without even being broken in. If you live in Houston area go to the dealership in Conroe, they'll treat you right. Couldn't be more pleased.
Not worth it
Anya , 12/02/2021
2013 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought this car back in 2015. Still have it. Have had issues since day one. Break issues since before the recall. (I got it fixed but still have issues At least once a year). Transmission issues, but the cars not worth a brand new transmission. The alignment goes out too fast. I can’t take it on a road trip anymore and it’s only got 130k on it. Last road trip I took it on was only a 6.5hr drive and it just decided to stop driving for no reason. Does this a lot. The Heating went out drivers side in the floorboard. The radio doesn’t work on the channels. I’m constantly having to re- pair my phone for the bluetooth. I can’t skip forward with the buttons on the steering wheel. The voice command doesn’t work 90% of the time. It’s just a shitty car. Don’t ever get a Kia. I’ve heard bad things about other kias as well. It’s as moody as a stick shift. It sort of stalled on me in the rain. Like I hit the gas and it wouldn’t move. Then it finally moved. It does this a lot in the rain. It hates the rain and the heat, don’t even have to be driving long, 15 minutes max before it decides it’s not going to move. There’s weeks where I’m having to floor it to move, where other days all I have to do it touch the gas and it’ll go without any issue. It’s got a nice get go when it wants to.
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Have had Forte Sedan EX for about one month.
martin2013, 06/11/2013
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I've only had this car for about a month and have really liked it so far. The ease that the majority of functions in this car is nice compared to my previous car. Even though the majority of my driving has been shorter in-city distances, its gas milage has been pretty close to estimated mileage. I will soon see how well the gas mileage does with a long trip.
Value
Jean, 01/27/2018
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Love my car.....great value. Definitely worth the price. Easy to get kids in and out. Cargo space very roomy for a small car. Rides nice. Only issues is traction on wet or snow very light car handling is loose in heavy wind also. Had issues with air conditioner line clogging and normal maintenance only.
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20k miles in... great car
morningland, 02/25/2013
2012 Kia Forte EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I got this car because of the fold down seats and the great interest rate. I do a lot of camping and traveling so the fold down seats were critical since I sometimes car camp. I am able to comfortably lay down in the back area for a cat nap during a long trip or to get a good nights sleep. I am trading it in only because I want the four wheel drive but this car performed pretty decent on forest roads for what it is. It rides very nice too. I borrowed some chevy car of the same size for a week and when I got my Forte back, it felt like driving butter! It is reliable too. 20k miles and not a single engine problem at all!
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