Used 2016 Kia Forte Hatchback Consumer Reviews
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toasty (almost "hot") hatchback
G. Johnson, 07/22/2017
updated 02/10/2020
2016 Kia Forte SX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
26 of 27 people found this review helpful
Got my 2016 Forte5 SX (6-speed, manual transmission) brand new five months ago, and I am still in love with my turbo hatchback. For my needs, it is the perfect fun-to-drive commuter. It is not as sporty/fast as a VW GTI (which is arguably the leader in affordable hot hatchbacks), but it is much less expensive, it should be much more reliable, and it has a much better warranty. Also, the Forte5 SX has the best seat and driving position I found in any compact car I test-drove (I'm a larger fellow, at 6'2 and 220 lbs). Another plus? The Forte5 SX takes regular gas (not premium like many turbos). I had already decided to buy the car before I even found that out. I'm only getting 27.8 mpg so far, but the gas mileage is slowly getting better the more miles I put on the car. No regrets at all, and I plan on keeping it for a long time. For you car guys out there, the driving dynamics may be a little bit different, but the fun-factor/value reminds me of my old 1998 Civic EX but with a comfortable seat. I'm starting to think that Kia is doing now what Honda was doing in the late 1990s--which is a very good thing indeed. Update: I remain very happy with my Forte5 SX, and I can't believe that more people don't know about this gem. I can even fit my mountain bike in the back of the hatch with the rear seats folded down (granted that the bike's front wheel needs to be taken off to fit). The ride is sporty but comfortable--perfect for real-world driving--and the car is so practical yet fun, and it is reliable. I have also found the Kia dealerships to be awesome; clearly they place a premium on excellent customer service. Update: by Feb. 2019, I will have owned it for two years. Still loving it, and not a single mechanical problem. Great car! Update: Feb. 2020--owned it for three years. Continue to love it, and it still hasn't had a single mechanical issue.
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Bye bye '12 Forte SX 5 door & hello '16 Forte5 EX
RonB, 09/26/2016
updated 03/29/2018
2016 Kia Forte EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
34 of 37 people found this review helpful
We shared the '12 for over 3 years and over 80,000 miles until I bought myself a 2015 Sonata Sport 2.0T Limited 6 months ago. Love that car and reviewed it on here also. Got a great deal. Now that we're back to two cars, mileage will accumulate a lot less. While I was getting the 12 serviced 2 weeks ago and "someone" took my car to work, I was asked "Do you think you can get me a deal on trading my car like you did buying yours ?" So I walked the lot and found a Snow White Pearl Forte5 EX 2.0 GDI - loaded with Premium/Technology package and remote start with black leather with white stitching. I texted the pictures. "I really wasn't a fan of white until you got yours (Quartz White Pearl) but I really like it. See what you can do. If it works out, I'll come sign the papers". The 12 was in excellent condition except for the 82,000 miles they beat down the trade in value on, but with the rebate and financing, it was a good deal regardless. The 12 had leather and sunroof. Great little car. No complaints other than it could have used more sound insulation. Compared to the 12: The tech options are great. Stereo is better. Bluetooth streaming is a world better. It's quieter. Much better legroom - we're both 6ft tall. Headroom was never an issue even with the 12 - sunroof in both. The 2.0GDI doesn't have the off the line punch of the 2012s 2.4 port-injected engine but feels fine overall (same 173hp rating) and better fuel mileage makes it worthwhile. Neither are pocket rockets but we're not race car drivers lol. Has plenty of zip. Warranty can't be beat. This now makes 4 Hyundai / Kia products since 2008 and don't regret any of them. I'm a semi-retired mechanic and choose my/our cars wisely. The only 2 gripes with the 16: 1 - gone with the 2014+ 5 door redesign is the split-folding rear seat bottoms which was great when we needed to haul stuff around. A minor gripe really because the 16 is still plenty roomy with the seat backs folded down. 2 - For the 2016 Forte line up, HID headlights were deleted, even with the Tech package. I remedied that with the same brand HID kit I installed in the 2012. Also installed LED plate and reverse lights - nice difference with the back-up camera at night. Experience has us anticipating the same reliability. The 2008 Sonata we traded for the 2012 Forte is still on the road with nearly 250,000 miles on it. Traded with nearly 120,000 trouble-free miles and came across it recently. UPDATE 3/27/2017 Six months and 7,500 miles now. Engine has loosened up. Feels puncher. Averaging 31-32mpg which is 7-8mog better than the 2012. Nothing other than an oil change and tire rotation. UPDATE 9/28/17 15,000 miles. Just did the 3rd oil change and replaced the cabin filter - I change them once a year. Zero issues. More of a novelty but my other half loves the heated steering wheel on cold mornings. UPDATE 3/28/18 A little over 25,000 miles now. Between work, grad school, and internship, the other half has racked up some miles. Nothing really to report. Still runs and looks great. Wiper blades replaced other than oil changes and tire rotation. The only gripe is the OE Nexen tires. While they certainly look like they will go another 15 or 20 ,000 miles, they have gotten a bit noisy. Probably just going to run them through the summer and replace them.
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2016 Kia Forte for sale near you
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Unexpected Winner
Jay, 03/13/2017
updated 10/05/2020
2016 Kia Forte EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
We purchased this car, a Kia Forte 5 with the premium tech package, at Jeff Belzer Kia in Lakeville Mn. This is our second purchase from this dealership. Alex was great to work with, -no pressure, answered our questions and sent us on a test drive even though we mentioned we were going to another dealership to look at a different brand. We returned and purchased this car. Prior to purchasing, we test drove a VW Golf, a Mazda 3 Hatchback, several Hyundai Elantra GT Hatchbacks, and this Kia Forte 5 Hatchback. The VW and the Mazda were great driving cars but were somewhat cramped for passenger space by comparison. The Hyundai Elantra GT was roomier but didn't offer an upscale package we liked. Then we drove the Kia Forte 5. It was just a fun car to drive. It is a road handling car with plenty of power for everyday driving (2.0 liter, 173 h.p. and 154 ft. pounds of torque). Advertised mileage is 25 city, 33 hwy mpg. We are currently averaging about 30.5 mpg including cold starts with combined city-highway driving. My favorite feature is the heated steering wheel on these cold winter mornings. Second would be the four heated leather seats. We are getting accustomed to the smart key features with perimeter lighting at night, keyless entry, and push-button start. The technology package included navigation, a sunroof, and auto headlights, all nice features. Add to all this a 5-year basic warranty and a 10-year powertrain warranty and you have a winning package. Most enjoyable though is the way it drives. It is quick, but it is not a race car. It is firmly planted and corners nicely, perhaps due to the 215 45 R17 tires. This is a car with lots of features for the money and I would highly recommend it. Update: We have owned this car for eight months now and both my wife and I enjoy it. It is just a fun car to drive. It has a nice balance between feeling responsive and at the same time being a solid and stable road handling car. In mixed driving, we average between 33 to 35 mpg. (This includes about 20% city, 20% two lane highway, and 60% freeway driving.) EPA rating for this car is 25 city and 33 highway. We are very pleased with our purchase and would highly recommend this car. Second update; Sept. 21, 2018: We've now had this car for about one year and eight months and have 11,000 miles on it. We still feel the same about it now as we did before. Many people have commented about the sharp-looking style of the car. However, what we enjoy most is the way it drives. We've owned about 25 different cars, and this is one of our favorite cars to drive. We would still highly recommend it. Third update; Sept. 26, 2019: We're at two years and eight months of ownership, with 16,450 miles on the odometer. We still enjoy this car now as much as when we first bought it. With winter coming, we really appreciate the heated steering wheel and the four heated seats. (Very scarce features for a car in this price range.) It's too bad the heated steering wheel was dropped for the 2017 model year. It's still fun to drive and quite economical, a real plus. We'd still highly recommend it. 4th Update, April 1, 2020 We've had our Kia Forte hatchback for over three years now and still feel the same as in our previous updates. We still enjoy driving it and would highly recommend it. Fourth update, Oct 3, 2020. We've owned this car for over 4 years now and still feel the same.
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Great Daily Driver but no GTI
Pablo Danek, 11/28/2016
2016 Kia Forte SX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
I leased this car as an experiment-- I have never owned a Kia before. I know they had made huge strides in design and engineering but wanted to see how far. I love sporty hatchbacks with manual transmissions and I really found the design appealing. I shopped the Mazda 3 (clunky navigation design and wheezy engine), GTI (far more expensive, and reliability concerns) and Ford Focus (don't like the interior or rear-end styling, also huge turning radius) but ended up getting the Kia. Why? For one, it is a rare car-- I've had my car a year and still haven't seen another on the road. Second, I really like the styling. Third, you just can't beat all the content like heated and cooled seats, LED lights, dual-zone climate control, and heated steering wheel. The interior is also very, very nice-- Looks and feels way more expensive than it is. I also was confident I knew about the car's shortcomings-- Abysmal mileage for a 4-cylinder, not quite as refined ride and handling as the big dogs like Focus and GTI, and not quite as fast. But I wanted a nice, clean, fun, reliable daily driver and that's just what I got. Any things that bug me? Not really, but there are a few ways the car could be better. First, I mentioned the mileage. The engine is clearly a little small for this car-- Even when I don't drive it hard (which is rare) mileage is still in the high twenties at best. Second, the suspension along with the 18-inch tires makes for a bit of a hard ride around town. That's about all I can complain about, otherwise I really like the car.
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Fun
Garrett, 12/29/2017
updated 01/08/2020
2016 Kia Forte SX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
I bought a really cheap car when I came home from deployment to save money and very quickly regretted it. After searching for a fun hatchback I settled on the Forte 5 SX for a myriad of reasons. I have absolutely loved this car since I got it. The turbo makes it fun and sporty although I wouldn't necessarily call it a hot hatch it is certainly warm. I've put 9000 miles on it in a little over 6 months with absolutely no problems. If you're looking for a car with a bit of pep and a very comfortable cabin, look no further. Edit: Edmund asked me to update my review and everything I said still stands. Still a great little car that's fun to drive and still no issues with 68000 miles on it now.
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Forte5 SX... I love you !
Jeff S., 08/29/2020
updated 09/01/2022
2016 Kia Forte SX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I have owned an 08 GTI, a 13 focus ST, and now a 2016 Forte5 SX. I guess you can say I love a Turbo Hatch!!! I was pleasantly surprised with the Kia. So much bang for your buck. And what a fun little car, plenty of torque and just enough power to make it An awesome ride. Comfortable , spacious for a small car, looks great. I would recommend anyone in the market for a fun little Hatch with some extra get up and go, to strongly consider this car. I am completely in love with mine! They can be hard to find , especially in a manual transmission, which is a requirement for me. Also I have had this thing for 3 months and have not seen it’s duplicate . Not many on the road which makes it even cooler!!! Anyway, hard yes on the Forte5 SX. : ) Update- I’ve now had this car for quite some time and I still absolutely love it . Great little ride and I have had not one issue with it aside from regular maintenance. Good show Kia , thanks for the awesome car.
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Pretty good bang for your buck
Katie, 10/25/2016
2016 Kia Forte LX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
I was in the market for a used car but ended up purchasing the Kia Forte new because of the rebates. I have never liked hatchbacks but this body type fits my current needs and looks better than most in my opinion. This car is comfortable to drive and even the base model is a great upgrade from what I was in. I was really impressed with the warranty offered with this vehicle.
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Underrated vehicle with unexpected surprises
Demian, 05/02/2019
2016 Kia Forte EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought used 2016 forte5 ex after trading my old 2000 crv lx. Test drove elantra GT, honda fit, civic hatchback. (I didn't try focus hatchback because when I drove rental focus on german highway I wasn't impressed at all and also heard reliability score is low. I also didn't try Mazda 3 hatchback because of small space for backseat and cargo and very similar interior design to my current CX5). I chose forte5 because a lot less money than civic hatchback (better driving experience but noisier), better interior design and body style than elantra, and more powerful than fit (felt like driving a toy car). I think I can comment on riding since I added around 1000 miles. Yes riding is a lot bumpier than my 2012 honda accord as other people mentioned. But I liked the direct feeling of road conditions on the steering wheel and enjoyed the riding every day. Unexpectedly powerful and smooth when I pressed acceleration pedal. I was constantly watching mpg number on the gauge for fun and managed to 37 mpg for commute (local driving with around 15 traffic stops and lights). Steering is quite responsive and nimble. One gripe if I have to say is I feel more rough movement when it starts than any cars I have driven. Probably it is designed that way since I don't feel any engine roughness while driving. At the beginning, sometimes I felt engine misfires. However, after I realized I have to hold the key in ignition position a little longer to start the engine, the symptom was gone. I just got used to engine start of all japanese cars I have owned the last 30 years. I never thought about owning a korean car but this purchase changed my mind. Though have to wait for its reliability, don't have any hesitation to give a huge kudos to 2016 kia forte5.
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I Love This Car!
Gaines E., 09/14/2020
updated 11/13/2023
2016 Kia Forte EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I'm a second generation Kia owner - traded a 2008 Spectra in on this 2016 Forte5. Some people would say it's not peppy enough, but I find it keeps up in traffic just fine; true, it won't win any races, but it gets a solid 32 mpg with the AC on and 36 mpg during milder months. I am 6' 3" and the front seats are plenty spacious for my long legs. My wife complains the car is too low, but to me that just adds to the sportiness. I am the only driver of this car, so I know everything about it, and it is a pleasure to drive. In fact, I've put on 30K trouble-free miles. One thing I like about Kia is the service department at the dealership. They don't push you into buying extra service. I bought the service plan, and have enjoyed free oil changes, deep discounts on "other" services, etc. In comparison, my wife's Sentra seems to "need" something every time we take it in for ANYTHING! In conclusion, I will definitely buy Kia again; they build a quality car with a bunch of amenities as standard. Mine is a Forte5 EX (middle trim level) and it has LED DRLs, power folding mirrors, automatic transmission (not a goofy CVT), my radio can hold 250 songs, but I'm old school and listen to CDs, and alloy wheels (no plastic hubcaps). I chose the black cloth interior with black carpeting, and it is holding up well, however, I'm a neat freak, so my car is hardly ever dirty - inside or out....I even wipe down the door jambs every time it's washed. Update 3/18/21 Still loving my Forte5! I have nothing bad to say about this car. It's at 30K miles and my tires are wearing evenly (no alignment needed), the oil stays amber even though it has 5K miles on it (getting it changed Saturday), the finish is still shiny - even with two car washes a week.... I'm just a happy Kia guy. What's more to say? Update 3/20/2022 Still very happy with my Kia. I live close to work, so in a year I've only put on 5K miles since my last update. The finish is holding up well, still no alignment needed....I did have to put new tires on last April, but only because one developed a bulge in the sidewall. I put Pirelli's on it (boujee). UPDATE 9/26/2022, 39,168 miles Still a happy Kia owner. My free oil changes finally ran out, so I did the last oil change; a full synthetic job. The skidplate has to be removed in order to access the drain plug and filter - which protects the underbelly of the engine really well, but it's not consumer-friendly. I spent more time on that skidplate than the oil change itself. The original battery is still in the car, so the alternator either charges well, or Kia makes a darned good battery. No alignment needed yet, and my tires are all wearing evenly. 3/28/2023 42xxx miles Still completely happy with this car, and even more so now that it's paid off. The Pirelli tires are quite noisy, though - no fault of Kia's. As stated above, I'm a neat freak, so I've clay-barred the finish twice, and the paint is smooth as glass. The plastic headlight covers are still very clear with no yellowing, yet, but I have treated them with a product from Chemical Guys. Really, the only negative thing for me is the DIY oil change and that pesky skidplate. 11/11/23, 48K miles Drove it 1950 miles on vacation a week ago and it ran flawlessly, averaging 32mpg, and through high altitude mountains. Still very satisfied with this little car. In fact, got a compliment last Thursday from a truck driver I know. He saw me get out of it and asked, "Is it new?" I said, "Heck no, it's a 2016."
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Unreliable, doesn’t last long
Kyndal McCroskey, 03/11/2024
2016 Kia Forte LX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought a 2016 with low mileage in 2017. It started burning through oil a couple years ago. The catalytic converter died and cost $3,000 to replace (they chalked this up to going over a bumpy road once). The engine died about a year later. This was with regular maintenance, oil changes, and I had just changed the transmission fluid. The car was under 100,000 miles. Completely worthless and not worth your money unless you want a short term car. Steer clear if you want a long-lasting reliable car.
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Forte5 EX or SX is the way to go
Bam, 11/02/2016
2016 Kia Forte EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
If you are interested in a Forte, get the hatchback. As far as looks, space,quickness in and out of traffic, and easy to work on, this is really the best hatch you can get. I thought I would never buy a Kia. Reminds me of Honda circa 1986. The only things I can nitpick on is handling is so so around curves, and stock speakers in the EX are horrible. Ride comfort is neither great or terrible. I drove out of the dealership under $20k for everything. Very satisfied.
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Sporty Hatchback
Jeff Guttenberger, 03/12/2016
updated 03/14/2018
2016 Kia Forte SX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
6 of 16 people found this review helpful
Plenty of power. Turbo lag after shifts is annoying. Favorable comments on looks, wheels get the most remarks. Not equipped with a spare tire, jack, lug wrench. Good leg room in rear seat. After two years, car still feels tight no rattles, no problems. MPG freeway 70 MPH two people aboard, 34.5, mixed driver 28-29. 6M cable shifter is a little sloppy, sometimes hard to find reverse. Sum up, a very versatile vehicle, fun to drive can tote my kayak on top, tow my sailboat, big cargo area.
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Reliabile and resonably priced
pako, 07/08/2020
2016 Kia Forte LX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Perfect for a small family
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Here's what I can complain about
VolatileCaprice, 07/02/2022
2016 Kia Forte SX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I wanted a small car so I'm living with it, but the window/lock control panel is strangely close to the driver. Took a couple months to get used to pulling my arm all the way back so I can press the window buttons, never found that in another car before. A little low to the ground because it's trying to be sporty, but not too low where you hit every bump, just have to be more mindful of debris in the street. You can feel the road perhaps a bit more than the average car of this age, doesn't bother me, but some passengers like to point it out (dad). Also, being a small car, expect some extra struggle when you load up 4-5 heavy people :) Added 25k miles to the 15k I bought it with, no issues yet. Very basic features which I was happy with because I grew up on old simple cars, not a whole bunch of worthless tech I'll never learn how to use. Overall happy with how it performs, feels, handles.
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Satisfied Dee
Diane (Mimi) Fanning, 07/13/2022
2016 Kia Forte LX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Everything, the ride, gas, car!!!
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Kia is awsome
Robert king, 05/16/2017
2016 Kia Forte EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I test drive mazda 3..to cramped inside I am 6 ft tall.even though I would say the mazda was more sporty looking I went with the kia way more bang for the buck
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go for ride
Brad Steele, 06/11/2016
2016 Kia Forte SX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
1 of 10 people found this review helpful
Great car and fun to drive!
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Kia Forte5
Chris, 01/19/2020
2016 Kia Forte EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Great gas mileage. Handles nice. Great in the snow with 4 winter tires.
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LOVE this car!
Sandie, 01/30/2023
2016 Kia Forte SX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had this car for almost 4 years and I love it! It's a fun, cute, solid piece of machinery. The cabin and trunk are very roomy. I can easily pack three kids in the back seat and all the beach essentials (cooler, wagon, chairs, umbrella, etc...) in the trunk. I have had no problems with it at all. I've done regular oil changes and just recently replaced the brakes and rotors. Overall, the KIA Forte5 SX T-GDi is a great, reliable vehicle. My husband didn't want me to get a KIA but now he's a fan and we just purchased another one.
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Reliable Kia but stifled by anemic power
Frothiestbike, 12/12/2022
2016 Kia Forte EX 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
I really tried to love this car. Let’s start with the positive: it’s reliable. I got mine with 90k miles and never had an issue with it. I thought that would be enough for me to love the car but the power delivery, sub par fuel economy compared to completion, an uninspiring engine note and terrible ride comfort were enough for me to consider moving on from it so I did just that. If you are a car enthusiast I would steer clear of this one.
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