There are some relatively big changes to report with the newly-released 2017 Kia Forte sedan facelift, including updates to the design and engine, as well as the addition of a sporty S trim.
The 2017 Forte 4-door styling changes fall on the subtle side of things, but under the hood you will now find a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine that delivers improved performance and fuel economy.
The Forte facelift has a definite European influence in its design, and it now looks more sophisticated than ever before.
The Kia tiger nose grille is visible as always, but the front bumper has now been extended to connect with the headlight setup. The taillights have been redesigned too, and now come with the option of LED lighting.
The overall look at the front gives an appearance of fluidity, but customers will actually get to choose between two designs; one of them is a sophisticated looking Forte, while the other is a sportier, more aggressive look.
2017 Forte gets sporty S trim
There are now 3 distinct trim levels available, with the sporty S trim slotting right in the middle of the base LX and top of the line EX trim models.
The 2017 Kia Forte S comes with a spot-tuned suspension, daytime LED running lights, 16-inch alloys, a chrome exhaust tip, and a rear spoiler.
The Forte EX remains the top of the line trim for 2017, and it has exterior features that fall on the premium side of things. These include Smart Key with perimeter approach lighting and front door pocket lighting, LED taillights, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
Both the LX and S trim levels come with upgraded cloth materials for the seats. There are black cloth seats with white stitching that are exclusive to the S trim. It also gets a steering wheel and shift knob wrapped in leather.
The standard seat covering for the EX is leather, and those seats also feature heating and 10-way power positioning. Other standard features for the EX include rear vents, dual-zone automatic temperature, and push-button start with Smart Key.
The UVO3 infotainment is found standard in the S and EX trims, with a 7-inch color screen displaying the information.
Forte sedan gains 2,0L engine
The 1.8L inline 4-cylinder engine used in the outgoing model has been ditched in favor of a 2.0L Atkinson I-4, which is paired with either a 6-speed manual or second generation 6-speed automatic transmission, the latter of which has been engineered to deliver improved fuel efficiency numbers.
Kia Forte 2017 dealership arrival date
The 2017 Kia Forte will go on sale in the first quarter, with pricing expected to be announced closer to that time.
P.S. There are no news about the 2017 Kia Forte Koup at this point. You can find more details, however, on the 2017 Kia Forte 5-door here.
they ditch the 1.8 Nu?
Why?
Bcuz its just the worst engine of the industy!
Hideous nose! Why kill the current design? The new one doesn’t look anything like a tiger!
The headlights are terrible.
Is the new Forte also redesigned to provide better protection in small overlap crashes from the IIHS? And the rear LED’s were already an option.
I like the new front end considerably better than the current one. Seems to be a bit more up front and matches current product lineup better.
This is just the facelift pré-new generation that comes next year.
no matter what kia does with their cars,it will always be a very good car that is of high quality,and dependable service,and I currently have a 2015 kiacodenzasxl,and I feel it is the most beautiful car on the road,and it surely is my pride and joy,plus we have had nine kia and Hyundai cars…Bernard N Edwards canal Winchester,ohio
just bought a 2017 forte. DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT BUT LIKE THE WARRANTY. HOPE ITS NOT A PIECE OF SHIT!
I have a 2015 Kia Forte Ex and just discover that the AC freezes up on cooler humid/rainy days. This is a quite common problem for Kias and there has been no bulletins sent out to the dealerships to fix this problem. It is very common for this to happen of course as soon as the ice melts it will start bowing cold again. But for the ice to melt you have to just run the fan and wait a few minutes. And it will start blowing again then you can run the AC but don’t do it on low or it will happen again. Really poor design Kia. Shame on you for not fixing the problem.