The results for the 2017 Kia Forte crash tests are in from the IIHS in the US.
What the results show is that this is the safest Forte ever, putting it up there with the safest cars in the segment.
The 2017 Kia Forte underwent several structural improvements that played a role in its IIHS crash test success, particularly with the small overlap front test.
The optional front crash prevention system, which was rated superior, and the good-rated headlights allowed the Forte to earn the coveted Top Safety Pick+ award.
That award puts the Forte in the same category as some of its rivals, which include the Mazda3, Toyota Corolla, and Subaru Impreza.
What is Top Safety Pick Plus?
You don’t win a Top Safety Pick award by sheer luck.
Good ratings must be achieved in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint tests, while the addition of a crash prevention system up front can mean an advanced or superior rating.
Vehicles get the “+” added to the rating if they also have good or acceptable headlights.
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2017 Kia Forte crash test results
The crash results mentioned here are all for the 2017 Forte, which includes models built after April. Those models came with a pair of major enhancements.
The first big upgrade is the addition of the longer side-curtain airbags, with the second being a stronger door opening structure.
Kia specifically put these in place so that they could get a good rating on the small overlap front crash test, which is one of the toughest.
The models built in April 2017 or later achieved a good rating in that particular test, thanks in large part to those new additions.
The test is designed to simulate the left front corner of the car colliding with a pole of some kind.
The driver’s space in the Forte was well maintained, with the intrusion being just 3 inches at the footrest.
While this is a severe crash, the movements of the dummy were controlled, with the result being a low risk of injury in such a crash.
How to know when your Kia Forte was built?
Go to the doorjamb of your Forte and look for the manufacturers decal, as that will show you the month and year of manufacture.
Crash prevention system
The only way to be in with a shot at the coveted Top Safety Pick award is to deliver a vehicle that comes complete with a front crash prevention system.
This is an optional piece of equipment on the 2017 Forte, but one that helped make it one of the safest cars in the segment.
In IIHS tests at both 12 and 25 mph, the system was able to help the Forte avoid collisions. The system on the Forte also comes with a forward collision warning, which also helped make the folks at IIHS very happy.
Safety test conclusion
Long gone are the days when a customer chose a vehicle based on nothing more than the brand and the color.
Safety is a major part of the car buying decision process, and as these results show, they don’t come much safer than the 2017 Kia Forte.
