Five is more than four. Of course we all learned this early on in grade school but that point was reinforced recently as I spent a week with the 2015 Kia Forte5, the sport wagon version of the Forte sedan. The new Forte5 is certainly more than its four-door sedan counterpart and the number of doors is only the beginning.
Leading the list of things I really like about the Forte5 is the option of the turbocharged 1.6-liter I-4 engine with direct injection. Breathing 201hp into this fun little wagon made it a blast to drive all week whether back and forth to work or out on the town over the weekend. And I am sure we surprised quite a few European imports up on the tollway when our little grocery hauler was eating their lunch.
The majority of the body styling is similar to what we first introduced readers to when Judie and I both reviewed the Forte following its major makeover for the 2014 model year. The sedan does not get the option of the turbo motor so for those of you Kia fans looking for driving excitement you will have to settle for a sport wagon/hatchback model known as the Forte5 (much in the way V-dub fanboys do).
The 1.6L turbo can be paired with your choice of six-speed gearboxes – manual or automatic. The auto version (that our tester arrived with) features a Sportmatic mode and steering wheel paddle shifters. This SX Forte5 also comes with a sport tuned suspension, front and rear disc brakes, stylish 18-inch alloy wheels. While I was not keen on the black leather interior as we kicked off our triple digits here in north Texas I was relieved with the ventilation function of the driver’s seat, although momma was not happy her side did not offer that.
The Forte5 is comfortable and smooth and quiet for the most part. Only when we got on a rough asphalt road surface did we notice a bit of noise echoing from the rear of the vehicle due to the open styling. Aside from that our week was uneventful – fun, but eventful.
Pricing for the 2015 Forte5 begins at $19,690 with our loaded tester arriving with a final sticker of $27,035 thanks to the SX premium and technology packages. Fuel economy for the 1.6L turbo with the automatic is rated for 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway.
The new Forte5 is a fun little sport wagon. It is easy to drive and quite maneuverable as any vehicle in this class should be. The added benefit of the turbo power and beefed-up suspension make it a contender for those shopping for sport wagons with a little more oomph, and the Forte5 delivers that. It is no Golf R or Focus ST, that is for certain, but it does offer more than just your basic driving experience.