The Forte is Kia's line of compact cars. The FWD Forte is larger than the top-selling Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla and includes three body styles: a sedan, a five-door hatchback, and a coupe. A 2.0L four cylinder powers most models. The SX performance models swaps the 2.0L four cylinder for a turbocharged 1.6L engine increasing horsepower by 28-bhp. The SX also upgrades the tires and transmission. The 5-door model replaces the trunk of the sedan and coupe with a vertical hatch providing access to over 23 cubic feet of storage with the rear seats up.

The Kia Forte is all-new for 2013. The new model wears sleeker styling on a body that is slightly longer and wider than before. The wheelbase has grown by two inches. Two four-cylinder powertrains are offered both are paired with six-speed transmissions. The base EX model equips a 2.0l four-cylinder that makes the same 173-bhp as the prior model's 2.4l engine. The sportier SX model equips a more powerful 1.6l turbocharged four-cylinder rated at 201-bhp.