Kia is a company on the move. Once viewed as a manufacturer of bargain economy cars, the South Korean automaker’s latest models can compete with the best. And they’re still a great deal.

One example is the Forte. With sharp styling and value pricing, it’s a fun, economical ride. And so far in 2023, it’s a strong seller. Let’s take a closer look at the Kia Forte and what makes it such a popular pick.

Kia Forte: affordability makes it a strong seller

So far in 2023, the Kia Forte is the sixth-fastest-selling new vehicle, according to iSeeCars. Not only that, but it’s the top car on the list, with SUVs taking the first five spots. A key to that is the sporty sedan’s affordable price.

The Kia Forte starts at $19,790 (plus destination). Comparable vehicles include the Honda Civic ($23,950 plus destination) and the Toyota Corolla ($21,900 plus destination). So for customers sticking to a budget, the Forte just makes sense.

What are you getting for the price?

Exterior-wise, the Forte has an athletic look, with narrow LED headlights, a mesh grille, and taut bodywork. It’s reminiscent of a compact European sport sedan, instead of a bargain-priced four-door.

Under the hood, there’s a 147 hp 2.0-liter four, or an optional 201 hp turbo 1.6-liter four. Both offer plenty of performance around town, and solid fuel economy. The 2.0 achieves 34 mpg combined, while the turbo 1.6 obtains 30 mpg combined.

Inside, a clean, modern layout features high-quality materials and plenty of tech. Woven cloth or SynTex trim offers durable comfort. Touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto brings seamless connectivity. And interior lighting creates an ambient mood. As with any car, higher trims bring increasing levels of luxury and technology.

Kia deserves credit for including ample driver assistance technology on all trims. Even the base trim LX includes auto emergency braking, lane keeping assist, and land following assist.

Kia Forte: reliable transportation for under $20k

Cars are a lot of fun. From flashy sports cars to rugged pickup trucks, today’s vehicles are exciting and cool. But their primary purpose is getting from point A to point B. And they can get expensive. So when an automaker produces a quality car for less than $20k, cost-focused buyers take notice.

With the Kia Forte, drivers get a car they can trust for a superb price. Full of features and with a great warranty (5 years/60,000 miles bumper to bumper) the Forte is a smart pick for any buyer. While it would be nice to have an expensive European sports sedan, in the end, reliable transportation is the primary goal. And for that, this sporty 4-door delivers.

It used to be that value-priced cars sacrificed features and performance for a low MSRP. Not anymore. The Forte is a quality vehicle all around, from its sleek exterior to its well-engineered powertrains.