2017 Kia Forte5 SX Turbo DCT Automatic

If it seems like auto reviewers have been damning Korean cars with faint praise for years, you’re not wrong. The “look how far they’ve come” line is as tired as can be, and Hyundai’s and Kia’s price advantages have lessened to the point where they can no longer be crutches to rely upon. Cars such as the Kia Forte now go up against the class leaders purely on their own merits.

In the case of the Kia Forte5 SX, those class leaders are tough targets. This hotted-up version of Kia’s compact hatchback, with its 201-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four, aims at Car and Driver favorites including the Volkswagen Golf GTI, the Honda Civic Si, and higher-trim versions of the Mazda 3. And it’s priced to match: Our test car wore a heady sticker of $28,420, more than the most recent Civic Si and Mazda 3 we’ve tested and within a few hundred dollars of the unimpeachable GTI Sport.

Auto No-Go

It also was $1400 dearer than the Forte5 SX with a six-speed manual transmission that we recently reviewed. The Kia’s seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is a new addition that arrived as part of the Forte’s 2017 update, replacing the previous six-speed torque-converter automatic. Although the new transmission’s wider ratio spread and quicker shifts seem like an improvement on paper, the dual-clutch didn’t earn its keep in our testing.

It couldn’t match the acceleration of the Forte5 SX with the old six-speed auto, trailing its zero-to-60-mph time by 0.3 second and its quarter-mile result by 0.4 second. The stick-shift 2017 Forte5 also narrowly beat the 2017 dual-clutch, with a 0.1-second edge in the zero-to-60-mph test. We blame the dual-clutch’s lack of any sort of launch programming for the somewhat disappointing results; many other dual-clutch automatics are able to better adapt to our launch protocol—or have a dedicated launch-control system—in order to get off the line quicker.

Kia’s dual-clutch transmission also still has room to improve in terms of real-world behavior. It is sometimes frustrating at parking-lot speeds, combining with the long-travel throttle pedal and the somewhat laggy engine response to make it difficult to modulate the power delivery. We also noticed a strange phenomenon when accelerating at higher speeds wherein the revs would climb in a nonlinear fashion just before an upshift, almost as if the clutch were slipping.

The dual-clutch’s only real advantage is in fuel economy. In our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, it averaged 35 mpg, which is 3 mpg better than the manual car. But all other things considered, we’ll state the obvious and say that we much preferred the Forte5 when equipped with a manual—as is the case with most sporty small cars.

It’s SX-y

There’s more fun to be found in the Forte5 SX’s chassis, which boasts firmer suspension tuning than the non-SX Forte5 models. The ride is pleasingly firm without being harsh, and body motions are nicely controlled. As we found in the manual car, however, lifeless steering spoils some of the fun. It lacks the eager turn-in and sharp on-center feel that make the Civic Si and the GTI so lively.

Maybe Kia didn’t intend this car to be a performance machine like a GTI, though, despite the SX’s racy 18-inch wheels, tasteful red accents, and dual exhaust. Instead, the Forte5 gives off a mature vibe, helped by its nicely put together and spacious interior. With the $3600 Tech package, the SX also boasts upscale features such as heated and cooled front seats, a sunroof, and an easy-to-use navigation system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Even so, we’d have a hard time choosing this Kia over perennial superstars such as the GTI, which marries even more polish with a more rewarding driving experience and significantly better performance. But we won’t say that the Forte5 is a “surprisingly nice car” or that it’s fun to drive “for a Kia.” Now that Kia is firmly entrenched as an established automotive player, it’s enough to state that the Forte5 is a decent small hatchback but it’s not the best you can get for the money.

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback

PRICE AS TESTED: $28,420 (base price: $24,695)

ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 97 cu in, 1591 cc
Power: 201 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 195 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic with manual shifting mode

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 106.3 in
Length: 171.3 in
Width: 70.1 in Height: 57.1 in
Passenger volume: 98 cu ft
Cargo volume: 23 cu ft
Curb weight: 3076 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 6.7 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 17.9 sec
Zero to 120 mph: 31.3 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 7.1 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.5 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 4.7 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 15.3 sec @ 93 mph
Top speed (drag limited, C/D est): 140 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 176 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.85 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY:
Observed: 28 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 35 mpg
Highway range: 460 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY:
Combined/city/highway: 27/25/30 mpg