Topic: 2021 Kia Forte5 GT 6MT

[Blueprint]

It's a car! Not a CUV, not an SUV, a real down-to-the-pavement CAR! Seats 5, has a hatch, is good on gas and its msrp squeaks in under 26k$.

Oh, and did I mention it has 201 hp and three pedals?

https://www.autohebdo.net/expert/20210923/kia-forte5-gt-manuelle-2021-essai-routier/

[tortoise]

I really like this Forte5.   Seems like a good value and a bit of a poor man's GTI.

[Blueprint]

I really like this Forte5.   Seems like a good value and a bit of a poor man's GTI.

Bingo. It's not as refined, not as good, but it really offers bang for the buck. Heck I was tempted to call dibs on the presser - these are rare - but the four women of the house vetoed a 3-pedal car.

[BWII]

It's kinda ugly in profile too isn't it.  I think I prefer the last gen.  Or the Hyundai equivalent.

[Blueprint]

It's kinda ugly in profile too isn't it.  I think I prefer the last gen.  Or the Hyundai equivalent.

There is no Hyundai equivalent, the Elantra GT was pulled after 2020. And I don't think the profile is bad...

[dkaz]

The profile is more wagon than hatchback although not fully a wagon. It looks like the wheelbase is the exact same as the sedan unlike other hatches so there seems to be a nice deeper cargo area as a result. It is 289mm shorter than the sedan so it loses likely cargo depth compared to the sedan.

[Bubba]

It's kinda ugly in profile too isn't it.  I think I prefer the last gen.  Or the Hyundai equivalent.

There is no Hyundai equivalent, the Elantra GT was pulled after 2020. And I don't think the profile is bad...

I agree; it's not ugly at all.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

Look, I really want to like the idea of this car.  A proper five door hatchback with 200hp and a six-speed manual transmission?  Sounds great. 

Unfortunately, despite all the content, a lot of the lower end Kia/Hyundai models have a 'cheap bones' feeling.  In other words, they have cut costs where you can't see it so that they can up-content the interiors, or turbocharge that motor to get 200hp out of it.  I've rented the odd Kia and Hyundai (a Forte sedan, in fact) that just felt like it had crashy suspension.  It didn't feel nearly as refined as some of the competition. 

Add in a lot of the engine problems that Kia/Hyundai are known for having, and I just can't feel justified in spending any of my hard earned money on a car like this. 

So, while I LOVE the idea of a 'near-hot hatch' like this Forte, Kia/Hyundai have a LOT of convincing to do to get me to spend any money on their products. 

[Blueprint]

There are four versions of this car in the world market:

1) Ceed (use to be C'eed), shorter wheelbase and less overhang



2) Forte5 / Cerato GT / K3 GT, this car



3) ProCeed GT, the quasi-wagon we'd really like!



and 4) the Ceed SportWagon:

[BWII]

#1 looks good
#2 (this car) looks good from that angle
#3 - that as$!!  (not in a  way)
#4 - ok in that pic.

What I don't like about it (the one we get) is everything from the B pillar and bottom of the windows to the back.  The swoopy roofline...looks like shi#.

Hard to find a good profile shot of #1...but I do like this roof line better.


Just my opinion.  Not like I'm putting my money where my mouth is...well I guess I am...I only need to buy feed for the most part...