Borrowing design cues from the Stinger, Kia’s redesigned Forte is as stylish as ever, but the compact sedan is also more efficient thanks in part to a new CVT (dubbed IVT) replacing the outgoing six-speed automatic transmission. See all 29 photos The 147-hp, 132-lb-ft 2.0-liter I-4 engine carries over from last year and now delivers an EPA-rated 31/41/35 mpg city/highway/combined in its most fuel-efficient trim. Higher trims have a slightly lower rating of 30/40/34 mpg. That’s a nice increase from the outgoing model’s 29/37/32 mpg rating. The more powerful GDI 2.0-liter I-4 in the outgoing 2018 model (not available in the redesigned 2019 Forte) was rated at 25/33/28 mpg. If you choose to row your own gears, the standard six-speed manual transmission is now rated at 27/37/31 mpg, up from last year’s rating of 25/34/28 mpg. See all 29 photos For a little perspective, the Hyundai Elantra is rated at 29/38/33 mpg in its base trim and 28/37/32 mpg in higher trims when equipped with the same 2.0-liter I-4 found in the Forte. That engine is backed by a six-speed automatic, however. The Elantra Eco, powered by a 1.4-liter turbo-four, has an almost identical rating to the redesigned Forte: 32/40/35 mpg. Meanwhile, the Chevrolet Cruze’s 1.4-liter turbo-four delivers 28/38/32 mpg with its six-speed automatic and 30/38/33 mpg with its new CVT. The Forte barely edges out the Honda Civic’s base 2.0 I-4, which is rated at 31/40/34 mpg, but the optional 1.5-liter turbo-four beats all the above vehicles with a… [Read full story]
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