2014 Kia Forte

2014 Kia Forte Overview

Is the 2014 Kia Forte a Good Used Car?

The 2014 Kia Forte is an affordable compact car that is available in sedan, hatchback (Forte5), and coupe (Koup) body styles. It provides plenty of options, including multiple powertrains and tech features. It also has an attractive and roomy cabin, lots of trunk space, and a user-friendly infotainment system. However, most competitors have better safety and reliability scores.

Used 2014 Kia Forte Performance and Interior

The front-wheel-drive 2014 Kia Forte has a 148-horsepower four-cylinder engine that produces sluggish highway acceleration. Two additional available engines provide good highway passing power: a 173-horsepower four-cylinder engine and a 201-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder. A six-speed manual transmission is standard and a six-speed automatic is available. The base Forte with an automatic transmission gets up to 24 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, which are average fuel economy estimates for the class. For day-to-day driving, the Forte has a comfortable and fairly composed ride. However, if you're looking to add some fun to your commute, check out sportier rivals like the Ford Focus or Mazda3. 

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The five-seat Kia Forte has attractive styling and price-appropriate materials. Its seats are roomy and comfortable for all occupants. The rear seats have two full sets of LATCH connectors for child safety seats. In each body style, the Forte offers plenty of cargo space; the Forte sedan has 14.9 cubic feet, the Forte Koup has 13.3 cubic feet, and the Forte5 hatchback has 23.2 cubic feet behind the back seats. Standard features include Bluetooth, a USB port, satellite radio, and an auxiliary input jack. Available features include navigation, push-button start, and Kia's user-friendly UVO infotainment system with a 4.2-inch touch screen. 

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Used 2014 Kia Forte Prices

Pricing on the 2014 Kia Forte averages about $10,400 for the base LX trim with an automatic transmission. You will pay about $11,600 for the Forte EX trim, which has a stronger four-cylinder engine. However, exact prices will depend on the car's location, condition, mileage, and features. 

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We Did the Research for You: 29 Reviews Analyzed

For our used car rankings and reviews, we analyze an array of professional car reviews alongside data like crash test scores, reliability ratings, and ownership expenses. We researched 29 Kia Forte reviews to help you decide whether it’s the right used car for you.

Why You Can Trust Us

The U.S. News Best Cars team has been ranking cars for a decade, and our staff has 75 years of automotive industry experience combined. To ensure our impartiality, our staff never takes expensive gifts or trips from car companies, and the advertising on our site is handled by an outside team.

How Reliable Is the 2014 Kia Forte?

The 2014 Kia Forte has a reliability score of 2.5 on J.D. Power and Associates' five-point scale. That's considered below average across the automotive market.

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How Safe Is the Forte?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Forte the top rating of Good in four crash tests (moderate overlap front, side impact, rear crash protection, and roof strength). The Forte earned the lowest rating of Poor in the small overlap front crash test. On the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's five-star rating scale, the 2014 Forte received four stars for overall safety. It earned three stars in the frontal crash test, five stars in the side crash evaluation, and four stars in the rollover test. Some Forte models come with a rearview camera.

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Should I Consider Another Used Forte?

The Kia Forte's second generation began with the 2014 model year and continues through the 2017 model year. The Forte was basically unchanged between 2014 and 2015, but the 2016 model added standard remote keyless entry and a less expensive hatchback trim. 

Compare the 2014, 2015, and 2016 Forte » 

Which Used Kia Forte Is Right for Me?

Depending on body style, the Forte is available in three trims: LX, EX, and SX. The Kia Forte LX (sedan only) comes with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, satellite radio, a USB port, Bluetooth, and an auxiliary input jack. Most shoppers will want to step up to the Forte EX trim (all body styles) because of its stronger 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and additional standard features, including power-folding side mirrors, a UVO infotainment system with internet-connected services, a rearview camera, cruise control, and keyless entry. The Forte SX (coupe and hatchback only) has all of the Forte EX's standard features, plus a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a sport-tuned suspension, and proximity keyless entry. 

With the Forte's below-average reliability score, you may want to consider a certified pre-owned model. Kia’s certified pre-owned vehicles receive the balance of the original 10-year/100,000-mile new-car powertrain warranty, plus a one-year/12,000-mile Platinum warranty for non-powertrain parts. Additional benefits like towing and roadside assistance may be available, so read the Kia warranty page carefully. 

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2014 Kia Forte and Other Cars to Consider

Which Is Better: 2014 Kia Forte or 2014 Ford Focus?

The Ford Focus offers better driving dynamics than the Kia Forte. The Focus is one of the most fun-to-drive cars in the class, yet also maintains ride comfort. It has a good-looking cabin made with quality materials. However, the Focus has an even worse reliability rating than the Forte. Still, if you like good driving dynamics, the Focus is the better choice.

Which Is Better: 2014 Kia Forte or 2014 Toyota Corolla?

The Toyota Corolla offers one major benefit over the Forte: it has the best reliability rating in the class. The Corolla also has a quiet, roomy interior and a smooth ride. However, it typically costs more than the Forte.

Compare the Forte, Focus, and Corolla »