A Little More Space, a Lot Better Access

Although more than a few C/D staffers would choose the Forte hatch over the sedan based on looks alone, increased cargo capacity and easier access to your stuff are in the pros column, too. The Forte five-door’s more capacious shape yields another 4.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats compared with the sedan’s 14.7-cubic-foot trunk, but the greater advantage is the hatchback itself, which of course allows the loading of bulky stuff that wouldn’t fit through a regular trunk opening. Also included are 60/40-split rear seatbacks and covered storage space beneath the cargo floor.

    See also:

    THE VERDICT
    Kia won’t release pricing for the Optima for another few weeks, but we’re assured it will come in at under $20,000 to start and we expect it to undercut (slightly) the Sonata, which starts at ...

    Industry-Leading Warranty
    Like all Kia models, Forte is covered by a comprehensive warranty program, which offers unprecedented consumer protection. Included in this program are a 10-year or 100,000-mile limited powertrain ...

    Engine compartment
    2.0L Gasoline Engine 1. Power steering fluid reservoir 2. Engine oil filler cap 3. Brake fluid reservoir 4. Air cleaner 5. Fuse box 6. Negative battery terminal 7. Radiator cap 8. Positive b ...