Economy, detail is Kia's Forte

For years, Kia had vehicles that were appealing because of their price, but didn't quite have the looks to really grab peoples' attention.

The way Kia has transformed its lineup in just a couple of short years, though, is nothing short of spectacular. Cars from this Korean maker really are being noticed, still because of their great value but also because they're actually eye-catching.

And while something like the Soul may be a little too “out there” for certain people, this week's tester, the Forte sedan, has hit a home run by being equally appealing — at least in our time with it — to both sexes.

The Forte may not be the most fun-to-drive vehicle in its segment but, as an inexpensive daily ride, it's quite good.

The Forte replaces the barely-had-a-chance Spectra compact sedan (all of two generations young in its last year in 2009) in Kia's lineup. As expected with a brand-new model, the Forte is a big step up from the Spectra, which we did admittedly like.

Overall the Forte is longer and wider than the Spectra, yet a few of its interior dimensions fall short of the Spectra's. That said, the Forte is still plenty roomy for four people and this is really the only way in which the Forte falls short of its predecessor.

The new model has two engines available, better transmission choices, much improved safety features and all sorts of added extras like a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, automatic climate control and trip computer, just to name a few.

There is a pair of four-cylinder engines available, with the larger 2.4-litre version coming standard on the top SX trim. It has enough horsepower and torque to put it ahead of a segment heavyweight like the Mazda3. The Forte certainly has little problem in passing manouevres, though mated to the optional five-speed automatic transmission, the car never feels particularly sporty. Even moving the shifter over to manual mode does little to change that.

It's best left in fully automatic mode, as the vehicle is fully capable of handling its own shift changes just fine, thank you. For improved fuel economy, skip the auto altogether (and save yourself some money) and stick with the standard six-speed manual.

The Forte definitely drives like most other Kias, and that's both good and bad. Engine-speed-sensitive steering does its job acceptably, providing the driver with good input at all speeds. The suspension isn't quite up to snuff, as composure tends to fall apart over broken pavement. In terms of sportiness, it definitely falls closer to the Corolla than it does the Lancer in its class.

One thing that sticks out about the Forte is how solid it feels. Doors close with a solid “thud,” door handles are anything but flimsy and buttons and switches inside don't feel cheap. It's nice to see smaller touches like the red stitching on the steering wheel, which isn't available on the lower two trim levels but comes standard on the SX.

Consumers win once again, thanks to the almost cutthroat competition in the compact segment. The Forte is as good as or better than anything else in its class, and an extremely well-equipped model tops out at just over $22,000. Shopping for a Forte isn't difficult, though, as two other less expensive trims are available if saving money is of utmost importance.