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Kia Forte vs Toyota Corolla vs Hyundai Elantra vs Mazda3

72 messages,  Last post on Dec 12, 2010 at 12:30 AM

You are in the Kia Forte / Forte Koup Forum.

What is this discussion about? Kia Forte, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, Mazda MAZDA3, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 4 of 8

#23 of 72 Re: purchased 2010 kia forte EX [steven39] by 17340driver

Sep 22, 2009 (11:31 am)

Replying to: steven39 (Aug 29, 2009 4:36 pm)
Hello steven39! Just curious... are you still happy with the Forte after another month? I am seriously considering purchasing one in the next couple weeks. Well, I still need to test drive and research comparables. My budget is limited though. And I am pretty much looking at this car or the Ford Focus (because I can get A/Z plan through a family member). From what I've read so far, the standard features are so much better on the Forte, and of course, you get the KIA Warranty with that.
 
So yeah... just wondering how you two are still getting along! Thanks!

#24 of 72 Re: purchased 2010 kia forte EX [17340driver] by steven39

Sep 22, 2009 (6:25 pm)

Replying to: 17340driver (Sep 22, 2009 11:31 am)
well so far after 1 month of ownership it's been so far so good with the forte EX.as i mentioned in my previous post i test drove and compared many cars in this segment such as toyota corolla,civic,elantra,mazda 3 just to name a few and the forte had the best price to features ratio than the others.the forte is a very good value compared to the rest of these cars and the long warranty was the iceing on the cake for me as far as i was concerned.as far as the focus goes,the forte again has it beat with more standard features and a better warranty.i never thought in a million years that i would ever own a kia product but compared with the rest of the cars that i mentioned here it was the much better value..hope this review helps...steve

#25 of 72 Re: purchased 2010 kia forte EX [steven39] by 17340driver

Sep 25, 2009 (8:25 am)

Replying to: steven39 (Sep 22, 2009 6:25 pm)
Thanks Steve! Yeah, it helps know that a month down the road you are still happy! I'm working on my dealer emails today so I can send them off and see what kind of offers I can get. I wish there were some real incentives out there right now (not just 0% for 36 months). I'm not bothering with a trade-in because my current car is a 2001 Kia Sephia that I bought new and have since put 130k + miles on it, so I think I'll just donate it.
 
Another question, did you get an automatic or manual? I'm looking at manuals just because of the $1,000 difference.
 
(have recently been drooling over the dark cherry colour too!)

#26 of 72 forte vs toyota corolla by steven39

Oct 22, 2009 (8:05 am)

went with a friend of mine who is looking for a new car to several area car dealers to compare.first stop was toyota to look at corolla's.msrp for 2010 corolla base unit was just over $17,000.00..no cruise,no bluetooth,no sat radio,no rear disk brakes,and only 132 h.p..test drive was bad...took corolla out on highway and it got blown all over the place by passing cars and trucks and by the slightest gust of wind and didn't handle very good at all.test drive was over..next stop kia dealership to look at a kia forte which i own already and my friend wanted to check them out since he likes mine.looked at the same model forte that i own which is a forte EX with auto.msrp is 17,490.00 and includes bluetooth,sat radio,4wheel disk brakes,cruise,and 156 h.p. and a long warranty..he test drove the car a few blocks without going on the highway and was sold on the forte immediatly..blows the corolla out of the water with more standard features,more power,much better handleing,and better warranty.the corolla actually felt inferior to the forte.once again msrp for 2010 corolla base car is $17,047.00,while the msrp for 2010 forte EX is $17,490.00 with far more features,power,handleing,and long warranty..you do the math.........steve

#27 of 72 Re: forte vs toyota corolla [steven39] by autonomous

Oct 23, 2009 (1:14 pm)

Replying to: steven39 (Oct 22, 2009 8:05 am)
The strong suit for Toyota vehicles is reliability. The Kia brand does not have the same track record. But, the Hyundai and now the Kia brands have been reborn in the last few years with much better offerings, so sales of Korean cars are now the envy of many a Japanese automanufacturer. Hooray for competition and the marketplace!

#28 of 72 Forte powertrain offerings - good or bad? by keyser2

Oct 24, 2009 (6:58 am)

I am concerned that Kia is making the decision to offer more engine/transmission combinations. I think they want to position themselves like the Japanese manufacturers. I think they're risking quality issues. Just look at the more marginal Japanese brands like Mazda and Nissan. Their quality ratings have suffered in recent years, and one reason is the fact that they're making small numbers of cars with different powertrain combinations, and having transmission failures. I know the piece/parts that Kia is working with are of high quality (Hyundai), but making small numbers of vehicles with relatively odd engine/trans combos is a recipe for problems. Just ask anyone who owned a Saturn Vue with CVT.

#29 of 72 keyser2... by iluvmysephia1

Oct 24, 2009 (9:05 am)

the problem is they are trying to satisfy their current and potential customers by offering more engine and tranny options. In an increasingly internet-savvy automotive marketplace, buyers can see what all the different manufacturer's are offering and say they want what so and so is offering on their rigs, so on and so forth.
 
I say don't underestimate Kia's ability to pull this off. They're absolutely amazing in the last 5 years or so. Quality is up and they're winning quality awards for some vehicles they sell. Let 'em at it, I'm not discounting what you're saying, though. It is a big challenge.
 
Nissan is having some problems with these issues, yes they are.

#30 of 72 Re: Forte powertrain offerings - good or bad? [keyser2] by autonomous

Oct 27, 2009 (1:23 pm)

Replying to: keyser2 (Oct 24, 2009 6:58 am)
I think they're risking quality issues. Just look at the more marginal Japanese brands like Mazda and Nissan.
 
I would not describe either Mazda or Nissan as marginal Japanese brands. They may not be as large as Toyota and Honda but that does not make them marginal. Also, you imply that Mazda has quality issues. When I check Consumer Reports which provides a large user base of information about vehicle reliability that is not the impression I have. Specifically, which Mazda vehicles do you think have "quality issues"?
 
In my opinion, the major issue with powertrains is fuel efficiency. To those auto manufacturers which produce heavier vehicles with more powerful engines that do not improve their fuel consumption. I say you are driving in the wrong direction. Let's hope all the manufacturers, whether Korean, Japanese, European or US, get the message: build more efficient vehicles

#31 of 72 Re: purchased 2010 kia forte EX [steven39] by gooworld

Nov 12, 2009 (6:39 pm)

Replying to: steven39 (Aug 15, 2009 4:58 pm)
You got the Kia Forte EX for $16000. That's amazing!
 
The cheapest Forte EX that my Kia dealer sells is about $17740 before taxes. Granted, that car is loaded but without sunroofs. The other EX cars have sunroofs so the price jumps to 18500 before taxes.
 
I test drove a Forte LX and found the car amazing. It was fast and responsive. The features included in the car were plentiful. However, there was no power locks, windows or mirrors, so I will probably move to an EX.
 
After testing drive the Forte, I test drove a 2010 Toyota Corolla. The Corolla was just as powerful and responsive, but some reason, it felt rather boring to drive. I don't know whether it was just me or the time of the day. The Corolla's they had were about 18000.
 
I am increasingly leaning toward the Forte, but since the car is the first generation and it still lacks a safety rating, I am rather apprehensive. Plus, maybe it was just brand name or something, but the perception of "KIa=crappy, Toyota=quality" still lingered in my mind.
 
I'm due back at the dealer for another set test drives. Hopefully my decision will be finalize by then.
 
Finally, How did you get a forte for $16000? Tell me your secret!

#32 of 72 Re: purchased 2010 kia forte EX [gooworld] by steven39

Nov 12, 2009 (7:51 pm)

Replying to: gooworld (Nov 12, 2009 6:39 pm)
msrp for my kia forte EX with auto was $17,490.00 down here in ft.laud,fla....
made a offer of 16,999.00 and it was accepted.i recieved another 1000 off because they had a promotion going on at the time that says if you own a car that is in the forte's class you will recieve an additional $1000.00 of the price of the car..the car i traded in was on the list..(mitsubishi lancer)..other cars that were on the list included the corolla,civic,and mazda 3..all in the compact class.so i really lucked out.by the way,i have the dark cherry metalic color and i get compliments on the car every where i go...

Messages Page 4 of 8

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