Kia Forte sedan, hatch revealed with new looks

The Kia Forte is receiving a mid-cycle refresh this year, gaining a new engine and technology.

The Forte5 hatch has been similarly tweaked in the style department, getting a new front bumper and tiger nose grille that has been extended to connect with the new headlights.

For the first time, the Forte will be available in three trims, with a sporty S option added to the stable. All variants boast as standard equipment the Drive Mode Select packing the Normal, Eco, or Sport setups.

Besides the Forte sedan, Kia will also be giving the Forte5 hatchback a few upgrades for 2017 as well. The top EX models will have under the hood a different 2.0-liter engine, mated to a six-speed auto gearbox.

The 2017 Forte5 includes a 2.0-liter GDI four-cylinder engine with a six speed manual transmission or an available 2nd generation six-speed automatic transmission. Power ratings and fuel economy numbers are still forthcoming, but the 178-horsepower 1.6-liter turbo found in the 2016 Optima gives us a good ballpark figure. Expect the full breakdown, including pricing and other information, to become finalized closer to the on-sale date later this year. Around back, revised taillights complete the exterior redesign, and higher trim levels go one step further with standard LED daytime running lights and taillights.

Looks like: The Forte5 hatchback gets a new face that evokes the Volkswagen Golf in many ways.

The Forte sedan gets a long list of new safety features, including Autonomous Emergency Braking, Front Collision Warning, Lane Change Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Detection, Lane Change Assist, and Rear-Cross Traffic Alert. The Forte5 lineup is unchanged, with LX, EX, and SX models. The hatch also offers a new suite of driver assistance features, including Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Blind Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist. The EX sees the most changes as previous options – including LED taillights, leather seats, heated front seats, push-button start with Smart Key, and perimeter approach lighting with front-door pocket lighting – are now standard along with UVO eServices.

Kia will offer Apple Car Play and Android Auto on the S and EX models. The 2017 Forte5 hatchback is slated to reach showrooms the first half of 2016. The LX models also get new cloth seats, while the EX has leather interior.

Upgrade to a 2017 Forte5 SX to add on 18-inch alloy wheels, new front and rear styling with red accents and dual exhaust tip finishers. Emphasizing the sporty theme in the Forte5 SX is a peppy 1.6-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine paired with an available seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.