Why the Kia Forte Is Perfect for Reading Drivers

Kia is no stranger to success, and vehicles like the Kia Forte help this manufacturer stand tall amongst the other industry titans. If you’re in the market for a new vehicle and looking for a Reading PA Kia dealership, there are plenty of reasons why you’re making the right decision by picking Kia as your brand of choice. Whether you’re a new driver or an experienced one looking for a budget-friendly vehicle, Kia has a vehicle for you, and the Forte comfortably falls into these categories. Let’s take a closer look at why we believe the Kia Forte should be the next vehicle you own.

The Kia Forte’s Spectacular Value

Value is a strong selling point of the Kia Forte, and the two best ways this is represented are in the starting price and the Forte’s fuel efficiency. We’ll discuss fuel efficiency later; let’s talk about the Forte’s monetary value because that’s everyone’s first introduction to it when they shop at the dealership. The 2024 Kia Forte is the latest model, and its production year – 2023 – marks 15 years since the first Forte steered off the production line and into the hands of eager drivers looking for the next best value. Over the years, this value has yet to wane, and the 2024 model is no exception with its notable low pricing and the type of fuel efficiency that commuters dream of. As for the pricing, the 2024 Kia Forte starts at an MSRP of $19,790.[a]

As a celebrated manufacturer, Kia is the undisputed king of value in an ever-evolving market where price inflation has become the new norm. Some manufacturers have significantly increased the prices of their vehicles, with some 2023 or 2024 models costing thousands more than their predecessors. If there were any arguments to be made for why you should own a Kia vehicle, it would be the consistent and affordable prices available in their lineup. And the proof is in the pudding– the Kia Forte is one of three Kia vehicles that start at an MSRP of under $20,000, or four vehicles if you count the 5-door variant of the Rio. If you’re driving the Forte to and from work, it pays for itself sooner than most other vehicles for sale.

Fuel Efficiency That Reading Drivers Will Love

The 2024 Kia Forte has excellent fuel efficiency, similar to its predecessors. Fuel efficiency hasn’t changed too much over the past few years, and that’s because the powertrain options have also been the same. The 2020 Forte added the turbocharged 1.6L I-4 engine, but the 2.0L I-4 engine performs in the 2024 model just as it does in the previous ones at 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. This is excellent news for those who want to save money on what is already one of the most value-packed sedans you can buy.

It might be common for those living in Reading to drive on I-422 South East to Philadelphia for work or North East towards Allentown via Route 22. It’s essential to have great highway mileage if you commute to cities like Philadelphia or Allentown, but even driving in Reading can be a costly endeavor in a non-fuel-efficient vehicle when driving on North 5th Street, Spring Street, or Windsor Street, the latter of which is a mile long, and Spring Street is nearly a mile and a half long. The data matters most, so what do the fuel economy ratings for the Forte look like?

We’ll use a 2024 Forte for the example because, as we’ve established earlier, you can expect similar fuel efficiency on Forte variants that share either of the two available engines for the 2024 models. The base 2.0L I-4 engine earns EPA-estimated ratings of 30 MPG in the city and 41 MPG on the highway. A 14-gal fuel tank with these ratings, including a combined 34 MPG, gives the Forte 476 miles of travel range on a full tank. Now, let’s place this into the perspective of a commuter who lives in Reading.

Traveling to the heart of Philadelphia from Reading is about 60 miles. With 476 miles of total range on a full fuel tank, you can get about three days’ worth of commuting before you need to fill the tank again. Similarly, if you work in Allentown, it’s about 35 miles from Reading, so you can score an entire week of commuting out of your Forte before returning to the gas station. Although these numbers are with the less powerful 2.0L I-4 engine, the turbocharged 1.6L I-4 engine is also terrific for commuting.

Unlike the 2.0L I-4 engine, the turbocharged engine can be paired with a manual transmission instead of the automatic transmission, albeit it’s a fantastic 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. With the latter, the turbocharged 1.6L I-4 engine earns EPA-estimated ratings of 27 MPG in the city and 35 MPG on the highway (30 MPG combined). The 6-speed manual transmission has fuel economy ratings of 22 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway (26 MPG combined).

Commuters Will Love the Comfort Too

Whether you’re driving around Reading or into one of the major cities, commuting around Pennsylvania isn’t only about the money you’re saving but where the money you spend goes. The Kia Forte is money well spent, and you’d be hard-pressed to believe it’s a vehicle within a price range that puts it under $20,000. The Forte’s seats offer welcomed comfort, even if you keep with the 6-way manual driver’s seat.

However, if you purchase the GT-Line Forte or GT, you can swap the manual seat out for a 10-way power-adjustable seat with added lumbar support. The GT-Line starts at an MSRP of $22,290, so even if you add the GT-Line Sport Premium Package for an additional $1,000, which includes the 10-way power-adjustable seat, you’ll be comfortably seated in a SynTex seat.[a] Still, you won’t have even paid a total of $25,000.

Pre-Cooling and Heating are features we believe work wonders for drivers in Reading, Pennsylvania as a whole, or anywhere near the Northeastern region of the United States. You can access Pre-Cooling and Heating via the Kia Access App with the GT-Line or GT. Dread those cold mornings? We sure do. With the Kia Access App, you can set the heat on in your vehicle before you leave the door, and vice versa with the air conditioning on those humid summer days. The Kia Access App is another way that Kia puts more consideration into your comfort than most other manufacturers. For commuters, this is something that should be one of your priorities.

Check Out the 2024 Kia Forte Today

Now it’s time to answer the question many of you showed up for: if you live in Reading, PA, should you get the Kia Forte? The answer is yes – a million times yes. The Kia Forte is a fantastic car for commuters, whether you’re a student, the classic nine-to-fiver at a corporate job, or even if you need a vehicle to get to your part-time job. The Kia Forte is a masterful commuting car, and it doesn’t get there by being the priciest vehicle on the block but rather by focusing on the practical benefits and then working around that as a base. The result is a vehicle brimming with personality, flair, and dependability, and the Forte is a financially responsible decision for anyone looking to save money on a new vehicle.

[a] MSRP may change without notice. See dealer for complete details.