Compare 2012 Kia Forte vs 2012 Volkswagen Golf

2012 Kia Forte
2012 Volkswagen Golf
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4-Door Sedan Automatic EX
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Forte 4-Door Sedan Automatic EX 26 36 $16,760 $17,600
Forte 4-Door Sedan Automatic LX 26 36 $15,880 $16,200
Forte 4-Door Sedan Automatic SX 23 32 $18,190 $19,100
Forte 4-Door Sedan Manual LX 25 34 $14,900 $15,200
Forte 5-Door 5-Door HB EX 26 36 $17,240 $18,100
Forte 5-Door 5-Door HB SX 23 32 $18,670 $19,600
Forte Koup 2-Door Coupe Automatic EX 25 34 $17,330 $18,200
Forte Koup 2-Door Coupe Automatic SX 23 31 $18,670 $19,600
Forte Koup 2-Door Coupe Manual EX 24 33 $16,380 $17,200
Forte Koup 2-Door Coupe Manual SX 22 32 $17,710 $18,600
Select style
2-Door HB DSG
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
GTI 2-Door HB DSG 24 33 $24,091 $25,095
GTI 2-Door HB DSG Automaticbahn 24 33 $29,851 $31,095
GTI 2-Door HB DSG Automaticbahn PZEV 24 33 $29,851 $31,095
GTI 2-Door HB DSG PZEV 24 33 $24,091 $25,095
GTI 2-Door HB DSG w/Conv & Sunroof 24 33 $26,281 $27,375
GTI 2-Door HB DSG w/Conv & Sunroof PZEV 24 33 $26,281 $27,375
GTI 2-Door HB DSG w/Sunroof & Navi 24 33 $27,787 $28,945
GTI 2-Door HB DSG w/Sunroof & Navi PZEV 24 33 $27,787 $28,945
GTI 2-Door HB Manual 21 31 $23,035 $23,995
GTI 2-Door HB Manual Automaticbahn 21 31 $28,795 $29,995
GTI 2-Door HB Manual Automaticbahn PZEV 21 31 $28,795 $29,995
GTI 2-Door HB Manual PZEV 21 31 $23,035 $23,995
GTI 2-Door HB Manual w/Conv & Sunroof 21 31 $25,224 $26,275
GTI 2-Door HB Manual w/Conv & Sunroof PZEV 21 31 $25,224 $26,275
GTI 2-Door HB Manual w/Sunroof & Navi 21 31 $26,731 $27,845
GTI 2-Door HB Manual w/Sunroof & Navi PZEV 21 31 $26,731 $27,845
GTI 4-Door HB DSG 24 33 $24,667 $25,695
GTI 4-Door HB DSG Automaticbahn 24 33 $30,427 $31,695
GTI 4-Door HB DSG Automaticbahn PZEV 24 33 $30,427 $31,695
GTI 4-Door HB DSG PZEV 24 33 $24,667 $25,695
GTI 4-Door HB DSG w/Conv & Sunroof 24 33 $26,857 $27,975
GTI 4-Door HB DSG w/Conv & Sunroof PZEV 24 33 $26,857 $27,975
GTI 4-Door HB DSG w/Sunroof & Navi 24 33 $28,363 $29,545
GTI 4-Door HB DSG w/Sunroof & Navi PZEV 24 33 $28,363 $29,545
GTI 4-Door HB Manual 21 31 $23,611 $24,595
GTI 4-Door HB Manual Automaticbahn 21 31 $29,371 $30,595
GTI 4-Door HB Manual Automaticbahn PZEV 21 31 $29,371 $30,595
GTI 4-Door HB Manual PZEV 21 31 $23,611 $24,595
GTI 4-Door HB Manual w/Conv & Sunroof 21 31 $25,801 $26,875
GTI 4-Door HB Manual w/Conv & Sunroof PZEV 21 31 $25,801 $26,875
GTI 4-Door HB Manual w/Sunroof & Navi 21 31 $27,307 $28,445
GTI 4-Door HB Manual w/Sunroof & Navi PZEV 21 31 $27,307 $28,445
Golf 2-Door HB Automatic 24 31 $18,331 $19,095
Golf 2-Door HB Automatic PZEV 24 31 $18,331 $19,095
Golf 2-Door HB Automatic w/Conv 24 31 $19,142 $19,940
Golf 2-Door HB Automatic w/Conv & Sunroof 24 31 $20,885 $21,755
Golf 2-Door HB Automatic w/Conv & Sunroof PZEV 24 31 $20,885 $21,755
Golf 2-Door HB Automatic w/Conv PZEV 24 31 $19,142 $19,940
Golf 2-Door HB DSG TDI 30 42 $24,322 $25,335
Golf 2-Door HB DSG TDI w/Sunroof & Nav 30 42 $25,973 $27,055
Golf 2-Door HB DSG TDI w/Tech Pkg 30 42 $27,590 $28,740
Golf 2-Door HB Manual 23 33 $17,275 $17,995
Golf 2-Door HB Manual PZEV 23 33 $17,275 $17,995
Golf 2-Door HB Manual TDI 30 42 $23,266 $24,235
Golf 2-Door HB Manual TDI w/Sunroof & Nav 30 42 $24,917 $25,955
Golf 2-Door HB Manual TDI w/Tech Pkg 30 42 $26,534 $27,640
Golf 2-Door HB Manual w/Conv 23 33 $18,086 $18,840
Golf 2-Door HB Manual w/Conv & Sunroof 23 33 $19,829 $20,655
Golf 2-Door HB Manual w/Conv & Sunroof PZEV 23 33 $19,829 $20,655
Golf 2-Door HB Manual w/Conv PZEV 23 33 $18,086 $18,840
Golf 4-Door HB Automatic 24 31 $19,003 $19,795
Golf 4-Door HB Automatic PZEV 24 31 $19,003 $19,795
Golf 4-Door HB Automatic w/Conv 24 31 $19,814 $20,640
Golf 4-Door HB Automatic w/Conv & Sunroof 24 31 $21,557 $22,455
Golf 4-Door HB Automatic w/Conv & Sunroof PZEV 24 31 $21,557 $22,455
Golf 4-Door HB Automatic w/Conv PZEV 24 31 $19,814 $20,640
Golf 4-Door HB DSG TDI 30 42 $24,993 $26,035
Golf 4-Door HB DSG TDI w/Sunroof & Nav 30 42 $26,645 $27,755
Golf 4-Door HB DSG TDI w/Tech Pkg 30 42 $28,262 $29,440
Golf 4-Door HB Manual TDI 30 42 $23,937 $24,935
Golf 4-Door HB Manual TDI w/Sunroof & Nav 30 42 $25,589 $26,655
Golf 4-Door HB Manual TDI w/Tech Pkg 30 42 $27,206 $28,340
Golf R 2-Door HB 19 27 $32,631 $33,990
Golf R 2-Door HB w/Sunroof & Navi 19 27 $34,071 $35,490
Golf R 4-Door HB 19 27 $33,207 $34,590
Golf R 4-Door HB w/Sunroof & Navi 19 27 $34,647 $36,090

Pricing

Invoice Price
$16,760
$24,091

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$17,600
$25,095

Monthly Payment Estimate
$293 / month
$418 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating
7.4
7.8

TCC’s Bottom Line
The 2012 Kia Forte family of vehicles manages to feel more eager, comfortable, and sophisticated than its sticker price might suggest. The 2012 Volkswagen Golf feels like a premium vehicle, and it's priced like one too, especially its fuel-efficient TDI edition.

TCC Likes

TCC Dislikes

Fuel Economy

City
26 mpg 24 mpg

Highway
36 mpg 33 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification
Compact Cars Compact Cars

Interior Dimensions

Second Hip Room (in)
53.3 - TBD -

Front Shoulder Room (in)
55.7 54.6

Passenger Volume (ft³)
96.8 93.5

Second Head Room (in)
37.6 38.5

Second Shoulder Room (in)
54.7 53.1

Front Leg Room (in)
43.3 41.2

Passenger Capacity
5 5

Front Hip Room (in)
53.0 - TBD -

Second Leg Room (in)
35.0 35.5

Front Head Room (in)
40.0 39.3

Exterior Dimensions

Track Width, Front (in)
61.3 60.4

Min Ground Clearance (in)
5.9 5.0

Length, Overall (in)
178.3 165.8

Height, Overall (in)
57.5 57.8

Track Width, Rear (in)
61.6 59.7

Wheelbase (in)
104.3 101.5

Liftover Height (in)
- TBD - - TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
69.9 70.0

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)
14.7 -

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Up (ft³)
- 15.3

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Down (ft³)
- 46.0

Brakes

Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA NA

Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
10.3 x - TBD - 11.3 x 0.5

Brake Type
Pwr Pwr

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
NA NA

Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
11.0 x - TBD - 12.3 x 1.0

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
13.7 14.5

Steering

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall
14.2 15.6

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
33.9 35.8

Steering Type
Pwr Rack & Pinion Pwr Rack & Pinion

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)
2.89 3.0

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)
- TBD - - TBD -

Tires

Rear Tire Order Code
- TBD - NA

Front Tire Size
P195/65R15 225/40R18

Spare Tire Size
- TBD - Compact

Front Tire Order Code
- TBD - NA

Spare Tire Order Code
- TBD - NA

Rear Tire Size
P195/65R15 225/40R18

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA NA

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA NA

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA NA

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA NA

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)
2791 3151

Wheels

Front Wheel Size (in)
15 x 5.5 18 x - TBD -

Spare Wheel Size (in)
- TBD - Compact

Rear Wheel Material
Steel Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)
15 x 5.5 18 x - TBD -

Front Wheel Material
Steel Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material
- TBD - Steel

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)
6.3 8.4

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
550 - TBD -

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
110 120

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM
144 @ 4300 207 @ 1800-5000

Engine Order Code
NA NA

Displacement
2.0L/122 2.0L/121

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
156 @ 6200 200 @ 5100-6000

Engine Type
Gas I4 Turbocharged Gas I4

Fuel System
Electronic Fuel Injection Direct Injection

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
36 33

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
26 24

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
29 27

Transmission

Clutch Size (in)
NA NA

Third Gear Ratio (:1)
1.80 1.46

Trans Type
6 6

Drivetrain
Front Wheel Drive Front Wheel Drive

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.00 1.09

Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA

Reverse Ratio (:1)
3.38 3.98

Second Gear Ratio (:1)
2.63 2.15

Trans Order Code
NA NA

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
2.88 4.06/3.14

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.38 1.08

Trans Description Cont.
Automatic Automatic w/manual shift

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.77 0.92

First Gear Ratio (:1)
4.21 3.46

Summary

Vehicle Name
Kia Forte Volkswagen GTI

Body Style
4 Door Sedan Hatchback

Suspension

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)
- TBD - - TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)
- TBD - - TBD -

Suspension Type - Rear
Torsion Beam Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
w/Coil Springs NA

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)
- TBD - - TBD -

Suspension Type - Front
MacPherson Strut MacPherson Strut

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)
- TBD - - TBD -

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
w/Coil Springs NA

Emissions

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score
7 6

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
6.3 6.7

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating
--

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
--

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver
--

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger
--

Overall Side Crash Rating
--

Side Barrier Rating
--

Side Barrier Rating Driver
--

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat
--

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat
--

Combined Side Rating Front Seat
--

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat
--

Rollover Rating

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