The 2010 Kia Forte lands in a crowded field of compact sedans, though it holds its own thanks to its ride and refinement, which are near the head of the pack, and its very generous list of standard technology and safety features.
Bluetooth and steering-wheel controls with voice activation aren't standard on any of these other models, but they are on the Forte—even the base LX model.
Within this group, the Corolla is the legendary leader for reliability, longevity, and all-around frugal driving, but the Corolla isn't quite as refined as the Forte.
The Hyundai Elantra is another one of our top picks in this class, but the Forte strikes a simpler, more elegant, pose from the outside.
The Chevy Cobalt is especially roomy and has a good ride but skimps on the features, while the styling on the Focus still isn't to everyone's liking.
Among these, our favorite is the Mazda3, but admittedly it's not perfect, and in terms of features, the Forte has it beat.
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 2010 Kia ForteBrowse Used Listings |  2009 Chevrolet CobaltBrowse Used Listings |  2009 Toyota CorollaBrowse Used Listings |  2008 Ford FocusBrowse Used Listings |  2008 Hyundai ElantraBrowse Used Listings |  2008 Mazda MAZDA3Browse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | |||||
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The 2010 Kia Forte is a strong contender in every way—a surprisingly good-looking, enjoyable-to-drive car that will hold the budget down. |
The price is right for the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt, yet most of its competitors offer a better overall value. |
The 2009 Toyota Corolla has a split personality: the utilitarian base car and the slightly edgy, expensive Corolla XRS. |
The 2008 Ford Focus isn’t all new, but it is an improvement, and a solid choice if you’re looking for a roomy car that handles well with a base price that starts around $15,000. |
The 2008 Hyundai Elantra doesn’t have a lot of personality, but it’s the undeniable practical choice. |
The 2008 Mazda 3 is easily one of the best compact cars for sale in the United States. |
| MSRP From | |||||
| $13,695 | $14,990 | $15,350 | $14,395 | $13,970 | $13,895 |
| Gas Mileage | |||||
| 22 MPG City / 34 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 37 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 35 MPG Hwy | 24 MPG City / 35 MPG Hwy | 24 MPG City / 33 MPG Hwy | 18 MPG City / 32 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | |||||
| Gas I4 | Gas 4-Cyl | Gas I4 | Gas I4 | Gas I4 | Gas I4 |
| EPA Class | |||||
| Midsize | Subcompact | Compact | Compact | Mid-Size | Compact |
| Style Name | |||||
| 4-Door Sedan Manual LX | 2-Door Coupe Base | 4-Door Sedan Manual (SE) | 2-Door Coupe S | 4-Door Sedan Manual GLS | 4-Door Sedan Manual i Sport *Ltd Avail* |
| Drivetrain | |||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | |||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | |||||
| 4dr Sdn | 2 Door Coupe | 4 Door Sedan | 2 Door Coupe | 4 Door Sedan | 4 Door Sedan |
| Transmission | |||||
| Manual w/OD | Manual | Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
| 2010 Kia Forte vs. 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt | 2010 Kia Forte vs. 2009 Toyota Corolla | 2010 Kia Forte vs. 2008 Ford Focus | 2010 Kia Forte vs. 2008 Hyundai Elantra | 2010 Kia Forte vs. 2008 Mazda MAZDA3 | |
