A Little More Space, a Lot Better Access

Although more than a few C/D staffers would choose the Forte hatch over the sedan based on looks alone, increased cargo capacity and easier access to your stuff are in the pros column, too. The Forte five-door’s more capacious shape yields another 4.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats compared with the sedan’s 14.7-cubic-foot trunk, but the greater advantage is the hatchback itself, which of course allows the loading of bulky stuff that wouldn’t fit through a regular trunk opening. Also included are 60/40-split rear seatbacks and covered storage space beneath the cargo floor.

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    Specifications
    The specifications given here are for general information only. Please check with an authorized Kia dealer for more precise and more up-to-date information. ...

    Manual Transaxle
    Manual transaxle operation The manual transaxle has 6 forward gears. This shift pattern is imprinted on the shift knob. The transaxle is fully synchronized in all forward gears so shifting to e ...

    Drivetrain
    The typical sedan has a larger engine than the Kia Rio. Keep in mind that smaller engines are often cheaper to fix, but smaller engines can be stressed more. The Kia Rio could learn a lesson or tw ...