First Drive: 2010 Kia Forte

The Forte is technically the successor to the Spectra, but it is really so much more than that. This time, Kia decided to leave the help of the rocked-out Soul hamsters behind and instead concentrate on product, not marketing – though we do like the hamsters. The main competitors in the segment include the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Mazda Mazda3 and when you add in the secondary targets of the Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cobalt, it shows why anyone would need to strike hard when attempting to show up as a seriously dominant player that sells on more than just low prices.

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Instrument panel overview
1. Driver’s air bag 2. Light control / Turn signals 3. Instrument cluster 4. Wiper/Washer 5. Ignition switch 6. Steering wheel 7. Digital clock 8. Hazard 9. Audio controls (if equipped) 1 ...

Engine compartment
Gasoline Engine (2.4L) 1. Engine coolant reservoir 2. Engine oil filler cap 3. Brake fluid reservoir 4. Air cleaner 5. Fuse box 6. Negative battery terminal 7. Positive battery terminal 8. A ...

Handling
With its tighter turning circle, the Kia Rio is most certainly more maneuverable than the average sedan, something to consider if you do a lot of city driving; however, remember that a vehicle wit ...