That might just deter some potential customers, especially when the Holden Cruze (newer car, similar class, similar price, better looking interior but weird exterior) grabs a 5-star rating.

It's a pity for the Forte as it truly looks to be able to break the Japanese dominance in the C-segment, but note that even the popular Honda Civic only scores a 4 and yet it doesn't seem to affect its sales. Let's see what the new Mazda 3 can do...

The Koup is not officially available on the roads yet. And to be honest, apart from aesthetics I don't think the Koup has much improvement over the Forte. It's pretty much the same engine and has the same interior design, but I suppose it's another option for those who want something different from a family sedan.

Almost every review online or in car magazines for the Forte resulted in thumbs up. Yet it's worth mentioning that all of them pointed out the same disadvantages, i.e. 4 speed auto tranny / jerky 5 speed manual box, hard interior plastics, relatively dated dash and console design, light steering, and 4-star ANCAP. I'm not sure about the prices in other countries, but in Australia the fully-kitted SLi is the best package you can get for your money although some may argue that the new Mazda3 offers a better drive with just a slightly higher price (27-28K).

Speaking of which, the SLi is around 25-26KAUD and that is 2K cheaper than the 3, a whopping 4K cheaper than the 1.8L Civic / 2.0L Lancer; but the downside is the Forte's resale value is approximately 20% lower so it kinda balances out. The negative brand image of Korean marques is evident here in Australia as well as the general public still scoffs at Kias/Hyundais, regardless that the i30 was one of the best Aussie cars in 07 and now the Forte offers many unexpected surprises.

Hondas are horrendously overpriced here (hence the 3 reigns supreme) - the joke is that the 1.5L City is priced similarly to the 2.0L Forte!! It's quite clear which is the better choice over here. I will be needing a ride next year due to job requirements and the Forte is one of the options available for me, but I'll be keeping an eye over the Mazda3 although my eyes hurt every time I look at the design. The 1.8L Civic, at 29K, is not worth the money while the Lancer offers nothing much except good engine performance. A fully kitted auto 2.0L Civic hits an absurd 34K and with that amount of money I'll be better off with a 118TSi Golf MKIV that is more refined.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Jul 7 2009, 07:36 AM

I share your sentiments as well, it's really hard to understand what the reviewers meant by "hard interior plastics". Plastics are supposed to hard

It's crazy to expect a high level interior trim with soft leather wrappings everywhere at this segment, you get what you pay for. At the moment it's quite hard to know whether the Forte's interior will suffer from loose clanky parts but only time will tell. The dated design is a common complaint but for me it's still acceptable. The City/Jazz's interior is pretty similar, i.e. looks plain too, but I don't expect every car to have a spaceship cockpit like the Civic or the new Fiesta. Funky designs don't always work, just look at the crazy radio controls of the Gen2.

There's a long term test review here and here, so it'll be interesting to see how the Forte fares in the long run. But the caveat is that it's not a very technical review, but rather an opinion about living with the car.

If the Forte comes in at 66K it is likely to be an underpowered 1.6L. A C-segment with 1.6L is quite appalling if you ask me as the other rivals all have at least 1.8L. The brand perception is absolutely evident in M'sia. Anything slapped with a Honda badge will instantly get much love, but most people will agree that the Malaysian assembled Hondas are appalling in quality. Not forgetting overpriced too, but people don't seem to mind paying near RM100K for a 1.5L Jazz. Bloody hell, it's only 22-23K AUD !! I love the Jazz (great 7 speed semi-auto) but for RM 100K there are much better options around...

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Jul 7 2009, 10:38 AM

Not sure why Naza-Kia did that to previous old models, maybe they really have too many leftover stock that needs to be cleared. Price it too high, and people will scoff at the Korean image and choose a Japanese model instead. Price it too low, people will still look at it as a cheap, bargain car and relate it as undesirable. It's a catch-22 I suppose.

Resale value is a funny thing. The 3 year depreciation for Korean makes is indeed much lower than the Japanese (usually around 15-20% less in Australia), but honestly not many people change their ride every 3 years. Speaking of which, if one bought a Forte at 25K here in Australia and after 3 years it's only worth half (3 year value of 50%), one loses 12500. Similarly if you get a top range Japanese make at 29K and after 3 years you lose 10150 (3 year value of 65%). You lose approx 2400 less, although you already pocketed 4000 extra originally.

So at the end of the day, it'll be easier to choose the best package available for your budget. If you only have 25K to spare, the top range SLi Forte will be the best choice as it comes with everything the Japs can offer, well, with the exception of the 4 speed auto tranny.

If the demand for the Forte goes up, maybe the resale value will eventually increase to a level nearer to the Japs and hence makes it a better choice in the long run. Otherwise, resale value doesn't really make that much of a difference. Servicing and parts costs will probably be the issue here as the Koreans were notorious in this aspect in the past. Then again, it's not like the Japs are immune from this problem. We all know how "well" the CKD Hondas fare in our M'sian market.

Caught another glimpse of the Forte again today... Peter Schryer and his team really did a good job there - the Forte looks distinctively European and upmarket. Not radical like the 3 French companies, not funky like Ford/Mazda, it's more subtle like the Germans. And it definitely looks nothing like its predecessors.

Anyway, this probably doesn't concern the M'sian market that much, but if the Australians really price the Koup at a similar price to the sedan it would be an interesting one. Nevertheless, sedans are still the main demand in the SEA region so I won't be surprised if it isn't brought in back home. What attracts me more is this:

http://www.carpoint.com.au/news/2009/small...below-26k-15607

Kia, 6 speed auto for the sedan please? To blow those Japs away...

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Jul 9 2009, 08:38 PM

At the end of the day, reviews can only help so much and it's still up to a test drive for first-hand experience to really know the potential of the car.

It's a bit unfair to compare the Forte to the Vios as they are both from different segments despite the Forte's cheaper pricing. But if Naza/Kia really prices it below the 80K mark it might just give the 90+K City/Vios a run for its money. Too bad it's likely to start with a underwhelming 1.6L instead of the 2.0L.

Going back to the interior, it's dated when compared to other rivals but not necessarily so when viewed on its own. Having said that, I personally think it's funkier brother the Soul has a nicer dash and console. The boxy shape and radical curves allow the Soul to have a crazier design.

Speaking of which, maybe I'll look out for the Koup as well, especially if it's price range is similar to the sedan. I don't really need two more doors to carry kids Oh well, half a year more before the decision is made.... fingers crossed.

And there is some glimpses of future Kia models with the new H-shaped grill. There's the Sorento, a D-segment car (Probably Magentis/Optima) and a super mini, likely to be a Picanto.

Sigh... if the Koreans can take drastic steps to reinvent their brand, why can't Proton/Perodua do so?

Probably due to Naza's problem rather than Kia's.

The brand snobbery attitude by the local market doesn't help sales (along with poor reputation of older generation Korean makes), and the dealers have no choice but to drop the price to clear stock. Which in turn delays people in decision making when purchasing a particular Korean car. Hyundai has improved their image with the new i series but at Honda/Toyota prices it's probably going to be a deterrence as well.

It's sad to know that the Forte isn't going to come earlier especially when our southern neighbours are already having fun with theirs.

Same pic shown on paultan some time ago... Chrome parts with 17 inch alloys... looks like the high trim SLi or EX depending on which nomenclature Naza decides to use for the Malaysian market. I'd put my money and say they'll follow our southern neighbours and use LX and EX instead.

Looks dodgy... too cheap to be true. At 66K it'll probably kill the Wajas and Personas.

If it comes, it'll definitely have the sedan although I'm not sure how profitable would it be to bring in the Koup.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Jul 28 2009, 07:46 PM

If the rumoured 65K is true, then Naza/Kia must having some tricks up their sleeves. It'll probably give the Persona a big kick in the butt and I'm not sure whether our government will allow this. Even at 75K it may sway some people from getting a Proton.

The Forte is a competitor to Civic/3/Corolla/Lancer but if the 1.6 is the sole model that was brought in it'll only be regarded as City/Vios/Latio class. Not sure whether it's good or bad for Naza/Kia - On one hand it might just nick some sales from potential City/Vios buyers as the Forte will give more space with less buck; yet on the other hand Kia might lose out on an opportunity to attack the C-segment market.

A full spec 2.0SX at say 100K would probably worry Honda and Toyota as you pay 15-20K more for a mere 1.8L car with less equipment. But would people be willing to spend 100K on a Korean make? Badge snobbery is still something that's very prevalent in our market.

I presume you mean the Koup.

The Forte sedan was already on sale in North America for some time.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Aug 9 2009, 11:36 AM

Not surprising, since the Forte is originally a C-segment car which comes with a 2.0 engine as a base model. The 1.6 is an old engine that's put in to suit the SEA market. In fact, North America gets the option of an 2.4 with 6 speed manual/5 speed auto while over here we only got 1 engine make to choose from, which is the 2.0.

The 2.0 Forte may have the greatest power in terms of numbers, but according to reviews it's handling and drive experience still lack the finesse compared to Civic and 3; and the 4 speed auto doesn't help. But as mentioned before, it's the overall package that's value for money although the majority of people are still quite reluctant to pay so much for Korean makes.

Not exactly.

North America calls it the Forte as well, whereas in Singapore it's called the Cerato Forte and over here in Australia it retains the old Cerato name.

Not sure whether M'sia will follow our southern neighbours and call it the Cerato Forte or not, but does it really matter? And even if Naza rebadges it into a Naza rather than Kia, there's always the option of changing the emblem like how most people do with their Bestari 206.

Care to share why the i30 is a disappointment? Most of the reviews gave it thumbs up, but maybe they might be missing something.

Start-stop button is nothing more than a fancy gimmick.

Pictures of the new Kia Venga is out... another weapon from the Koreans to fight the Japanese, esp the Jazz, 2, and Yaris? Looking good I must say, in fact it looks much better than the i20.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Aug 18 2009, 04:51 AM

There's another comparison available here.
http://www.caradvice.com.au/33990/comparis...uze-kia-cerato/
This review actually highlights how overpriced the City is in Australia, rather than reveal whether the Cruze or the Forte is a better car.

The Cruze seems to get pretty decent reviews over here, although one of the major debates is about its fuel consumption where different reviewers have different experiences about it. Like the Forte, people generally seem to be impressed with the Cruze as it is a huge improvement over previous Korean makes. In terms of looks I think the Forte looks more easy on the eye athough the Cruze has a more sophisticated looking interior.

Having said that, both the Cruze and Forte aren't filling up the roads just yet... which isn't surprising. Even the best-rated Mazda 3 that was launched last year took quite some time to be popular on the roads. Economy's not that good, people ain't going for new cars now; not when a 2, 3 year old 3 is only worth half price.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Aug 22 2009, 12:41 AM

That's because the Ceed is exclusive for the European market... so no, neither Naza nor Kia will be bringing them in.

The Ceed got a facelift recently with the Schryer grill incorporated into its front fascia. Some like it, some don't... yet no one can argue that its console design is horrendously out of fashion regardless of the red dials and buttons, as it still uses the old 2006 components.

Maybe Thailand is the only country outside Europe that has it...

But hatches are less welcomed on our shores compared to sedan, and the Forte is technically a newer car than the Ceed, so it makes more sense for Naza/Kia to focus on Forte rather than the Ceed.

Kia's site is really bad with Firefox

People... at least put up the source mah...

http://www.ceratoforte.sg/expose-your-fort...forte-t1193.htm

http://www.ceratoforte.sg/expose-your-fort...-forte-t675.htm

Graphite is still the best colour... looks grey under artificial light but shows a shade of blue under the sun.
Spicy red looks hot but a little too dark. The racing red of the Koup looks more "racy"

Another long term review...
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/39675/200...-review-part-3/
Looking good too, and with the facelifted Civic looking uglier than its earlier version (plus high price) and the 3's love-me-or-hate-me looks, Forte has a chance to join the C-segment party. Yet there ain't much rolling on the streets here in Melb.

This is why there are some complaints over here in Australia that the basic S model should have all the electronic stuff as standard instead of an option pack. Nevertheless, I think some of these complaints are overboard as the lower spec Japanese rivals also don't come with the full electronic kits.

I personally feel that the Forte looks uglier with the body kits because it loses the sleek and elegance look and becomes more ah beng.

Waiting for the Koup to arrive in Australia... still hesitant to get the radical-looking Mazda 3 despite having a better ride and 5-speed auto.

Oh yeah... post pics of your Forte!!

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Sep 9 2009, 06:38 PM

Oh yeah... KOUP's coming down under...
http://www.caradvice.com.au/41417/kia-cera...up-first-steer/

Too bad it's going to be more flash than substance as it's still the same 4 speed 2.0L engine as the sedan. Maybe there will be a high end turbo charged version with the inevitable 6 speed manual (maybe a 5 speed auto too) by the end of next year; but the trade off would be a higher price which people are still unwilling to pay for a Korean brand.

At 26K AUD (RM78K) for a 2.0L coupe, we're already getting a better deal than M'sia or S'pore.

Now where can I find the money?

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Sep 16 2009, 06:37 PM

Of course. It's just that the 1.6L in both the Koup and the sedan is probably not the best option for the Forte, especially when one of the attractive points about this car is the 2.0L ThetaII's higher output compared to other C-segment rivals. The old 1.6 engine doesn't do the Forte justice but the market back home in Msia and Spore would probably welcome a smaller capacity engine.

Not sure what the Aussie spec Koup will come with though, it's only mentioned that it has the same equipment trim as the SLi that is more or less equivalent to SX. And the additional mood speakers of the Soul of course.

We're actually lucky to have the Koup on our shores, whereas Europe will have to make do with the Ceed and Proceed variant. However, they manage to get the funky Venga while we'll be stuck with the Picanto

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Sep 17 2009, 07:12 PM

Depends on how desperate you are for a new car. Again, it's worth remembering that the Forte is a C-segment car(albeit the 1.6L is still B segment level). If you can afford to wait, perhaps you would like to wait till the Forte is launched and test drive both of them before making a decision.

Nothing different, it's just a name.

Forte is the new name that is supposed to replace the "Cerato", but in SG Kia calls it the Cerato Forte while in Australia it is simply Cerato.

But of course, different countries might have different trims for example North America gets a 2.4L as the top spec model while we only get 2.0L. Some say M'sia is only going to get 1.6L although things might change in the future.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Sep 21 2009, 10:13 PM