Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
23 -27 City / 31 -36 HWY
Horsepower
156 -173
Seats
5
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Raysean G
The gas hold is awesome and only takes $27 to fill up.
The Kia forte is a really great car. It drives very smooth, good on gas and the air conditioner is amazing for the summer time! My Kia forte has a good amount of room and I do not ever have problems with it. It is reliable for trips and has great volume for music listeners.
accountCircle Santana M
I absolutely love the miles per gallon, it amazing on gas.
Never had an issue it is super reliable and never broke down on me. I just would prefer a 4 wheel drive that way I could have more all around space and my child could ride comfortable. I also prefer sit higher off the ground and believe that higher cars are safer.
accountCircle Linda R
Best car I have had so far!
The only problems I have had are just regular maintenance. It is the best car I have had for reliability. It is dependable and comfortable. I have taken it on long trips and have had no problems. It is the most reliable car I have had so far. For my last four cars they have all been Kias and I would definitely buy another Kia.
accountCircle Emma W
My Kia forte the perfect car.
My Kia forte is amazing I have had very little problems with it. I bought it used and have only had to fix the brakes on it. It is nice and small but has a good trunk space and plenty of room in the back to fit my friends and family in. I can take it anywhere and not have to ever worry about finding a place to park it and whether or not I will be able to fit it or not. It is great in gas mileage which is a huge plus because of the cost of gas these days. I love the trunk space because I can fit so much in it. I can always help people move because I can pack a lot in the trunk and in the cab too. It drives really smooth and it great for taking road trips in. Overall I love this car.
accountCircle Lisa J
It is very dependable very low maintenance.
Very reliable and looks very nice. It is very. Dependable. It was a great value. Love to color. Just wish the interior cleaned better.
accountCircle Heather F
I have a white Kia Forte, it has 4 doors, has heat, air conditioning and a radio.
I have had this car for a couple months and I would not change anything about it. Everything is amazing! The car is super reliable and the performance is outstanding. It is very good on gas and the seats are very comfortable and a very spacious car for a little 4 door!
accountCircle Stephanie B
Kia forte is a great vehicle.
It is been extremely reliable vehicle. It has 225,000 miles on it and I have rarely had it in the shop. The sx trim level has a tight suspension so it goes through tires regularly. But other than that we have not had any troubles which is why I bought another brand new Kia forte. I used to own Chevrolet vehicles but I have had so many troubles with them that I stopped buying them. And now all I will buy are foreign vehicles. My other options were Toyota and Honda.
accountCircle Amie L
That it is a very reliable car and I am very happy with it.
I haven't really had problems with my car. It is a good reliable car picks up and goes when you need it to very good on gas. It is good for traveling comfortable seating and also hands free talking on the phone I love that and it is a lot safer. It has plug-ins for your phone's and portable DVD players love that for the kids. The only thing I don't like about the plug-ins is there's none in the back seat or air vents. Overall I love the car very happy I am glad I got it very happy with reliability performance and everything else.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Garneau
Le problème c'est un kia
J'ai malheureusement acheter une voiture jetable..! Link kit a refaire au 2ans, probleme de démarrage et de moteur, réservoir a essence pourri et en plus les lumières abs et antipatinnage reste maintenant toujours allumé
accountCircle Jay F
Horrible cheaply made cars: Kia.
Makes horrible noises. Cheaply made. I would not recommend this car, nor would I buy a Kia again. It consist of cheap parts and materials. Under the hood cheap parts break down easily. Kia will not get my business again! I try to tell everyone who asks me about my car stay clear of Kia and their expensive path!
accountCircle Madison P
My Kia Forte is not frilly but she gets good gas mileage and is dependable.
My car is comfortable and gets good gas mileage. It has a decent sized trunk especially because it is a hatchback. I haven't had any problems with it being not reliable. It does well driving in the winter/not ideal driving conditions. It does not have a lot of additional features so it is pretty basic but it does a good job.
accountCircle Angela T
Engine knocking at 100,000 miles.
This car was cheap and reliable up until recently. The engine in this car blows at 100,000 miles. As soon as the factory warranty is up. There is a class action lawsuit. It was a great car up until it hit 100,000 miles. I'd trade it in before that.
accountCircle Daleine K
Should you live in an area with bad winters, you will want to have a trustworthy vehicle for a winter car as this is NOT the car for you. It handle great during the summer, but NOT the winter.
My car handles really nicely in the summer. It has good gas mileage too. Unfortunately, it does not handle good at all during the winter. I'll be very happy to get this car paid off so I can get me another all wheel drive vehicle.
accountCircle April L
That Its junk. Nice body style but way to many problems.
Since I have owned my Kia Forte I have had to replace the thermostat, radio, battery, both front tires, and the reservoir for the coolant, now I am having problems with my ac not working and my car overheating. Also have a rattling underneath my car. I would not recommend buying this car a all.
accountCircle Crystal M
All 2010 Kia forte’s are lemons.
The only lemon Kia I have ever had & I have had 7 Kia’s Inc. 2012 Kia forte. The 2010s all rusted on the bottom damaging parts: the recall was just a spray to “prevent” but no repair of damaged parts (original owner from NY) also all interior lights went out. Ac is not repairable. Freon & power steering leaks. Seats do not fold to trunk. Bluetooth only for calls. No oil gauge. Buy 2012+ forte.
accountCircle Kedian L
Solid/ reliable vehicle. It does what you need it to do.
The car serves its purpose. I gets me from point a to point b. My Kia forte is the standard model, meaning that it operates fine like a regular car but it does not have all the bells and whistles that cars typically come with nowadays. My windows are manually retractable, my locks are manual as well, but the entertainment system leaves little to be desired.

Kia Forte Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
LX
156 HP 28 MPG 5 Seats
car
EX
156 HP 28-30 MPG 5 Seats
car
SX
173 HP 26 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2010 Kia Forte Owner Reviews

4.21
336 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 44%
4 stars 37%
3 stars 17%
2 stars 2%
1 star 1%
accountCircle Bonnie S on June 19, 2021
Great car, just a couple of minor issues with age.
I love this car. It drives really smooth and has been very reliable so far. The seats are comfortable and it is compatible with Siriusxm. I have begun to have issues with the heat not working when it gets very cold outside and the seat belt buckle came off it is bolt, but I was able to fix the buckle myself. The trunk space is great for such a 'small' car.
accountCircle Zack H on June 16, 2021
Interesting sounds that claim to be normal.
There is a gear sound while the car is started, that is supposedly normal. All mechanics that have looked at it say that it is normal for this make and model. It almost sounds like when kids have a hard object on their bike touching the spokes, and makes a continual ticking sound.

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Britoney E.

She has good gas mileage, is very nice and easy to drive, easy and cheaper to fix, reliable in general. She doesn't have all the fancy stuff cars generally have today but that means less needs fixing. Good looking car too. We have two Kids and love them both. She has fold back seats to make the trunk space larger.

likeFilled Braden M.

Pros are rides really smooth has great features and is a very easy car to work on mechanically and is a great car for someone to take trips I am gets great mileage. I take it from Missouri to Florida every year no problems and is cheap on gas.

likeFilled Lauren S.

Good gas mileage. Requires minimal body work and mechanical work. Great features such as Bluetooth and Sirius XM. The vehicle does not wear and tear easily. Dependable. Great quality. Excellent warranty features. Gets me where I need to go on a reasonably efficient time period.

likeFilled Chinesegirl K.

It saves on gas. It has good battery life. It is a family car for small family. It is reliable. It gets you to where you have to go. It can be easily cleaned. Durable tire and tire pressure. Kia Forte is a great first car.

likeFilled Lisa S.

The Kia Forte is affordable, comfortable and reliable. After years of heavy use and added mileage it is still operating with minimal upkeep. The car design is sleek and modern even though it's a 10 year plus model.

likeFilled Andre C.

It is a 5 speed manual transmission vehicle. It gives me the control that I want for my vehicle. Downside is that it does not have air-conditioning so in hotter weather it is quite stifling. I have thought of adding ac to it but it is cost prohibitive.

likeFilled Kelly G.

The gas mileage is great. The color is beautiful. The design is great. I have had it 10 years and no major issues. The sleek design is nice to look at, very classic and timeless. There are other colors it comes in.

likeFilled Lauren S.

The pros of this vehicle is it is great on gas, it takes less than $20 to completely fill up the vehicle. It is easy to operate. The vehicle has tons of room for back seat passengers, and front seat passenger. It has many features such as Bluetooth and Sirius XM.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Britoney E.

She is a plain looking car, so if someone wants a flashy car, she is not it. No serious bells and whistles. No backup camera or fancy radio. She is a small car, so not good for large loads. Mine has light colored seats that are easy to stain. Cloth seats.

dislikeFilled Braden M.

They are loud cars from the engine bay and lack grip in wet conditions and not good winter cars. Also collects sunlight in the summer making it heat up super easy making it harder to cool off the car fast.

dislikeFilled Lauren S.

Small compact car. Not enough space for multiple people. Better call features. Better durability. Better quality items such as seat material quality. More efficient car body materials. More issues occur when the car withstands heavy weather conditions for a long period of time.

dislikeFilled Chinesegirl K.

The radio resets and you'll have to take it to someone who knows anything about Kia to maintain the issue. It slides during wet weather, so you have to drive carefully. Does not have remote key so you may be looking for your vehicle for a while in a big parking lot.

dislikeFilled Lisa S.

As much as I like the exterior look of the car, I have never been too fond of the interior coloring. It is a maroon color and dates the car even when it was 'brand new'. I think the coloring could be improved upon.

dislikeFilled Andre C.

The hand brake needs recalibration, the windows are manually powered, it is not tinted either so it is like being in an oven. I am thinking of changing the radio since it is an older model that does not have Bluetooth streaming but it might not be worth it.

dislikeFilled Kelly G.

I think the biggest con is that I cannot have it forever. From time to time I have had a few issues with the oil pan/tray and I had to DIY fix it. But overall, I really liked it. If I could make this car last forever I honestly would.

dislikeFilled Lauren S.

I didn't have many problems with this vehicle except for minor wear and tear of the vehicle. Sometimes the Bluetooth would malfunction, I could only accept calls through my phone for Bluetooth and not listen to music using it. I would have to connect.

Ranks #9 Small Cars by Owners

The 2010 Kia Forte has an average owner rating of 4.29 out of 5 which ranks it #9 of 29 other Small Cars.

1
car
4.51
2
car
4.48
9
car
4.23

Ranks #4 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2010 Kia Forte has a combined MPG of 36 which ranks it #4 of 29 other Small Cars.

1
Tie
car
42 MPG
1
Tie
car
42 MPG
4
Tie
car
34 MPG

Is The 2010 Kia Forte A Good Car?

Yes, it is a very good vehicle for a single family. It is a great travel vehicle as well. Does not use a lot of gas and drives well on the road.
Shantilya H.
Yes, it is a good vehicle. It has Bluetooth radio, hands-free calling services, it also has ecosystem for saving you money with gas.
Chelea C.
Yes I would recommend. It has good pick up and drives great in all weather. It is safe and I feel secure and that I have control while driving it.
Sarah S.
It runs good, but has several blind spots and I do not like that. Other than that it is been pretty reliable.
Wendy L.
Yes it is. Good on mileage and gas. Rides smooth and I haven't had any major issues with it since I got it besides replacing my AC compressor
melvin G.
I think so. It handles well, I feel pretty Safe, I also feel like it has good visibility. I brakes pretty well and I feel nearly ten years old it has served out family pretty well. Enough room for... Read More
Kerry E.
It's a good vehicle in the spring/summer/fall months but in the winter months when it snows it is difficult to drive
Lilly D.

How Reliable Is The 2010 Kia Forte?

Very reliable. I have had my car for about 5 years and only had to take it to a mechanic shop once. That was to replace the ac compressor. Other than that, it is been a great car to have, haven't... Read More
Shantilya H.
It is very reliable. Has never had a problem when driving or braking. Has helped me get to places far during road trips.
Chelea C.
I had a problem with the engine but I brought it to Kia and they fixed it and now the problem had not come up again.
Sarah S.
The car has several blind spots that you cannot see out of the rear view mirror or side view mirrors. It has almost caused me to hit someone a few different times. Now I know not to rely on the... Read More
Wendy L.
Very reliable. Hadn't had any problems with the motor or anything. Any car is reliable when you take care of it properly
Rick K.
There has been some issues with the electric circuit breakers for the turn signals. They have been burning out faster than other cars we have owned. The floor carpets have come up which hasn't... Read More
Nick E.
It has been very reliable except for when it snows. The traction isn't the greatest especially when it snows.
Cassandra L.

Is The 2010 Kia Forte A Good Value?

Right now, the value for my car is going down. It is almost a 10 year old car. But it still drives great and in good condition.
Shantilya H.
It cost me $5,000 which made it worth it because it was cheaper than most of the cars I was looking at purchasing.
Chelea C.
The value for this car is about $14,000. It is a good value because the care is reliable. I would pay that amount again for this car.
Sarah S.
I paid 7500.00 for this one. I believe it was way overpriced. It was only worth about 2500.00. I personally think I paid way to much for it but at the time I didn't have a lot of other options. I am... Read More
Wendy L.
I probably paid more for it than it actually costs, I leased it for 3 years then purchased it from that company. I'm sure the market value of it has decreased seeing it’s almost 10 years old but it... Read More
pete D.
It was a very good value and I got a 10 year warranty which was one of the major reasons why I bought the car
Bryan V.

Related Articles for 2010 Kia Forte

From the Vehicle History blog

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Kia Forte Reliability: How Long Will It Last?
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A Full Rundown Of The Most Common Kia Forte Problems

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2010 Kia Forte power steering fluid type?

Answer: The 2010 Kia Forte uses Synthetic OE Power Steering Fluid. While not often considered a high maintenance item, power steering fluid is nevertheless an important part of Your vehicle's steering system. The cost...

How do i reset the 2010 Kia Forte radio button?

Answer: Resetting the radio in the 2010 Kia Forte is made exceedingly simple by mindful engineer and user friendly design. There are two ways that most drivers report successfully resetting the radio, and neither...

How do i perform the 2010 Kia Forte tpms reset?

Answer: To reset the tire pressure monitoring system in the 2010 Kia Forte, make sure the air pressure in all four tires is accurate. This should be done after the vehicle has been parked a while. A cold pressure...

What's the 2010 kia forte oil type?

Answer: The 2010 Kia Forte 2.4 engine oil capacity iS4.5 quarts and useS5w-20 viscosity oil. When performing an oil change on the car you will first want to Make sure that the vehicle has been parked and off for a...

What's the 2010 kia forte koup windshield wiper size?

Answer: The 2010 Kia Forte Koup differs from the regular models of Kia Forte in that it does not use a rear wiper blade. The Koup is otherwise identical in wiper blade sizes -- specifically, the driver's side blade...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety