2012 Kia Forte Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
23 -27 City / 32 -37 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
156 -173
Seats
5
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Alexis J
The trunk space on a small car, hatchback
Overall this has been a great car. I have the hatchback model and I love the trunk space on a smaller vehicle. The car drives well and I've had no major problems with it over the years.
accountCircle Sheila V
It is faster than it looks.
No complaints. Haven't needed any repairs whatsoever. I feel secure in a small car. Handles beautifully. And my dogs live it too.
accountCircle Laura H
The eco button on the dash lights up when you are driving.
No problems at all peppy car for a four cylinder very reliable never any recalls on this vehicle would definitely purchase another one has lots of leg room in the back seat this vehicle gets very good gas mileage considering I do travel a lot this is quite a plus.
accountCircle Dylan E
First car, very nice, worth, great on gas.
There is honesty nothing wrong with this car it's great on gas and just a nice car in general. This was my first car and I love it it's nice and it drives nice. It is overall a great car and I would highly recommended buying one. And has plenty of space if you are thinking about traveling with it and the seats are very comfy for long car rides.
accountCircle Carter H
Bluetooth feature. Modern style exterior. Modern style interior.
I love my vehicle. My vehicle has very good performance quality. I've never experienced a problem with my transmission or engine. I've been having the at for almost eleven years and I love it. It's a more modern version of the Kia and it has great features like Bluetooth and automatic seat belt move.
accountCircle Amie K
Economical and dependable.
Gas mileage not as great as I hoped for a four cylinder vehicle but it's got a great turning radius, drives smooth, and is a reliable car. In the last 4 years I've owned the car, I have had regular oil changes but have not had any major repairs needed.
accountCircle Alexandra A
It's great on gas and will give you peace of mind.
I love that my car is very gas friendly, and after 4 years of low maintenance (oil changes, new tires, changed brake pads) it had given me zero mechanical issues. I feel safe at all times especially with my daughter sometimes being in the car. I wish it were a little bigger but it's a good trade-off and perfect for me.
accountCircle Rick G
Sleek four door sedan. Great interior design and fast.
I love my Kia forte. It has a nice stereo with CD player and radio. I love the slap shifter. Its fast and holds to the road. Its sleek, four door sedan, black with red mini stripes on the side. The mirrors fold in for tight parking. Nice comfortable seats with burgundy interior.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Carol miller
Motor
No the motor seized at 60000 miles
accountCircle Shadonna P
Not a fan. I like bigger cars.
It is not really that fast. It makes a noise when you switch the gears and the parts are cheap. I do not like the seat it is fabric. The windows are the old school roll up and not automatic. Not a lot of trunk room. Not a lot of room in the back or glove compartment. Things slip down in between the seats and are hard to get out.
accountCircle M
Factory fog lights
Kia Factory fog lights s**k. They will work until warranty is up-then suddenly stop. They will not fix them versed word of mouth or Blog-ONLY with THEIR diagnostics and $$$$ more than worth! Known problem short wire, don’t be a woman and say that at any dealership!
accountCircle Randy
Good on gas
No motors are faulty never buy another kia again
accountCircle John S
Pros and cons of a 2012 Kia forte.
Poor visibility through the back window. It is too compact. The air-conditioning does not reach the back seat passengers. The gas mileage is pretty good, and it accelerates quickly. I would like to upgrade too something slightly larger and with more modern features.
accountCircle Brianna C
Reliable car, owned for 8 years.
Reliable, have had to only get basic maintenance. Safe, this vehicle has high safety ratings. Trunk space is good. Seats are not very comfortable. Bluetooth does not work very well with connecting to my phone when I receive calls. Suspension could be better, bumpy ride.
accountCircle Michael S
It's very hard to see out when backing up.
I like the low gas mileage. Do not like the size.Do not like the limited visibility. I would prefer a newer model of car.
accountCircle Amanda V
The car is fast and can be parked anywhere. Great for long distance travel.
The car is very economical. It gets great mileage and is reliable. I have had ankle of issues with the tires. All 4 tires have been replaced 2-3 times because they are very thin. Also the lighting in the car is ant good. I have had to change and repair my front and brake lights every time after a bad storm. Could be a leak or an electrical wiring issue.

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 29 MPG 5 Seats
car
EX
156 HP 29-30 MPG 5 Seats
car
SX
173 HP 26 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2012 Kia Forte Owner Reviews

4.09
310 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 43%
4 stars 34%
3 stars 16%
2 stars 3%
1 star 4%
accountCircle Matthew S on June 16, 2021
2012 Kia forte = reliability.
I mean..It's been a great vehicle for me. I've had it for a few years now and have racked up over 100k miles in it. But it still works like a charm. Very reliable and comfy. It does its job well. Good gas mileage too. The only 'con' that I can really think of is the size of the vehicle. But again, you know going in that it's not great in that area. It is what it is. Very solid car. Id recommend to anyone.
accountCircle Colette C on June 6, 2021
Great Kia forte a family car.
The Kia forte is my first car I have ever owned. It is perfect for me and my daughter. It runs very well and great on gas. As a therapist I travel a lot to and from client homes and this car gets me there and back. I would really recommend it for first or second time car buyers.
View All Reviews (310) chevronRightAlternative

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Rocio B.

Its gas efficient. It's a good starter car. Its spacious enough for someone who does not have kids. And doesn't need too much space for their extracurriculars. It's a nice low maintenance vehicle. Overall I like driving it.

likeFilled Anna M.

Very easy to drive, have not had any major problems with it in over two years, the problems that I do have (alignment) are very easy to fix, very spacious trunk, and has Bluetooth capabilities in the car.

likeFilled James S.

I have had it for 8 years and have had no mechanical issues and is decent for gas savings. I use it mostly for work but is super reliable for a nice trip out of town. I have had many drives throughout the country and it is been smooth.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Rocio B.

It does not have room to grow into. The space is very limited and trying to get a car seat in there is almost impossible. It's doable do not get me wrong but it is a really tight squeeze. I cannot have my nephews and my surfboards or bikes in there. It's really hard to pack groceries too.

dislikeFilled Anna M.

Does not get the best gas mileage, while the Bluetooth does work you still have to operate your phone to use it as the buttons in the car do not work in connection to your phone, and it does not get the best gas mileage.

dislikeFilled James S.

The cons are that it is a compact vehicle, not much power and is not big enough if you have a large family. It seats 4 adults comfortably, and can lack leg space for both the front and back. I do wish it was the same vehicle with a bit more space.

Ranks #22 Small Cars by Owners

The 2012 Kia Forte has an average owner rating of 4.25 out of 5 which ranks it #22 of 36 other Small Cars.

1
car
2012 Volkswagen GLI
4.8
2
car
2012 Volkswagen Eos
4.76
22
car
2012 Kia Forte
4.19

Ranks #6 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2012 Kia Forte has a combined MPG of 38 which ranks it #6 of 36 other Small Cars.

1
Tie
car
2012 Volkswagen Golf
42 MPG
1
Tie
car
2012 Volkswagen Jetta
42 MPG
6
Tie
car
2012 Kia Forte
36 MPG

Is The 2012 Kia Forte A Good Car?

Yes, an excellent vehicle. 31 miles per gallon on average. No major problems. Easy to drive. I have a stick shift that is very economical.
Sharon A.
Yes it is one of the best I have had. I have had it for about 2 years and no signs of it getting bad. I feel like it will never leave me on the road.
Hillary V.
Yes it is a good vehicle it has good gas mileage and has a good interior and provides good support. It is probably one of the best cars I have had.
David R.
Yes it is a good vehicle for a singular person. It is great on gas mileage. Although I do not recommend for people with children in cars seats.
Noemi C.
It is a great vehicle. It drives smooth and in 8 years I have never had any true mechanical issues with the car.
Nicole P.
It is a good vehicle. It gets great gas mileage and the tank only takes about $27 to fill in my home state. It has a hand-free system for devices.
Anna L.
Absolutely! It is a wonderful vehicle. It is very comfortable and smooth looking. The valves in the engine, however, are slightly louder than other cars I have driven.
Kendahl D.
Yes it is a good vehicle. Compact but still plenty of space. It gets good gas mileage on a full tank
Christopher R.

How Reliable Is The 2012 Kia Forte?

Yes, very reliable and dependable. I haven't had any major problems with it. Very good gas mileage also. A sturdy and stylish little car.
Sharon A.
I do not think it has any problems. I like it and it feels smooth. I wouldn't change to another car brand.
Hillary V.
No it does not have any problems the car has been doing very well and it also has good gas. I have never had any serious problems and works well.
David R.
No it is reliable. It has worked amazing through the years now that it is older and has higher mirage the a/c has started to have issues other than that it still works great.
Noemi C.
The vehicle is extremely reliable. It has gone through its share of normal wear and tear but there are no problems to report.
Nicole P.
It is reliable. I have only had problems with the tires, which are from Walmart. I have never had the battery die or broken air.
Anna L.
Other than the loud valves, I have no problems with my car. It is easy on gas and is fair priced to fix. Although, I haven't had to fix anything on it yet.
Kendahl D.
No major problems. Had to replace the key ignition at roughly 75k miles. Drives great. All around very dependable vehicle.
Pam C.

Is The 2012 Kia Forte A Good Value?

I paid 6000.00 for mine. I think it is a good price for the value of the car. I think the value of the car is worth more than the price.
Sharon A.
It is value is about 16-25,000 but I say it is worth every penny. Especially for a beginner driver. Price varies.
Hillary V.
It cost around 22,000 it is worth its value it has lasted me many years. One of the best cars I have owned and I am sure will stay good for many years to come.
David R.
I do not recall the price exactly. Although it was a good value for the car. Like any other cad throughout the years they'll be wear and tear.
Noemi C.
When I purchased it back in the summer of 2011, I believe the car cost about $21,000. Given the number of years and miles that I have put on it since, I would say that the value is unbeatable.
Nicole P.
I bought my forte from a private seller for $3,000, which was a very good deal. The value was amazing for the price I got.
Anna L.
I spent a little over three thousand dollars for mine. I got a really nice deal from the seller because I showed up on time and was very respectful. He also noticed that I might need some new tires in... Read More
Kendahl D.
Roughly $4,000 trade-in value as of this writing (July 2019). I bought my Kia brand new and am very happy with it. No plans to trade it at this point in time.
Grant M.

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Frequently Asked Questions

2012 Kia Forte: What is the oil type and capacity?

Answer: The 2012 Kia Forte oil type and capacity iS5w-20 and 4.5 quarts. Your oil needs to be replaced eventually. Every 5,000 to 10,000 miles is a good rule of thumb. If You don't replace it, there will be issues with...

Does the 2012 Kia Forte have a timing belt or chain?

Answer: The 2012 Kia Forte comes equipped with a timing chain rather than a timing belt. One of the reasons it is better to use a chain instead of a belt is because it usually doesn't need to be replaced unlike the...
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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