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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded its best rating possible, Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+), to the 2017 Kia Forte built after March 2017 when equipped with optional front crash prevention and high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights with Dynamic Bending Light. This top safety award came right on the heels of the Forte being named the highest-rated compact car in the 2017 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS), which measures consumer satisfaction and the least number of issues in the first 90 days of ownership.
“Kia Forte is one of our most popular and best-selling vehicles,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, Product Planning KMA. “The new distinction of TSP+ rating from the highly-respected IIHS re-confirms the high priority we place on safety for our customers and why Forte remains a favorite in the compact sedan class.”
To qualify for TSP+, the IIHS testing parameters require each vehicle to earn “good” ratings in five crash-worthiness tests – small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side impact, roof strength and head restraints – as well as an “advanced” or “superior” rating for front crash prevention and an “acceptable” or “good” rating in headlight testing.
The 2017 Forte
Refreshed for the 2017 model year, the Forte features sophisticated and sporty styling, new powertrain components and advanced driver assistance systems, including Autonomous Emergency Braking; Rear Cross Traffic Alert; Forward Collision Warning; and Dynamic Bending Light (adapts the headlights depending on vehicle speed and steering angle to deliver improved illumination).
Now available in three trims, a new sporty S trim sits in between the entry-level LX trim and the top-trim EX model. Replacing last year’s 1.8-liter inline-4 cylinder engine is a standard 2.0-liter Atkinson I-4 that makes 147 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 132 lb-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm. The new base engine is paired with a six-speed manual transmission, though a second-generation six-speed automatic transmission is available. Delivering efficiency and smoother shifting, the newly engineered six-speed automatic is also matched to the 2.0-liter GDI I-4, which produces 164 hp at 6,200 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm.
