Photos by Stephanie Wallcraft and Jeff Wilson In many ways, the 2017 Kia Forte5 SX can be considered the underdog. A few of its features are unusual finds in hatchbacks at all – hello, heated rear seats. It comes from a brand that is sometimes overlooked by car shoppers despite a huge uptick in the breadth and quality of its offer

Vehicle Type According to many owners, the Forte attracted their attention with styling and a good blend of feature content for the price, while good driving dynamics and a quality feel helped seal the deal. Sedan / Coupe / 5-Door History/Description Kia introduced the all-new 2014 Forte lineup in 2013, which hit the road shortly

Review by Jonathan Yarkony and Jeff Wilson, photos by Jeff Wilson Anyone who drives on Canadian roads will soon see that we are big fans of small cars, and none are more suited to our practical and economical natures than compact hatchbacks. We decided to pit the latest hatches in a challenge of efficient motoring, passenger comfort, cargo c

When a company takes its first crack at cranking out a serious sport compact and nails it the way Hyundai did with the Sport versions of its Elantra sedan and hatchback, driving enthusiasts like me perk up like a cat hearing the rattle of the treat bag. I expected a little of that continental pedigree to have rubbed off on our mid-range GLS t

Every now and again, I end up in a vehicle that I like to refer to as “genuinely nice.” Nothing’s shout-it-from-the-rooftops spectacular, and you can find competitors that have more powerful engines, sharper handling, nicer interiors. But on a genuinely-nice vehicle, everything works together so well that it becomes better than the sum of its parts

These dark days, we all need some good news. Here are two pieces: 1) it’s harder than ever to find a bad car, so we consumers are well provided for; 2) the Toyota Corolla iM is not a bad car; it just competes in a field of exceptionally well built hatchbacks. From the outside at least, the Corolla iM looks like it’s built both for a budget an

Hyundai Canada has just announced pricing for the 2018 Elantra GT. The all-new hatchback Elantra will start from $20,449. The GT model comes with a 2.0L four that makes 161 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque. It comes with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission on both GL and GLS trims. Other standard features include an 8.0-inch screen wit

Ah, the hatchback. It’s the automotive world’s multi-tool. It can be sporty and stylish, or practical and, well, odd-looking. The practicality of a hatchback version makes it arguably the best choice of the three body styles Honda knows a thing or two about making hatchbacks; they’ve done it for a bunch of decades now and sold them arou

In automotive land, each year seems to have its defining movement. For example, 2016 saw the sub-compact CUV segment bloom with new models and market share. This year the bulk of new models, at least early on, have appeared in the compact hatchback market. The all-new Honda Civic hatch is here, a return to the five-door days of old and a pre

The average transaction price of a new vehicle in June of this year was $39,075, according to the autoTRADER.ca Price Index, so we understand if folks looking for a new car on a smaller budget feel a bit priced out of the market right now. Worry not, car shoppers, because we’re compiling lists of every vehicle on sale in Canada for under $35,000

Monterrey, Mexico – It’s 43 degrees, the sun is blazing hot, and I’m squealing a 2017 Kia Forte LX+ (A/T) around some pylons in a parking lot at Kia’s spanking new mega factory outside of Monterrey, Mexico. It’s hard to believe this massive 500 hectare complex materialized out of a desert scrubland in only 14½ months – and this with forty days stra

Now that the third-generation Kia Forte  (introduced as a 2019 model) shares its platform with the Hyundai Elantra, it only makes sense that it would adopt the go-faster bits that were grafted into the hotter Elantra Sport. For 2020, Kia introduces the Forte5 GT and Forte GT sedan, both sporting a 1.6L turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 201

You really can’t go wrong in the compact segment these days. While sedan sales are shrinking by the year as consumers turn to crossovers, the current crop of compact sedans and hatchbacks were designed to compete in one of the most competitive and popular segments of the market. Although every company wants to impress all the shoppers, this is a va

The fourth generation of the Kia Rio 5-Door brings with it comfort, comfort, and… more comfort. Oh and also connectivity. To maintain a sub-$15K price tag, however, the Korean subcompact had a few sacrifices to make. But can you identify them? Good luck…. WENDAKE, Quebec – If you had told me, when I started this career at the turn of the millen

Kia USA says the Forte Koup is dead, but Kia Canada says it's not dead yet. When the Kia Forte four-door got a refresh for 2017, but the two-door Koup didn't, it looked like the writing was on the wall for the fate of the Koup coupe. Indeed, Kia USA confirmed to Cars Direct that the car was not getting a 2017 model and that once the 2016 model