Did You Know Every New Kia Forte Has a Secret Price?
...It's the low price you'll never see published in the paper...
Discover the dealer's secret price:
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2012 Kia Forte Overview

Price Range: $15,200 to $19,600

Your Price: Ask Us

The compact car segment is a crowded one, but the 2012 Kia Forte brings enough flexibility and value to the table to compete with the big boys.

Last year the Forte added a new five-door hatchback style to the mix which is back for 2012, along with the sedan. The Forte is also available as a coupe which is covered separately on this site under the model name “Forte Koup.” There are only slight changes for 2012; the EX trim now features a telescoping steering wheel and the hatchback is only available with the automatic transmission.

Speaking of the drivetrain, there are two engine options depending on trim level. The EX and LX trims feature a 156-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder while the sportier SX trim gets a larger 173-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder. Transmission options include a six-speed manual or automatic (the SX adds paddle shifters with the automatic), and the Forte is exclusively front-wheel drive. Fuel economy numbers are middle-of-the-pack for compact cars, at 25-27 mpg in the city and 36-37 mpg on the highway. The SX trim with the larger engine gets 23/32 mpg city/highway.

The Forte is not as much of a head turner as a few of the other recently designed compacts like the Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, and Honda Civic, but what it lacks in dramatics is made up for with a sharp, clean look. The grille looks like it could be borrowed from the Optima midsize sedan (which is a good thing) and the headlights integrate seamlessly with the front fascia.

Opting for the five-door over the sedan will net you almost five extra cubic feet of cargo space (19.4 to 14.7 cubic feet), and a split-folding rear seat comes standard. The Forte is very well outfitted for a car in this price range, with standard features like Bluetooth® connectivity, USB/iPod and auxiliary input jacks, and air conditioning. If you want even more out of your Forte, choose from options like a navigation system with backup camera, push button start, and automatic climate control.

When it comes to safety, the Forte got an overall four-star rating from the NHTSA, while sedan versions of the Forte also won an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. Standard safety features include six airbags, antilock brakes, electronic stability and traction control, and LATCH child seating.

There are definitely many flavors to choose from among compact cars, but the 2012 Kia Forte deserves a long look.  Its long list of standard features and low base price make it one of the best values on the road today.
2012 Kia Forte

2012 Kia Forte

"...This was my first time buying a new car, and I really didn't know where to start. I used your site to get quotes from dealers near me and compared them to the Market Price. Then, I used the knowledge I got from reading your Secrets book to make sure I didn't pay more than I should. It was so easy! I love my new car!"

-Sonya S.
Los Angeles, CA
 

Uncover Rebates & Incentives

Want to keep even more money in your pocket? Find available Rebates & Incentives in your area by entering your ZIP code above.

These additional manufacturer savings programs can help you get your best deal.*

  1. Cash Rebates
  2. Low Interest Financing
  3. Special Leasing Options

Some manufacturers also provide first-time buyer, military, and other programs to target specific customer segments.

*Incentive programs are subject to change at any time by the manufacturer.

Secret 1
Consumer Incentives

Zero percent financing, employee discount, cash back, out-the-door price tags...

Most dealers work hard to offer the public competitive prices. These incentives can grab your attention, but they can also obscure the actual terms you're getting on your purchase.

How can you fully understand incentives to get the lowest possible price on your car?

Get our free quote, and we'll tell you the secret.

Secret 2
Finance & Insurance

Most state franchise laws prohibit manufacturers from selling cars directly to the public, so the dealer will be your middleman. But in terms of financing and insurance, you can choose a bank or the dealer directly.

How can you determine what's in your best interest?

Get our free quote, and we'll tell you the secret.

Secret 3
Additional Costs

Destination charges, taxes, license and title fees, advertising fees... When going to a dealership, you must ask for an explanation of any fee you don't understand. But you need to choose your battles wisely. Your local car dealer may have taken a loss or slim profit along the way, and your fighting over something like a doc fee when the deal is nearly wrapped up may be counterproductive.

In any case, there are many fees and charges in the sale process: some inevitable, others questionable. How do you tell them apart?

Get our free quote, and we'll tell you the secret.

Secret 4
Trade-in Value

If you currently own a car, it probably represents profit. The question is, whose profit will it be?

With few exceptions, you'll get the most money for your used car by selling it privately. That's because dealers pay wholesale prices — not retail prices — for used cars, and they sell them at retail.

Your current car's value can be used to lower the price on your new car. However, most people underestimate their used car's value when going to a dealership. How can you maximize your value?

Get our free quote, and we'll tell you the secret.

Secret 5
Dealer Holdback

The car manufacturer holds back a fraction of the price of all vehicles the dealership sells. Then, it returns the money to the dealership, usually on a quarterly basis.

Dealer holdback began its life as a safety net that ensured the manufacturers would have a security deposit of sorts if a dealership missed payments, and the dealerships would have money on hand to cover overhead costs when the holdback was returned.

How can you take advantage of dealer holdbacks to get the bottom line price?

Get our free quote, and we'll tell you the secret.

Secret 6
Dealer Incentives

Unlike consumer incentives, dealer incentives are factory-to-dealer incentives that reduce the dealer's true cost to buy the vehicle from the factory to below invoice.

Manufacturers offer these incentives on a regional basis to generate sales on specific models. These incentives are sometimes referred to as "spiffs," and they can touch off competition among dealers to move slower-selling stock.

For instance, a dealer incentive may kick in when a certain sales target is reached, with each subsequent sale resulting in a higher factory-to-dealer rebate. How can you benefit from that?

Get our free quote, and we'll tell you the secret.

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Our state-of-the-art technology uses your ZIP code to find accredited dealers in your area that can sell vehicles below sticker price.

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