The Forte can be expected to depreciate at a level far faster than the Civic. Any savings (and in my case the DX-VP was the better price) gained by purchasing a Kia are offset immediately by depreciation. This will grow into a chasm in short order
The exhaust had an atonal quality. The larger displacement engine had a more vacuum cleaner type tone not a sweet engine note at all. Road noise seemed reasonable but engine noise seemed poorly tuned and calibrated.
It seemed to be a fine yeoman effort. No one can deny the Korean manufacturers have made great gains. But again most cars glow in the showroom. I envision a number of squeaks and rattles in the future as the panel gaps were tight but not uniform.
Did not handle in the precise manner one would expect from such a car. A secretary-mobile. Not as bad as the Corolla which drives like a 4/5ths scale Crown Victoria. Lacked calibrated the balance of supplemness, agility and smoothness of the Civic.
