Model Year | 2014 | 2012 | |
Model | Kia Forte | Mercedes-Benz GLK | |
Engine | turbocharged 1.6L I4 DOHC-4v 201 hp@6000 195 lb-ft@1750 |
3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 268 hp@6000 258 lb-ft@2400 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed shiftable automatic | 7-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | FWD | RWD | |
Body | 4dr Hatch | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 106.3 in | 108.5 in | -2.2 in |
Length | 171.3 in | 178.3 in | -7 in |
Width | 70.1 in | 72.4 in | -2.3 in |
Height | 57.1 in | 66.9 in | -9.8 in |
Curb Weight | 3122 lb. | 3884 lb. | -762 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 13.2 gal. | 17.4 gal. | -4.2 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.4 in | 39.8 in | -0.4 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 56.1 in | 55.2 in | 0.9 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 53.0 in | 53.2 in | -0.2 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 42.2 in | 41.8 in | 0.4 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 38.7 in | 39.7 in | -1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 54.9 in | 55.4 in | -0.5 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 53.1 in | 52.5 in | 0.6 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 35.9 in | 35.1 in | 0.8 in |
Total Legroom | 78.1 in (over 2 rows) | 76.9 in (over 2 rows) | 1.2 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 23.2 ft3 | 23.3 ft3 | -0.1 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 56.4 ft3 | 54.7 ft3 | 1.7 ft3 |
2014 Kia Forte Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2014 | People who need a roomy rear seat don't often buy coupes. So with the Civic Si the coupe is an inch and a half shorter (in both height and length) than the sedan, which translates to nearly three inches less headroom and nearly five inches less legroom in back, making it a very tight fit for even modestly sized adults. Those who do want a roomy rear seat in their coupe will be much happier with the Forte. Compared to the sedan, Kia shaved the Koup's roofline an inch but kept the wheelbase the same. Sitting behind my 5-9 self, I had about an inch of clearance over my head and a hand's-width ahead of my knees. Switch to the four-door body styles, and both cars are about equally roomy in back. But only Forte rear seat passengers enjoy rear air vents--in every body style. see full Kia Forte review |
2014 Kia Forte Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2014 | 4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
One of the best of his kind. Almost unbeatable for a car of this price. see full Kia Forte review |
2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
2011 | Expect the GLK to grow when it is next fully redesigned. A smaller MLK is on the way to battle the upcoming Audi Q3 and just-arrived BMW X1. For 2013, the GLK's body structure remains essentially the same, so rear seat knee room remains just sufficient for a man of average height sitting behind another such man. (Headroom, on the other hand, is abundant.) Among competitors, only the Infiniti EX37 has a tighter rear seat. The Audi, BMW, and Volvo all offer knees another inch or three. Seat comfort is debatable. To my bottom, the GLK's seats feel overly firm. Cargo space is similarly short of the segment average. The GLK's 54.7 cubic feet isn't far behind the Audi's 57.3 but well below the X3's 63.3. That truncated tail has a downside beyond aesthetics. But do these shortcomings really matter? For most people nearly all of the time, there's enough space. see full Mercedes-Benz GLK review |
2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2011 | 4dr SUV 268-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
I have a problem with headroom. So many cars give me less than a half inch from my scalp to the frame on the sunroof. That hurts over bumps, not to mention what my hair looks like when I get out. GLK has over an inch of space for me. see full Mercedes-Benz GLK review |
2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr SUV turbocharged 168hp 2.1L I4 Diesel 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
We are a couple with no kids and we rarely have visitors so the cramped rear seating is not a problem. Someone with teenage kids will want to seriously reconsider before getting a GLK. I know my Mom would not appreciate the ingress/egress ease as she has some limited mobility. see full Mercedes-Benz GLK review |
2011 | 4dr SUV 268-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
If you are 6' plus like me, you will have to adjust the front seat forward if you want passengers to ride with you unless they are quite small. But this is a perfect city hauler for a single or couple. see full Mercedes-Benz GLK review |