The 2011 Kia Forte sedan is a simple vehicle without many bells and whistles—but sometimes simpler is better. The only thing that is really holding this car back in terms of a performance review is its age.

The Forte sedan is a solid car and definitely a good choice for 2011 standards. However, it’s been over 10 years since its release, and there’s a lot more to think about when making that purchasing decision today. Keep reading to find out more about the 2011 Kia Forte sedan and all that it has to offer.

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How much is a 2011 Kia Forte sedan?

The 2011 Kia Forte sedan originally started at $15,500 MSRP for the base model and topped out at $24,600 fully loaded with optional features.

Kelley Blue Book estimates that the fair market value of a used 2011 Forte in 2023 ranges between $4,200 and $5,700 for the base model. That being said, most 2011 Kia Fortes on the market are being listed for slightly higher than that at around $5,800.

If you’re looking at one of the higher trim levels or a car that’s packed with options, you should expect a higher price tag. The list price of cars also varies with location—the fewer Fortes are being sold in your area or the more demand there is for used cars, your price will increase.

You can usually score a better deal on a car that has some issues, but keep in mind that you’ll have to put time and money into the additional

car repairs

and maintenance needed.

Is a 2011 Kia Forte a good buy?

The 2011 Kia Forte is a solidly built car. It was the recipient of an IIHS top safety pick award and has technology that was competitive with similar builds at the time.

As this model is getting older, you’ll need to consider some additional factors before buying one. If the car is in good condition with a relatively low odometer reading and a good maintenance history, this could be an excellent choice for you. But if you’re looking for a long-term vehicle, the 2011 Forte might not last you as long as you’d like without having to pay for some big parts replacements.

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Reliability

The Kia Forte sedan is a fairly reliable vehicle overall. Kias can usually last between 150,000 to 200,000 miles before needing any major repairs, so if you’re planning on buying one, make sure that you check the car’s mileage history along with the price tag.

There have only been two recalls on the 2011 Kia Forte. The first was a recall on the cooling unit for the transmission, which potentially caused transmission fluid leaks. The second was on the airbag and restraint control module, which prevented the front airbags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.

These recalls should have been remedied by now, but make sure you check the repairs record to see what the car has gone through. You’ll also want to check its accident history to see if the body has been damaged in a prior collision.

Speed and performance

The 2011 Forte came with two different engines depending on your trim level. The two lower trims, the LX and the EX, come with a 2.0L four-cylinder engine that provides 156 horsepower and 144 pound-feet of torque. The highest trim, the SX, comes with a 2.4L four-cylinder engine that gets you 173 horsepower and 168 pound-feet of torque.

The 2011 models came with a six-speed manual transmission standard on all the sedans. But they also had six-speed automatic transmissions available. When you’re looking at the sedan, be sure it has the type of transmission you’re in the market for.

Fuel economy

For a 2011 vehicle, the Kia Forte sedan got excellent gas mileage. If the previous owner(s) took care of the vehicle with

proper maintenance

, you can likely expect similar fuel efficiency.

With the automatic transmission, the 2011 Kia Forte sedan gets an estimated 26 miles per gallon in city driving conditions, 36 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined. These numbers decrease slightly if you have a manual transmission and increase slightly if you come across a car with the Fuel Economy package (EX trim).

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Interior and comfort

You probably won’t be surprised to learn that the 2011 Kia Forte Sedan isn’t considered very technology-forward with 2023 standards applied. Bluetooth comes standard on all trim levels, but that’s really the only tech you’ll be getting on the base model. It doesn’t even have an option for cruise control, which comes pretty standard nowadays.

However, what it lacks in technology it makes up for in comfort. The Forte sedan is fairly spacious and offers generous cargo room. The displays and gauges are easy to read (though somewhat simple and boring). However, one comfort oversight is the steering wheel. The telescoping option is only available on the highest trim, which really inhibits the positioning of the steering wheel for the driver.

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Safety

The International Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Kia Forte sedan with its top safety pick award in 2011. It received a “good,” the highest available rating, in all areas on the crashworthiness test. There were airbag recalls in 2018, so make sure to check that that has been taken care of on the vehicle.

The Forte also comes with anti-lock disk brakes, stability control, front side airbags, and side curtain airbags. These standard features are one of the reasons that the 2011 Forte sedan is known for its safety.

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