Many of those who follow the breakaway popularity of Hyundai’s Kia Motors division may be looking at prominent models like the Kia Sedona minivan or the unique Kia Sorento crossover, or popular small cars like the Kia Rio and the uniquely styled Kia Soul, but today’s car buyers shouldn’t count out the Kia Forte, a model that’s only been around two years, but is getting seen quite a lot on the American roadway. The new 2012 Kia Forte doesn’t come with a lot of new changes from last year’s model, but it does carry some of the most popular features and provides engine choices, attractive styling and overall good design for a pretty attractive price tag, with base models starting at around $16,000, and according to some auto reviewers looking at the new model year, other makers like Honda and Toyota offering their own options in this segment have quite a lot to worry about.

A lot of gear comes standard on the 2012 Kia Forte. This includes items like MP3 and Bluetooth connectivity, steering mounted controls, and power locks and windows. As for power, buyers can choose between a 2 liter or 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine, with the larger block providing around 173 hp.

Kia Forte customers can choose sedan or hatchback styles. Both of these provide nearly 100 cubic feet of passenger volume for what many consider a somewhat spacious cabin. Neat center console design and competitive safety add to the appeal of this vehicle. The Kia Forte gets top safety ratings from the IIHS, with standard tech items like antilock brakes, electric brakeforce distribution and stability and traction control.

As many new 2012 vehicle models start getting into the fray, competing in local markets, take a look at how the new 2012 Kia Forte stacks up to other vehicles in its segment. Be sure to keep an eye on the latest incentives and financing deals from the manufacturer, since these often represent the company’s best efforts to get new buyers inside these new cars, moving inventory as car makers scramble for market share. Add low financing rates and any available giveaways to Kia’s 10 year/100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty to lower your total debt as well as total costs of ownership over time.