2010 Kia Forte

small car / 4-door sedan

2010 Kia Forte 4-door sedan

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria Rating
Moderate overlap front: original test
G
Side: original test
G
Roof strength
G
Head restraints & seats
G

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2010-13 models

Tested vehicle: 2010 Kia Forte EX 4-door

The Kia Forte was introduced in the 2010 model year as a replacement for the Kia Spectra.

Two tests of a 2010 Kia Forte were conducted. In the first test, forces recorded on the dummy's head and neck were high, leading to a Marginal head/neck injury rating and a Marginal overall rating. In response, Kia modified the airbag control computer to deploy the side curtain airbag, in addition to the frontal airbag, in certain frontal crashes beginning with cars manufactured after January 2010. Kia initiated a service campaign to reprogram the airbag control computer on all 2010 models produced before the change was made on the production line.

In the second test of a car built after the modifications were in place, the driver side curtain airbag deployed during the crash, and forces on the neck were low. However, forces on the head were still elevated.

The evaluation of the Forte is based on the second test, except for the structural rating, which is based both tests.

Evaluation criteria Rating
Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
A
Chest
G
Leg/foot, left
G
Leg/foot, right
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G

Action shot taken during the second of two frontal offset crash tests.

The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well (second test shown).

In both tests, forces on the head were high when the dummy's head hit the steering wheel through the frontal airbag (second test shown).

Intrusion into the driver's space was minimal, and all leg and foot injury measures were low (second test shown).

Technical measurements for this test

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2010 models built after October 2009

Tested vehicle: 2010 Kia Forte EX 4-door with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Kia Forte was introduced in the 2010 model year as a replacement for the Kia Spectra. Because of deficiencies identified in an earlier test of the Forte, Kia made design changes to the B-pillar and roof structure to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes and rollovers beginning with 2010 models built after October 2009. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

A second car with the changes was tested, and the side impact crash performance improved (the first car is rated separately).

Evaluation criteria Rating
Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
A
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
A
Pelvis/leg
G
Driver head protection
G
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
A
Pelvis/leg
G
Rear passenger head protection
G

View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Rating applies to 2010 models built after June 2009 and before November 2009

Tested vehicle: 2010 Kia Forte EX 4-door with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Kia Forte was introduced in the 2010 model year as a replacement for the Kia Spectra. Beginning with 2010 models built after June 2009, design changes were made to the rear door structure to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

Because of deficiencies identified in this test, Kia made additional changes beginning with 2010 models built after October 2009. A second car with the additional modifications was tested, and the side impact crash performance improved (the second car is rated separately).

Evaluation criteria Rating
Overall evaluation
A
Structure and safety cage
A
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
A
Pelvis/leg
G
Driver head protection
The side curtain airbag did not adequately cover the window opening near the dummy's head during deployment, and the side airbag that deployed from the seat did not fill the gap. Although the intruding barrier did not hit the dummy's head in this test, this near miss indicates that only slightly different crash circumstances could produce a direct hit to a person's head.
M
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
M
Pelvis/leg
G
Rear passenger head protection
G

View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Action shot taken during the side impact crash test showing the driver dummy's head leaning outward below the side curtain airbag and approaching the crash test barrier.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2010-13 models built after October 2009

Tested vehicle: 2010 Kia Forte SX 4-door

Overall evaluation
G
Curb weight 2,859 lbs
Peak force 13,084 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio 4.58

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seats AHR

Overall evaluation
G
Dynamic rating
G
Seat/head restraint geometry
G
Technical measurements for this test

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.