Top Safety Pick +

2017 Kia Forte

small car / 4-door sedan

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights built after March 2017

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria	Rating
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system	Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

Optional blind spot detection
Optional lane departure warning
Optional lane departure prevention

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.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2017-18 models built after March 2017

Tested vehicle: 2017 Kia Forte LX 4-door

The Kia Forte was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Beginning with the 2015 models, Kia increased the strength of the occupant compartment structure to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes.

Beginning with 2017 models, the front-end and door frame structure was further reinforced and the side curtain airbags were lengthened, and in cars built after March 2017, both the seat belt pretensioner and frontal and side curtain airbag deployment timing were reprogrammed to further improve occupant protection. (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.)

Evaluation criteria	Rating

Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

The driver's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEN1714
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	6
Footrest (cm)	7
Left toepan (cm)	5
Brake pedal (cm)	3
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column	0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	2
Upper dash (cm)	4
Lower instrument panel (cm)	4

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEN1714
Head
HIC-15	119
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm)	17
Maximum Nij	0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm)	21
Femur (kN)
Left	0.3
Right	0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	1
Right	0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.54
Right	0.60
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	2.0
Right	0.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	105
Right	51

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2017-18 models built after March 2017

Tested vehicle: 2017 Kia Forte LX 4-door

Beginning with 2017 models, the side curtain airbags were lengthened, and in cars built after March 2017, the structure was further modified to improve occupant protection. (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.)

Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Hyundai/Kia.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics The dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but slid off toward the right side. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag also deployed.
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1706
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	20
Footrest (cm)	13
Right toepan (cm)	6
Center toepan (cm)	3
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	4
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm)	6
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	9
Upper dash (cm)	11
Right lower dash (cm)	16

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1706
Head
HIC-15	205
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm)	10
Maximum Nij	0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm)	23
Femur (kN)
Left	0.3
Right	2.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0
Right	10
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.49
Right	0.62
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	3.1
Right	2.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	62
Right	52

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1706
Head
HIC-15	145
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm)	20
Maximum Nij	0.19
Chest maximum compression (mm)	31
Femur (kN)
Left	0.1
Right	0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0
Right	0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.28
Right	0.24
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	0.2
Right	1.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	41
Right	43

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2014-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Kia Forte EX 4-door

The Kia Forte was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Hyundai/Kia.

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

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1305
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	4
Left (cm)	8
Center (cm)	6
Right (cm)	3
Brake pedal (cm)	4
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	0
Right (cm)	0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	-4
Rearward (cm)	-4
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	0

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1305
Head
HIC-15	298
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	2.1
Extension bending moment (Nm)	11
Maximum Nij	0.40
Chest maximum compression (mm)	28
Legs
Femur force - left (kN)	0.0
Femur force - right (kN)	0.8
Knee displacement - left (mm)	2
Knee displacement - right (mm)	1
Maximum tibia index - left	0.32
Maximum tibia index - right	0.33
Tibia axial force - left (kN)	2.3
Tibia axial force - right (kN)	2.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	59
Right	81

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2015-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Kia Forte LX 4-door with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Kia Forte was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Beginning with 2015 models, the seat-mounted side torso airbags and front door trim were modified to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Hyundai/Kia.

Because the side structure and the rear occupant compartment of the car were not changed, the injury ratings for the passenger and the structure rating are based on tests of both the 2014 and 2015 models.

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

Technical measurements for this test

Test ID	VTS1232	VTS1410
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-17.0	-17.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS1410
Head HIC-15	376
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.0
Compression (kN)	0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	38
Lateral force (kN)	1.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	39
Average deflection (mm)	35
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	5.82
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.84
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	2.1
Acetabulum force (kN)	1.7
Combined force (kN)	3.8
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	1.0
L-M moment (Nm)	41
A-P moment (Nm)	214

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS1232	VTS1410
Head HIC-15	279	307
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.2	0.2
Compression (kN)	0.4	1.0
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	33	43
Lateral force (kN)	1.6	1.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	34	38
Average deflection (mm)	27	33
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	3.51	2.88
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.47	0.46
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	0.2	0.3
Acetabulum force (kN)	1.4	0.6
Combined force (kN)	1.4	0.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	1.4	1.3
L-M moment (Nm)	79	26
A-P moment (Nm)	-219	-206

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2014-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Kia Forte LX 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight	2,812 lbs
Peak force	14,015 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio	4.98

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry

Technical measurements for this test

Seat type	Manual cloth seat
Geometry
Backset (mm)	18
Distance below top of head (mm)	-16
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail	Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g)	11.0
Head contact time (ms)	62
Force rating	1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N)	3
Max neck tension (N)	443

Seat type: Manual cloth seats built after May 2013

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry

Technical measurements for this test

Seat type	Manual cloth seats mfg after May 2013
Geometry
Backset (mm)	0
Distance below top of head (mm)	-13
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail	Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g)	10.5
Head contact time (ms)	52
Force rating	1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N)	0
Max neck tension (N)	262

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

Headlights

Ratings are given for 4 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

EX trim equipped with Premium Plus package; built after July 2016

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	HID projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	EX trim equipped with Premium Plus package
Low-beam headlight type	HID projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating Applies to 2017-18 models built after July 2016

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	100.5 m	None
Straightaway left edge	67.2 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	65.7 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	59.3 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	61.3 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	53.3 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	178.3 m
Straightaway left edge	128.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	73.1 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	68.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	64.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	58.1 m

Trim level(s)

LX trim; built after July 2016
S trim; built after July 2016
EX trim; built after July 2016

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	LX trim S trim EX trim
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating Applies to 2017-18 models built after July 2016

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	66.5 m	None
Straightaway left edge	29.1 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	40.3 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	31.4 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	35.3 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	30.3 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	159.7 m
Straightaway left edge	135.7 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	57.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	56.1 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	46.5 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	44.1 m

Trim level(s)

LX trim; built before August 2016
S trim; built before August 2016
EX trim; built before August 2016

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	LX trim S trim EX trim
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating Applies to 2017 models built before August 2016

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	61.5 m	None
Straightaway left edge	32.7 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	42.1 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	35.9 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	38.2 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	32.8 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	142.7 m
Straightaway left edge	129.2 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	57.9 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	57.0 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	48.1 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	46.6 m

Trim level(s)

EX trim equipped with Premium Plus package; built before August 2016

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	HID projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	EX trim equipped with Premium Plus package
Low-beam headlight type	HID projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating Applies to 2017 models built before August 2016

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	57.6 m	None
Straightaway left edge	23.5 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	55.9 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	28.1 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	52.7 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	27.9 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	147.2 m
Straightaway left edge	127.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	67.3 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	52.1 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	57.6 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	42.9 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

Optional Autonomous Emergency Braking

Package name

Optional Tech Package or Premium Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2017-18 models

Superior

with optional equipment

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2015-18 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	LX
Seat type	cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	LX
Seat type	cloth

Rating icon	Rating
G	Good
A	Acceptable
M	Marginal
P	Poor
	Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol	Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol	Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol	Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
	No hardware available

Details by seating position

Position	Rating
1
1	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors
2
2	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	none available
3
3	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors

Technical measurements for this test

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	0-2
Force (lbs)	23
Clearance angle (degrees)	71
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	29
Clearance angle (degrees)	74
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	26
Clearance angle (degrees)	71
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	28
Clearance angle (degrees)	69
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation