The order books are now open for a noticeably revamped Forte K3 that comes with new features

• New looks front and rear
• Engine and six-speed auto carried over
• Still two variants available: EX and higher-spec SX
• Priced $97,999 with COE (EX), $7,000 more for SX

SINGAPORE – A facelifted version of the Kia Forte K3 is now on showroom display at Cycle&Carriage Kia on Alexandra Road. It’s a 2017 model as far as Singapore is concerned, and has been given a noticeable update to its looks while gaining new features, in line with Kia’s value-for-money strategy.

Up front the Forte K3 has notably revised styling, thanks to a new, more upright grille and thicker-looking lamps. There’s also a redesigned bumper with sporty air intakes on the sides, and the overall effect of the facelift is to give the car a more mature, exec look.

In case you’re having trouble spotting the differences, here’s the previous iteration of the Forte K3…

… versus the new MY17 car in red.

Things are more restrained in the back, where there are LED lamps with darker lenses. And if you see a small boot spoiler and chrome-tipped exhaust, that tells you you’re looking at the more expensive SX version of the Forte K3.

The SX model also comes with a chrome beltline and 17-inch alloys (versus the cheaper EX version’s 16-inch wheels), but it’s what inside that sets the two variants apart.

SX versions are stuffed with equipment that are positively exec. In the showroom car we noticed the new touchscreen infotainment system that made its debut in the new Sportage and brought Apple CarPlay into the hands of Kia’s clientele.

The auto air-con pictured above is another SX feature, as are keyless entry and engine starting, 10-way power adjustable front seats (with memory), and paddle shifters for the six-speed auto on the steering wheel.

All versions of the Forte K3 come with only two airbags, but the SX model gets stability control, a worthwhile feature that should make it that much harder to crash one.

Safety aside, the SX is big on convenience items: there’s Kia’s smart trunk system (stand near the boot with the key in your pocket long enough and it opens automatically), parking sensors front and rear, and ventilated front seats.

All that extra kit costs $7,000, which is what it costs to upgrade yourself from the EX model (which costs $97,999 with COE) to the SX — C&C Kia says the parking sensors and 17-inch alloys are worth nearly that by themselves.

The 130hp, 1.6-litre and six-speed auto drivetrain from the pre-facelift Forte K3 have been carried over here, so there’s no performance improvement to look forward to.

Yet, common to both the EX and SX models is another new feature we spotted, a drive mode selector that offers Eco, Sport and Normal driving settings. It replaces the FlexSteer system that used to alter the Kia’s power steering assistance, and ought to be a bit more useful.

Carmakers sometimes look like they merely go through the motions when it comes to facelifts, but it’s nice to see Kia try hard with the K3.

The upgrades should keep one of the Korean brand’s more popular models competitive, too, while reminding us of one of life’s truths: a cosmetic enhancement can only go so far, and is best accompanied by some improvement to substance.

READ MORE
Our take on the new Kia Sportage

We think this is Kia’s best car at the moment