2023 Kia Forte Owner’s Manual

The 2023 Kia Forte is a captivating mix of style, efficiency, and technology that takes the experience of driving a small sedan to a new level. With its sleek, modern look, the Forte gets people’s attention on the road. It blends good looks with good handling. Under the hood, you can choose from a variety of engines that are both powerful and good on gas. This makes for a fun and economical drive. The carefully made interior has a lot of high-tech features, like an easy-to-use touchscreen system and cutting-edge driver-assistance tools, which make it easy to stay connected and safe while driving. The 2023 Kia Forte changes what it means to embrace the compact sedan market by combining elegance, innovation, and driving pleasure in a way that works well together.

Starting the engine

WARNING – Proper footwear
Always wear appropriate shoes when operating your vehicle. Unsuitable shoes (high heels, ski boots, sandals, etc.) may interfere with your ability to use the brake and accelerator pedals.

1. Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2. Manual Transmission – Depress the clutch pedal fully and shift the transmission into Neutral. Keep the clutch pedal and brake pedal depressed while turning the ignition switch to the start position.
   Dual clutch transmission/Intelligent Variable Transmission
   • Place the transmission shift lever in P (Park). Depress the brake pedal fully.
     You can also start the engine when the shift lever is in the N (Neutral) position.
3. Turn the ignition switch to START and hold it there until the engine starts (a maximum of 10 seconds), then release the key. It should be started without depressing the accelerator.
4. Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the vehicle remains stationary. Start driving at moderate engine speeds. (Extreme and/or excessive accelerating and decelerating should be avoided.)

WARNING – Steering wheel
Never reach for any controls through the steering wheel while the vehicle is in motion. The presence of your hand or arm in this area could cause a loss of vehicle control.
If the engine stalls while you are in motion, do not attempt to move the shift lever to the P (Park) position. If traffic and road conditions permit, you may put the shift lever in the N (Neutral) position while the vehicle is still moving and turn the ignition switch to the START position in an attempt to restart the engine.

CAUTION – Starter
Do not engage the starter for more than 10 seconds. If the engine stalls or fails to start, wait 5 to 10 seconds before re-engaging the starter. Improper use of the starter may damage it.

Stopping the gasoline engine (Manual Transmission)

1. Make sure the vehicle is completely stopped and keep the clutch pedal and brake pedal depressed.
2. Shift the transmission into Neutral while depressing the clutch pedal and brake pedal.
3. Engage the parking brake while depressing the brake pedal.
4. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK position and remove it.

NOTICE
If the battery is weak or the smart key does not work correctly, you can start the engine by pressing the engine start/stop button with the smart key. The side with the lock button should contact the engine start/stop button directly. When you press the engine start/stop button directly with the smart key, the smart key should contact the button at a right angle.
When the stop lamp fuse is blown, you cannot start the engine normally. Replace the fuse with a new one. If it is not possible, you can start the engine by pressing the engine start/ stop button for 10 seconds while it is in the ACC position. The engine can start without depressing the brake pedal. But for your safety, always depress the brake pedal and clutch pedal (if equipped) before starting the engine.

CAUTION
Do not press the engine start/stop button for more than 10 seconds except when the stop lamp fuse is blown.
Do not turn the ignition switch to the START position with the engine running. It may damage the starter.

Stopping the engine (Manual Transmission)

1. 1. Make sure the vehicle is completely stopped and keep the clutch pedal and brake pedal depressed.
   2. Shift the transmission into Neutral while depressing the clutch pedal and brake pedal.
   3. Engage the parking brake while depressing the brake pedal.
   4. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK position and remove it.

Specifications, Consumer information, and Reporting safety defects

Dimensions

Item		mm (in)
Overall length		4,640 (182.7)
Overall width		1,800 (70.9)
Overall height		1,435 (56.5)
Front tread	195/65R15	1,563 (61.5)
	205/55R16	1,555 (61.2)
	225/45R17	1,549 (61.0)
	225/40 ZR18	1,545 (60.8)
Rear tread	195/65R15	1,572 (61.9)
	205/55R16	1,564 (61.6)
	225/45R17	CTBA: 1,558 (61.3)/ Multi-Link: 1,563 (61.5)
	225/40 ZR18	1,559 (61.4)
Wheelbase		2,700 (106.3)

Engine

Item	Gasoline Engine
	(Gasoline) 2.0 MPI	(Gasoline) 1.6 T-GDi
Displacement [cc (cu.in)]	1,999 (121.9)	1,591 (97.09)
Bore x Stroke [mm (in.)]	81 x 97 (3.19 x 3.82)	77 x 85.44 (3.03 x 3.36)
Firing order	1-3-4-2	1-3-4-2
No. of cylinders	4, In-line	4, In-line

Gross vehicle weight

Item		kg (lbs)
Gasoline 2.0 MPI	6MT	1,650 (3,638)
	IVT	1,720 (3,792)
Gasoline 1.6 T-GDi	6MT	1,760 (3,880)
	7DCT	1,800 (3,968)

Luggage volume

Item	Volume
VDA / SAE [L (cu ft)]	502 (17.7) / 434 (15.3)

Air conditioning system

Item	Weight of volume	Classification
Refrigerant [g (oz.)]	500 ± 25 (17.6 ± 0.88)	R-1234yf
Compressor lubricant [cc (oz.)]	110 ± 10 (3.87 ± 0.35)	PAG 46

Bulb wattage

Light Bulb				Wattage (W)	Bulb type
Front	Headlamps	High/Low	Type A, B	60	HB3
		Low	Type C	LED	LED
		High		LED	LED
	Position lamp		Type A	8	P28/8W
			Type B, C	LED	LED
	Turn signal lamp		Type A, B	28	P28/8W
			Type C	LED	LED
	Side marker		Type A, B	5W	W5W
			Type C	LED	LED
	Daytime running light*			LED	LED
	Fog lamp*			LED	LED
Rear	Stop		Type B	LED	LED
	Stop/Tail*		Type A	28	P28/8W
			Type B	LED	LED
	Tail		Type A	5	W5W
			Type B	LED	LED
	Side marker		Type A	8	P28/8W
			Type B	LED	LED
	Turn signal lamp			27	PY27W
	Back up lamp			16	W16W
	High-mounted stop lamp			21	P21W or LED
	License plate lamp			5W X 2EA	W5W
Interior	Map lamps			10W X 2EA	W10W
	Room lamp			10	FESTOON
	Luggage lamp			5	FESTOON
	Glove box lamp			8	FESTOON
	Vanity mirror lamps			5	FESTOON

Tires and wheels

Item	Tire size	Wheel size	Load Capacity		Speed Capacity		Inflation pressure [kPa (psi)]				Wheel lugnut torque Kgf·m (lbf·ft, N·m)
							Normal load		Maximum load
			LI*1	Kg	SS*2	Km/h	Front	Rear	Front	Rear
Full size tire	195/ 65R15	6.0J×1 5	91	615	H	210	230 (33)	230 (33)	230 (33)	230 (33)	11 ~ 13(79 ~ 94,107 ~ 127)
	205/ 55R16	6.5J×1 6	91	615	H	210	230 (33)	230 (33)	230 (33)	230 (33)
	225/ 45R17	7.0J×1 7	91	615	W	270	230 (33)	230 (33)	230 (33)	230 (33)
	225/ 40R18	7.5Jx1 8	88	560	W	270	240 (35)	240 (35)	240 (35)	240 (35)
	225/ 40ZR1 8	7.5Jx1 8	92	630	Y	300	240 (35)	240 (35)	240 (35)	240 (35)
Compact spare tire	T125/ 80D15	4.0T× 15	95	690	M	130	420 (60)
	T125/ 80D16	4.0T× 16	97	730	M	130

NOTICE

• It is permissible to add 21 kPa to the standard tire pressure specification if colder temperatures are expected soon.
  Tires typically loose 7 kPa for every -11 ℃ temperature drop. If extreme temperature variations are expected, recheck your tire pressure as necessary to keep them properly inflated.
  We recommend that when replacing tires, use the same originally supplied with the vehicles. If not, that affects driving performance.
• When driving in high altitude grades, it is natural for the atmospheric pressure to decrease. Therefore, please check the tire pressure and add more air when necessary. Additionally required tire air pressure per km above sea level: 10.5 kPa/km

Recommended lubricants and capacities
To help achieve proper engine and powertrain performance and durability, use only lubricants of the proper quality.
The correct lubricants also help promote engine efficiency which results in improved fuel economy.
These lubricants and fluids are recommended for use in your vehicle.

Lubricant			Volume	Classification
Engine oil*1 (drain and refill)	(Gasoline) 2.0 MPI		4.0 L (4.2 US qt.)	Full synthetic SAE 5W-20, API Latest (ILSAC Latest)
	(Gasoline) 1.6 T-GDi		4.0 L (4.2 US qt.)	Full synthetic SAE 5W-30 /API Latest (ILSAC Latest) or ACEA A5/ B5
Manual transmis- sion fluid	(Gasoline) 2.0 MPI		1.7 ~ 1.8 L (1.79 ~ 1.9 US qt.)	API GL-4, SAE 70W- SK : HK SYN MTF 70W- H.K.SHELL:SPIRAX S6 GHME 70W MTF- GS CALTEX: GS MTF HD 70W
	(Gasoline) 1.6 T-GDi
Dual clutch trans-mission fluid	(Gasoline) 1.6 T-GDi		1.9~2.0 L (2.01~2.11 US qt.)	–  HK D DCTF TGO-10 PLUS (SK) –  SPIRAX S6 GHDE 70W DCTF PLUS (H.K.SHELL)
Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) fluid	(Gasoline) 2.0 MPI		6.7 L (7.1 US qt.)	Kia Genuine SP-CVT1*2
Coolant	(Gasoline) 2.0 MPI	M/T	5.6 L (5.9 US qt.)	Mixture of antifreeze and water (Ethylene glycol base coolant for aluminum radiator)
		IVT	5.6 L (5.9 US qt.)
	(Gasoline) 1.6 T-GDi	M/T	6.9 L (7.3 US qt.)
		DCT
Brake/clutch fluid *3			0.7~0.8 L (0.7 ~ 0.8 US qt.)	SAE J1704 DOT-4 LV, ISO4925 CLASS-6,FMVSS116 DOT-4
Fuel			53 L (14.0 US gal.)	–

1. Refer to “Recommended SAE viscosity number” on page 8-8.
2. Use only specified genuine intelligent variable transmission fluid. The use of nonspecified fluid (even marked as compatible with genuine) could result in shift quality deterioration and vibrations, eventually, transmission failure.
3. To maintain your vehicle’s best brake and ABS/ESC performance, use Kia genuine brake fluid as in the specification.

FAQ