Stepping inside a Kia Forte makes you wonder how there could be so much space in a compact car. Surprisingly affordable, the Forte boasts a roomy, upscale cabin, with soft plastics and quality materials. Feel free to invite even your tall friends to sit in the back, confident that the ceiling won't brush their heads. On top of that, there's more cargo capacity in a Forte than in most other cars in its class.

The Forte also offers great tech features, like Bluetooth, four-speaker audio system, USB, auxiliary audio jack, and satellite radio. There's also optional Apple CarPlay and Android Audio for smartphone connectivity. And the infotainment system is Kia's UVO, which is hailed as one of the best. Finally, the 2018 Kia Forte is plenty safe. Like last year, it again received five stars in government safety ratings, an overall perfect score.

The Kia Forte saves you money at the dealership and at the gas station. It gets 29 city/37 highway miles per gallon. What it lacks in raw power, it makes up for with responsive handling and nimble performance. Not only will it save you money, but rest assured it's a lot of fun to drive too.

The Kia Forte comes standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive optional. Choosing FWD will result in a lighter and, therefore, thriftier car at the pump. But spring for the AWD option if you want better traction on the road.

You've got three sedan trims and a hatchback model to consider. The most affordable Kia Forte is the LX sedan with manual transmission. Automatic transmission is, of course, available as an upgrade. The base engine on the LX and S trim is a 2-liter, 4-cylinder one that puts out 147 horsepower. For a sportier engine, consider the upper EX trim with 164 horsepower or the hatchback Forte5 with turbocharged engine.

The hatchback model holds more, having more overall cabin space and cargo capacity, and a higher roofline for backseat passengers. Hatchbacks are a little pricier and heavier than sedans, so you be the judge about whether you need the extra space.