Can a Kia Forte pull a pop up camper?

In this article, we will discuss: Can a Kia Forte pull a pop up camper? We will see what is the best engine for towing with a Kia Forte and discuss the car’s performance and capacities when towing. 

Can a Kia Forte pull a pop up camper?

With a towing capacity of 2000 lbs. (900 kg) a Kia Forte is more than capable of pulling a pop-up camper. We, however, recommended using the 1.6L  Gamma II T-GDi I4  engine for towing. We explain why below.

The Kia Forte has two engines:

1. The 1.6 L Gamma II T-GDi I4 – generates 201 hp at 6000 rpm with 195 lb-ft of torque at 1500-4500 rpm.
2. And the 2.0 L Nu MPi I4 – that generates 147 hp at 6200 rpm with 144 lb-ft of torque at 4500 rpm.

 The 1.6 L Gamma generates higher power and would thus be better at pulling a camper. Please note that the manufacturer doesn’t recommend towing with any Kia Forte model, as the car wasn’t built with towing in mind. Pulling too much weight could damage the engine and the transmission of your Forte! 

Kia Forte: towing performance

Kia Forte is not a sports car nor does it pretend to be, but it does look like one. KIA’s family sedan spent some time in the design department to dress up in certain sporty elements, such as large air intakes, tapered shapes, a diffuser, and small skirts. It even borrowed the four-point LED daytime running lights from … Porsche?

Its design is also more global now. The front shares pencil with the European Ceed, while the rear follows the Sportage philosophy by including skulls joined by a stripe across the trunk lid. The turn signals go on the bumpers and I like it, but I am left wondering how much a minor accident repair might cost.

From end to end, the KIA Forte is 8.1 centimetres longer and reaches a height of 4.64 meters, making it one of the longest exponents in its category. The intention is that the cabin increases the space for passengers and the volume of the trunk increases. 

At first glance, the cargo space is convincing, although the 427 litres that it announced during its international launch seem modest by the standard of its category.

And on the subject of space, the place for legs and shoulders qualifies as adequate; for the head, only acceptable. The sunroof takes a few inches off the ceiling and tall drivers or passengers may miss them. It’s worth mentioning that the driving position feels lower than the previous generation, as a wink – again – at the Stinger’s influence.

With Kia Forte on the road

The platform of the KIA Forte is new. It comes from the current generation of the Hyundai Elantra and it shows in the overall refinement of the ride and the good sound insulation. From the hand of KIA comes a slightly more rigid set-up, although it is far from being compact with sporting intentions.

The suspension is smooth and its main purpose is that you travel comfortably, however, it is also true that your footprint feels a bit firmer than we would have imagined from a Forte. There is an interesting balance between poise and a knack for filtering out irregularities.

It is not bad in curves, but it is better understood with straights. Comfort is a priority.

Its focus on the US market is evident when cruising on straight roads. It enjoys good stability and a very good level of comfort. Going into the cornering zone is when you leave your comfort zone. 

There is no nervousness nor is it difficult to maintain the trajectory, but the understeer is evident and is presented to remind us that the Forte is a family vehicle that does not want to reach its destination in record time; you want to do it in total comfort.

Other questions you may be interested in

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It must also be remembered that the rear suspension is a torsion axis, which in the day-to-day life of the city can have little impact, but at higher speeds and in aggressive manoeuvres – emergency – it can suppose some nervousness and the imminent intrusion of electronic assistance to save the exercise. There are ABS brakes, hill start assistant, and electronic stability and traction control on all versions.

The steering seemed anaesthetized and inaccurate to us, but there is no room for criticism because it is not yet the final calibration. A spokesperson for the brand told us that it is exactly the area that they have the most to work on.

Kia Forte Engine

Many will say – me the first – that a traditional new generation automatic would have been a better idea, but this IVT has its merit. It is, along with Honda’s, one of the best-accomplished continuously variable gearboxes on the market. 

In addition, KIA’s arguments for switching to this type of box are quite reasonable: being simpler, it takes up less space and is more reliable; it optimizes fuel economy and, as measured by the brand, is faster than the six-speed it replaces.

The engine is the same as the last generation, a 2.0-litre Atkinson cycle block capable of generating 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. For the day-to-day life within the city, there is enough verve, however, in additions or overruns, it does not feel as forceful as we would like. 

And it is that talking about a compact with these figures in 2019 begins to sound conservative knowing that Jetta, Civic and Cruze already speak the turbo language and that Mazda3 is around 190 hp.

Finally, in terms of consumption, the brand expects an improvement of around 15% compared to the previous generation. In the city, we averaged 11.3 km / l. The history of the trip computer, with more than 9,000 accumulated kilometres, announces an enthusiastic 15.3 km / l.

Final thoughts

If something works, don’t change it, they say. KIA could have continued to offer the current generation Forte for another year or two and it would continue to sell just as well as it has done so far for one simple reason: People like value for money.

The new generation wants all the heritage of the Stinger without giving up what it has always been; he is as conservative as ever but from a more daring appearance. The combination of both ideas will be your best weapon against the Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Corolla or Nissan Sentra, although a more passionate buyer may fall for the performance of a Mazda3, a Honda Civic or a Volkswagen Jetta.

Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions or comments related to the content. 

FAQ on Can a Kia Forte pull a pop-up camper?

What can a Kia tow?

A Kia can tow a total of 2000kg braking capacity, a 2019 Kia Sorento can tow 900 kg and the 3.3-litre V6 engine with 290 hp and Dynamax AWD offers a max hauling capacity of 5000 pounds (or 2200kg).

Can a Kia Carnival tow a caravan?

A Kia Carnival can tow an unbraked caravan of 750kg and a 2000kg braked caravan. The maximum authorized weight of a Kia Carnival is 2900kg, while the Curb weight is 2093 kg.

Can a Niro tow a caravan?

Good news: the Kia Niro is a hybrid that can tow a caravan. With a towing capacity of 1300 kgs, the Kia Niro can tow any braked caravan or trailer within this weight limit. 

References

• Towing a Pop Up Camper with a Small Car – Camper Class
• Can a Kia Forte Tow a Travel Trailer or Popup Camper? – Camping …
• Kia Forte: Vehicle load limit – Driving your vehicle – Kia Forte TD …