Are you really going to need more than 201 horsepower?
It’s refreshing to see that the hatchback remains viable in a sea of SUVs and crossovers. The updated K3 sedan was unveiled in South Korea last week (Cerato/Forte in other markets). Now, Kia will be launching the K3 GT, a five-door version of the K3 GT with a performance twist. The GT brings some flavor to the hatch, which is available in Canada but not in the United States as the Forte5 GT.
The GT has the same styling changes as the four-door sedan and features updated LED lights at both the front und rear. Red accents are added to the GT’s front grille, and it features a pseudo rear diffuser with dual exhaust tips. Although it isn’t a full-fledged Volkswagen Golf GT competitor, the K3 GT boasts some sporty credentials due to its multi-link rear suspension and Bilstein shock absorbers. It also has Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires.
Inside the cabin, the changes continue with a digital 10.25-inch driver’s display and touchscreen infotainment. The interior is adorned with red accents, as well as the shift pedals and aluminum pedals. The K3 GT comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. There are only two of them.
The warm hatch’s heart is a turbocharged, 1.6-liter gasoline engine that produces 201 horsepower and 265 Newton-meters of torque. The exact same power is offered by the Forte5 GT Canada, which is an automatic-only model. These numbers are good for an affordable hatch. The South Korean version is priced at $23,600 without options. The Canadian pre-facelift model is priced at 27,595CAD (22,100USD).
Kia also released images of the KDM-spec K3 Sedan, highlighting the improvements made with the mid-cycle update. Extended gallery includes photos of the lower-spec trim with halogen lights (with led DRLs), manual AC conditioning, and an analog cluster.
The sedan will be coming to the USA where it may lose its Forte badge and choose for K3 in the same manner as the Optima . Rumours of the hatchback returning to the USA were rumored after the Forte5 was registered in California’s Air Resources Board (CARB). However, Kia has denied that such plans. The future of the facelifted model will be revealed over time.