2017 Kia Forte Joins Top Safety Pick Plus Ranks

Add the 2017 Kia Forte to the growing list of small cars that have aced the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's set of crash tests.

Kia's compact sedan was awarded the highest Top Safety Pick + rating by the IIHS last week. The institute said Forte models built from March 2017 feature both structural improvements and longer side curtain airbags that improved its scores in frontal and side crash tests to achieve the top rating. The 2016 model was rated marginal in the small overlap front test, the second-lowest score.

Kia also now offers automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning on the 2017 Forte with either the available Technology or Premium packages, depending on model. With those features, the IIHS gave the Forte its highest Superior rating for crash prevention. The available high-intensity discharge headlamps were also given top marks, although the standard headlamps scored the lowest Poor rating.

The 2017 Forte joins six other small cars tested by the IIHS that were awarded with the highest Top Safety Pick + rating, including the Subaru Impreza, Chevrolet Volt, Hyundai Elantra, Mazda 3, and Toyota Corolla and Prius. Most small models tested also do well in every category now, except for headlight performance.