Escaping Motherhood: 2015 Kia Forte Takes Us Away (And Back!)
Lindsay Kavet
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Looking sharp, the 2015 Kia Forte. Credit: Kia
A girls’ getaway weekend is all the better in a distinctly non-mom car.
I went to Mom 2.0 Summit a few weeks ago in Scottsdale, Arizona, with my friend Michelle Villemaire of TLC’s new show What She Said. So we could add a little adventure to the trip, we drove from Los Angeles to Scottsdale in a 2015 Kia Forte, loaned to us by Kia.
We had two rather large pieces of luggage, but although the Kia is a compact sedan, we easily fit the bags in the trunk. Without our children with us, the car was perfect for the two of us, but it could have easily fit two adults up front and two children in the back.
A moms only road trip to Phoenix in the 2015 Kia Forte. Credit: Lindsay Kavet for AGirlsGuidetoCars
The front cabin was nicer then expected and the ample trunk space was a huge bonus. The whole car, despite being compact, seemed more spacious then one would think.
Michelle and I were very happy to be Phoenix and it was very easy to plop in the destination of the hotel, The Phoenician, where the conference was being held and then the voice-automated lady (aka the navigation system) led us there.
I don’t touch my phone while driving. So I found it very easy to plug in my iPhone and program in our destination and let the navigation guide me via voice. It really was quite seamless as opposed to other cars that are not as user friendly. It had an intuitive infotainment system essentially!
Safety first: Kia takes the lead
The 2015 Kia Forte might be a compact car, but there’s plenty of room in the trunk for large suitcases. Credit: Lindsay Kavet for AGirlsGuidetoCars
I have been to Mom 2.0 Summit before; this was my second time. I have a national play that I have produced since 2008, a play that showcases people sharing their stories about motherhood on stage. I was also going to talk about my other passion, road safety. I blog about road safety over at Fix The Toaster and at A Girls Guide to Cars from time to time.
So, first and foremost safety was on my mind.
Backing up out of our parking spot Michelle and I admired the backup camera. “Feeling safe already,” Michelle and I laughed and felt happy to be on our way for three nights of socializing.
While we [luckily] didn’t get to try out the air bags, I was again pleasantly surprised that according to the Kia website, “When used with properly fitted seat belts, this advanced system helps detect the presence of a front-seat passenger, monitors an impact’s severity, and controls airbag inflation accordingly to help reduce injuries in certain collisions.” It truly is comforting to know that a car you’re riding in or are thinking of purchasing comes with some extra protection.
2015 Kia Forte: Easy to use, fun to drive
Ready for a road trip to Phoenix. Credit: Lindsay Kavet for AGirlsGuidetoCars
The Kia spent a few days parked while I attended the conference. After the conference I stayed an extra day and hit the road to drive to my grandparents’ old house.
The Kia was a pleasure to drive on the freeway; it accelerated well and offered a smooth ride. Turns out it takes regular gas and it gets 26 miles per gallon in the city, 39 on the highway.
Now, I know Phoenix is not Los Angeles but parking that puppy was very easy. Due to its compact nature it was a cinch. Which made me think it would be a good choice for a city-dwelling person like me.
Driver friendly navigation system. Credit: Lindsay Kavet for AGirlsGuidetoCars
The interior was good looking; it felt like a more expensive car then it is. The 2015 Kia Forte starts at just $19,390 and ranks 9 out of 42 Affordable Small Cars according to US News & World Report. “This ranking is based on our analysis of published reviews and test drives of the Kia Forte, as well as reliability and safety data.”
With the combination of the nice interior space, the feel of how it drove and the ease in which I could just hook up my iPhone, dial in my destination and hit the road, I was more then happy with my test drive of the Kia Forte.
I think this would be the right car for me if I were in my 20’s and did not have three kids. Or if I were in my 40’s with two kids or hell, my 70s with no one else in the car. But I’m not, I’m in my 30’s with three kids, and still, I was still impressed with the Kia Forte.
All the bells and whistles on the steering wheel. Credit: Lindsay Kavet for AGirlsGuidetoCars
WHAT I LOVED
- Luxurious and spacious interior
- Excellent backup camera
- Big trunk to hide bodies (or luggage, just seeing if you were paying attention, it was the desert after all)
- Intuitive navigation system
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Base price $15,890
- MPG 26/39 city/highway
- Takes regular gas