The Naza Forte is designed by South Korean marquee Kia but locally assembled by Naza Group Bhd.
Representing good performance and value, this vehicle is a good alternative to foreign marquee complete knock down (CKD) sedans.
There are three variants altogether, namely the 1.6 litre EX, the 1.6 litre SX and the 2.0 litre SX.
A six-speed transmission is available with all variants while the 1.6SX and 2.0SX models offer the extra option of being switched to manual mode.
The test model was the 1.6 SX variant featuring a 1.6 litre four-cylinder engine, built-in rear view camera system and paddle shifters for manual mode driving.
On first sight, the vehicle looked aerodynamic, sporty and ready to trot.
The interior was decently comfortable and aesthetic, which added to the driving experience.
The doors and ignition on the vehicle were operated via an intelligent key which was a nice surprise and a welcome feature for a vehicle in this price range.
It was interesting to note that the doors and boot could not be locked remotely while the key was in the vehicle, thus alleviating the paranoia of locking oneself out of the vehicle.
Upon start-up, I could not help but notice how the engine purred responsively.
The interior was fairly isolated from ambient noises and made for a nice quiet drive.
Also of interest were the sound system with MP3 compatibility, six-CD changer, USB and iPod ports making the connectivity options quite pleasing at this price range.
The sound was quite decent with good bass response.
The driver’s seat provided excellent comfort with six-way manual adjusters.
The passenger seat featured four-way manual adjusters. The automated air-conditioning system was controlled via a huge dial and buttons below the sound system console.
I found it to be pleasing and comfortable.
The comfort and handling of the ride were quite good. The suspension and shock absorbers worked well to offer a good driving experience with a sporty feel.
Speaking of sporty, I must state that the steering and overall handling were different in that they were suited to the adventurous and sporty driver looking for more control in the responsiveness of the vehicle.
I must advocate that this should not be a deterrent in that it did not take away the comfort of driving at all.
The handling was ‘tight’ rather than ‘soft’ as may be found in other vehicles.
In terms of the engine and transmission, the 1.6 litre engine offered pretty decent performance.
The acceleration was fairly good for a 1.6 litre engine and enabled overtaking with ease.
While the 1.6 litre engine did offer good performance for everyday city driving, those looking for a little more ‘oomph’ in performance should look into the 2.0 SX which costs about RM12,000 more.
Naza is offering a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty for the engine and transmission, and a minimum of one year for other components.
This definitely boosts the appeal of the Forte.
All variants of the Forte are available in Clear White (pictured), Metal Bronze, Bright Silver, Ebony Black, Spicy Red and Titanium Silver.
With good performance, value added features, and sporty handling, the Forte definitely gives the foreign CKDs a good run for the money in the local market.