Kia Forte 5-door

For a moment last year, Kia's design leadership role seemed to have been compromised: The second-generation Forte sedan, with its awkwardly twisted grille and ungainly posterior, failed to generate any excitement at last year's Los Angeles auto show. Moreover, there was a conspicuous absence of any forward-looking powertrain technology.

We are ready to dismiss our gripes with the new Forte, thanks to the five-door hatchback version that is debuting at the Chicago auto show. Kia went out of its way to differentiate the two body styles: The five-door Forte features not only a short, compact rear end, but also a fully reworked front end with distinct taillights, a slim grille, and a stylish lower air intake.

Kia claims the "edgy demeanor" of the new Forte is informed by European tastes, and we would almost believe it, were it not for the fact that the European-market Cee'd hatchback, which uses the same platform and is identically sized, shares not a single body part with the Forte. Nevertheless, the Forte looks good, especially with the upmarket SX trim, which packs twin exhaust tips, 18-inch aluminum wheels on 225/40 tires, a restyled front fascia, and LED taillights.

 The SX also is the version of choice for anyone whose driving style can be described as "fortissimo." It packs a turbocharged, direct-injected 1.6-liter turbo that produces 201 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 195 lb-ft of torque from 1750 to 4500 rpm. The Forte SX should reach 60 mph in less than eight seconds. Kia offers the choice of a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic box.

Customers on a budget can opt for the Forte EX, which comes with a naturally aspirated and direct-injected 2.0-liter four. That engine delivers 173 horsepower at 6500 rpm and 154 lb-ft of torque at 4700 rpm. It needs to be revved to move the car with authority, but shifting manually is not an option: The Forte EX comes with a six-speed automatic only. Not offered, nor missed, is the 148-hp 1.8-liter four, which figures as the standard engine in the Forte sedan.

But just like the Forte sedan, the hatchback can be ordered with options previously unheard of in this segment. They include a heated steering wheel, an air-cooled power driver's seat, and heated front and rear seats. Kia also offers xenon headlights, a keyless entry and start functionality, and leather seats. That is an impressive list of features; this kind of luxury should turn the Forte 5-door into a comfortable, stylish, and (if turbocharged) rapid companion for the city and for long distances.

The Kia Forte 5-door will be appear at dealerships in the third quarter of 2013; pricing has not been announced yet. It should give most domestic and Japanese offerings a good run—not to mention its sibling, the Hyundai Elantra GT. And with its European sister model, the two-door pro_cee'd GT, aiming to take on the Volkswagen GTI, we look forward to finding out how the Forte SX holds its own against the high-performance competition. For a good start, we now like its looks.