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The base four-cylinder engine in 2012 Kia Forte has enough power as a daily driver, said reviewers. A bigger, more powerful four-cylinder engine is available, although some critics commented that it can be noisy at highway speeds. Some reviewers say the standard six-speed manual transmission Forte can be difficult to shift, while the available six-speed automatic is generally smooth, they noted. Equipped with automatic transmission, 2012 Forte gets EPA-estimated 26/36 mpg city / highway, which is about average for the class. A fuel economy package available Forte improves fuel economy to 27/37 mpg. Test driver wrote that the base Forte has vague steering, and that body looks sleek in a sharp curve makes it less fun to drive than rivals like the 2012 Mazda3 athletics. The SX trim has a sport-tuned suspension that makes Forte a more agile, they added.

Reviewers say cabin 2012 Kia Forte has an interesting layout and the interior materials are equivalent to the class. Some critics complain the engine and road noise inside the cabin. The 2012 Forte is available as a hatchback, sedan or coupe (Koup Forte). The front seats are set high and offers good visibility, test driver writing, and both sedan and hatchback offer adequate head and legroom in the rear. The rear seat coupe is supposedly tight, they added. The Forte sedan has a huge trunk compared with rivals and hatchback can also save a good amount of cargo, especially with the seats folded. 2012 Forte comes standard with Bluetooth, four-speaker CD audio system with satellite radio and a USB port. Features include power windows and door locks, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, cruise control, electric sunroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, navigation, push-button start and automatic climate control. Auto authors reported that the 2012 Forte climate and audio controls are easy to use.