Comments by "Stephen Hendricks" (@stephenhendricks103) on "" video.

KIA is playing a long game with the Forte. It doesn't have to be the best possible entry in the compact sedan segment. It just has to be an attractive, competent, tech packed daily driver that appeals to young and other first time buyers. Most of that market segment doesn't know what a CVT is. As long as it shifts imperceptibly and doesn't drone, it's an automatic transmission. End of story. 0-60 mph? Who's counting? As long as it gets up to freeway speed in 9 seconds of less, it's quick enough, even peppy. What does matter is purchase price, fuel economy, safety, and practicality. For those drowning in student loan debt and parents buying their kids a first car, even a few hundred dollars difference in a purchase price is important. A very well equipped car for less than $24K draws attention. For those paying for fuel and insurance at near entry level jobs, 40 MPG is a magic number. Forty MPG jumps off the window sticker to a potential customer. Thirty-nine mpg? Not so much. Parents buying their kid a first car LOVE safety and convenience features like lane keeping assist and automated emergency braking. (I know; I'm one of those parents.) Need an attractive car that will carry that massive load of stuff to and from college? Just look at what can be stuffed into the Forte. But there's even more to this game from KIA's standpoint. Loyalty to automotive brands isn't what it used to be but it's still true that if a customer buys their first new car from a company and remain happy with it they're more likely to consider that brand when they move up to a second, a third, or a fourth vehicle. KIA can afford to make almost no profit from the Forte if they substantially improve their chances of selling an Optima, a Sportage, a Sorento, a Stinger, or whatever else they come up with as young buyers mature and their needs/desires change. Fond memories of a first car is a powerful sales tool. It might even tempt mom and dad to think about a KIA for their next purchase.
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@matthews95_ Different strokes for different folks. Of course purchasing a carefully cared for low mileage used car can be a smart financial decision. But a KIA five year bumper to bumper and 10 year power train warranty delivers a lot of piece of mind to a purchase. Add to that the fact many buyers aren't equipped to evaluate a "well taken care of older model" vehicle, especially if they have no way to determine how a vehicle has been treated. A CPO vehicle may reduce those problems but it also reduces the price advantage of purchasing a used car in the first place. All in all, it's not just "marketing." There are rational arguments on both sides of the issue.
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@S. D. H. You make a very good point. In fact, I think first time buyers and we more (ahem) mature drivers share some of the same priorities. Seniors, even those who've owned larger vehicles in the past, may prefer smaller vehicles as part of an overall downsizing lifestyle. Retirees, including prosperous retirees, are often dealing with stagnant or shrinking incomes and value reliability and economical operation as a result. Most folks become more risk averse as we age. The new safety systems are reassuring on that point. I'm not sure what the sales statistics show but I've been struck by the fact that I see both older and much younger drivers in KIA Souls, a small and very popular KIA model that shares some of the characteristics with the Forte.
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@Grieg Ragen Ugly is in the eye of the beholder. I'm sure your comment was widely expressed about a small German import car that began to show up in the US in considerable numbers in the 1950's and sixties. It managed to survive somehow despite its odd styling and to become the best selling vehicle in history. ;)
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