2012 Kia Forte: trims, real prices & how to pick yours
13 builds left the factory as a 2012 Forte, each a different combination of engine, transmission and body identified by the first eight characters of its VIN. The 7 main configurations sell for $2,295–$16,675 today.
- 7 main configurations
- 16,345 vehicles built
- 97 for sale right now
- $2,295–$16,675 typical price range
Which Forte is yours?
Enter a VIN — the 17 characters on the windshield or the title — and we’ll match it to its exact factory configuration, typical price and equipment.
Works with any VIN — a different year or model takes you straight to its own page.
Pick your Forte
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Most common — 60% of 2012 Fortes
GLS KNAFU4A2-C2L. 9,785 built.
$2,295 great deal $5,990 typical $16,675 top of market -
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What actually differs
| GLS KNAFU4A2-C | GL | GLS KNAFU5A2-C | GLS KNAFU6A2-C | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body | Sedan | Sedan | Hatchback | Coupe |
| Doors | 4-door | 4-door | 5-door | 2-door |
| Typical price today | $5,990 | $6,488 | $4,999 | $6,495 |
| For sale right now | 52 | 6 | 11 | 13 |
| Vehicles built | 9,785 | 1,678 | 1,472 | 1,317 |
Same on every 2012 Forte
- Engine 2L
- Fuel Gasoline
What people actually pay
124 price observations · updated Aug 30, 2026
GLS
$5,990
$2,226
$5,964
$9,701
$13,439
$17,176
Safety, in plain English
NHTSA overall crash rating
★★★★ ★ 4 / 5
4 recalls on file for this model year — check any specific VIN before you buy.
What KNAFW5A3-C means
KNA
FW5A3
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C
- KNA
- the World Manufacturer Identifier Kia registered — assembled in South Korea
- FW5A3
- together encode the Forte line — Hatchback, 2.4L — as Kia filed it, these five characters are read as one block, not letter by letter
- C
- in position 10 — model year 2012
- 9, 11–17
- differ on every car: check digit, plant code and the serial number
6 rare configurations — mostly fleet, export or irregular VIN patterns. Fewer than 20 known vehicles each.
- 2L Coupe KNAFD6A2-C Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration KNHWU4A2-C Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- GL 2L Sedan KNAFT412-C Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- GL 2L Hatchback KNAFT5A2-C Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- LX Sedan 4D 1KNAFT4A-8 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration ANAFT4A2-C Fewer than 20 known vehicles
Already looking at a specific Forte?
Paste its VIN — we’ll open that exact car’s page: its configuration, market position and every listing we’ve tracked.