The Kia Cerato (also known as the Kia Forte in North America, K3 in South Korea or the Forte K3 or Shuma in China) is a compact car produced by the South Korean manufacturer Kia since 2003. In 2008, the Cerato nameplate was replaced by the Forte nameplate in the North American market and the K3 nameplate in South Korea. However, the "Cerato" name remains in use in markets such as Australasia, Middle East and Latin America. It is available in five-door hatchback, two-door coupe and four-door sedan variants. It is not available in Europe, where the similar sized Kia Ceed is offered (except for Russia and Ukraine, where the Ceed and the Cerato are both available).
In some markets, such as North America, the Cerato is marketed as the Kia Forte replacing the Spectra nameplate of previous generations. In Colombia and Singapore, the name Cerato Forte was used for the second generation, while Naza Automotive Manufacturing of Malaysia has assembled the vehicle since 2009, selling it there under the name Naza Forte.
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First generation (LD; 2003)
The Kia Cerato was introduced in South Korea in 2003, sharing a platform with the Hyundai Elantra (XD) and using Hyundai's Beta II (G4GC) (CVVT-enabled) four-cylinder engine. It replaced the Sephia/Mentor sedan and Shuma hatchback.
In North America, the "Spectra" name was used when introduced for the 2004 model year, with "Spectra5" designating the hatchback. For Latin American markets, the Cerato was still named Sephia until 2005, when it was discontinued in favor of the name Spectra. In Europe, the Cerato was replaced by the Kia Cee'd.
For the Malaysian market, the first generation Spectra was launched in Malaysia on August 15, 2007 as the "Spectra5" available only with one trim level and with the hatchback bodystyle powered by a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder, 16-valve, DOHC CVVT engine with a 4-speed automatic transmission.
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File:2005 Kia Cerato SE 2.0 Rear.jpg|2005 Kia Cerato SE saloon (UK)
File:2004-2006 Kia Spectra5 -- 09-12-2010.jpg|2004–2006 Kia Spectra5 SX hatchback (US)
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Facelift
In 2006, a facelift version was introduced, including revised Gamma engines. Stylistically, the bumper and headlamps lost their pronounced crease near the grille area, the trunk lid became more rounded, and the tail lights were reshaped.
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File:2007-2009 Kia Spectra sedan -- 03-21-2012.JPG|2007-09 Kia Spectra EX sedan (US)
File:2008 Kia Spectra EX in Ebony Black, rear left.jpg|2007-09 Kia Spectra EX sedan (US)
File:Kia Cerato 2.0 EX Iceblau.JPG|2008 Kia Cerato hatchback (Europe)
File:Kia Cerato 2.0 EX Automatik Iceblau Heck.JPG|2008 Kia Cerato hatchback (Europe)
File:07-Kia-Spectra5.jpg|2007 Kia Spectra5 hatchback (US)
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Cerato Green concept car
At the 2004 Geneva Motor Show, the Cerato Green Concept was presented, featuring Kia's new 2.0-liter CRDi diesel engine and showcasing the first Kia passenger car to be diesel-powered.
Motorsports
thumb|The Cerato during the 2006 China National Automobile Track Championship
In China, Dongfeng Yueda Kia and the Shandong Kigee Racing Club jointly entered the 2006 National Automobile Track Championship 1600CC using a modified Cerato 1.6 driven by Wang Shaofeng and Liu Yang.
Kia Cerato R and Horki 300EV
The Kia Cerato R is the extensive facelift of the Kia Cerato to extend sales within the Chinese market, while the second generation Kia Cerato was sold as the Kia Forte in China at the same time. The design was significantly updated to be in line with other newer Kia products. The Horki 300EV is a compact electric sedan with the design being essentially a rebadged version of the Kia Cerato R from the Chinese market, it was unveiled on the 2016 Auto Guangzhou. The platform is the same as the first generation Kia Cerato, which is still in production in China as the Cerato R.
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File:2018 Dongfeng-Yueda-Kia Cerato R, front 8.16.18.jpg|Kia Cerato R taxi (CN)
File:2018 Dongfeng-Yueda-Kia Cerato R, rear 8.16.18.jpg|Kia Cerato R taxi (CN)
File:Horki 300E 01 China 2018-03-20.jpg|Horki 300E (CN)
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Safety
Second generation (TD; 2008)
The second generation Kia Cerato was launched in South Korea in late 2008 under the Kia Forte name – a name that was used in most international markets. The "Cerato" name has been retained in some markets, such as Australia, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil and the Caribbean. In Singapore, the second generation model is badged "Kia Cerato Forte".
Hatchback
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File:Kia Cerato5 1.6 SX 2012 (14661129368) (cropped 2).jpg|2012 Kia Cerato SX
File:2012 Kia Cerato (TD MY12) eXtra hatchback (2012-09-01).jpg|Kia Cerato TD hatchback (Australia)
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Sedan
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File:Kia Cerato (II) – f 02012026.jpg|Kia Cerato sedan
File:Kia Cerato (II) – h 02012026.jpg|Kia Cerato sedan
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Coupe (Koup)
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File:2010 Kia Forte Koup -- 03-14-2010.jpg|Kia Forte Koup
File:2010 Kia Cerato Koup (TD MY10) coupe (17580660078) (cropped).jpg|Kia Cerato Koup rear
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Third generation (YD; 2012)
Kia released images of the third generation Cerato for the 2014 model year in late July 2012, when the company revealed its Korean-market counterpart, Kia K3. The car is completely redesigned with a lower, wider, and longer stance.
Hatchback
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File:2015 Kia Cerato (YD MY16) Si hatchback (2018-10-19) 01.jpg|Pre-facelift Kia Cerato Si hatchback
File:2015 Kia Cerato (YD MY16) Si hatchback (2018-10-19) 02.jpg|Pre-facelift Kia Cerato Si hatchback (rear)
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Sedan
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File:Kia Cerato (II, Facelift) – f 10012026.jpg|Facelift Kia Cerato S
File:Kia Cerato (II, Facelift) – h 10012026.jpg|Facelift Kia Cerato S (rear)
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Coupe
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File:Kia Cerato Koup 2.0 SX 2014 (12447148354) (cropped).jpg|Kia Cerato Koup SX
File:Kia Cerato Koup 2.0 SX 2015 (cropped).jpg|Kia Cerato Koup SX (rear)
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Fourth generation (BD; 2018)
The fourth generation Cerato was unveiled as the Forte on January 15, 2018 at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. Entering its third generation, the new car takes styling cues from the Stinger, and adopts a cab rearward exterior, resulting in a fastback profile and a short trunklid. The car is constructed with 54% advanced high-strength steel that is stronger than the outgoing model.
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File:2020 Kia Cerato S hatchback front.jpg|Kia Cerato S hatchback
File:2020 Kia Cerato S hatchback rear.jpg|Kia Cerato S hatchback
File:2020 Kia Cerato S rear.jpg|Kia Cerato EX sedan
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Sales
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Calendar year
!Vietnam
|-
| 2016
| 2,696
|-
| 2017
| 5,651
|-
| 2018
|11,710
|-
| 2019
|11,313
|-
| 2020
|12,033
|}