2020 Kia Forte5 getting 201-hp turbo four?

Certification documents hint at the model's imminent release.

Crossovers and SUVs are the flavors of the day at Kia, but the South Korean company isn't leaving buyers who want a regular compact car behind. The firm will expand its American line-up by bringing back the Forte5, according to a recent report, and the model will put a focus on affordable performance.

Kia hasn't announced the 2020 Forte5, but the its imminent reveal was spotted by website CarBuzz after examining certification documents submitted to the California Air Resources Board (CARB). They list two variants of the Forte5 (one without adaptive cruise control, and one with) in addition to two variants of the Forte sedan that's already in Kia's line-up.

The name Forte5 will likely ring a bell; Kia sold it until the 2018 model year. The certification documents all but confirm the nameplate will return to the Kia line-up, and they hint that it will be positioned as a performance-oriented model. The only engine listed is a 1.6-liter, which CarBuzz believes is the turbocharged, 201-horsepower unit also found in the Soul. It will spin the front wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission, according to the same documents.

CARB didn't leak images of the car, but Kia's Canadian division already revealed it at the 2019 Montreal auto show. The hatchback (pictured) falls in line with Kia's current design language, and it's nearly identical to the Ceed GT sold in Europe. Plans to sell the Forte5 in the United States weren't made public in Montreal, but we expect Kia to make an official announcement in the coming weeks.