Kia Forte's Smart Key

Any decent modern car comes with a car remote. A basic car remote allows the car owner to open and shut its doors at a distance. Typically, the remote is attached to the car key for convenience (one part remote another key). Kia Forte however comes with, what we call a Smart Key (applicable to SX model only). The Smart Key, is part of Kia Forte's Remote Keyless Entry system, what? Did you just say Remote Keyless Entry... Yes, its a mouth full just to say it correctly, and it is one car feature that you don't want to miss.


In Malaysia, the lowest priced car which such equivalent feature is a D-segment car, Toyota Camry 2.4V, priced at RM174,990 OTR (as of current writing). And here Kia Forte (a C-segment) is offering such a feature for all SX models, with the lowest priced car at RM81,800 OTR (as of current writing).

For this particular write-up, I will exclusively cover the Smart Key. Will leave the Remote Keyless Entry for another day... hmm... maybe I'll just give you some teaser as to why the Remote Keyless Entry is not so 'Keyless' after all.

Numbering based on picture (image of  Smart Key on the left)
1. Lock button. All doors are locked if the lock button is pressed.
2. Unlock button. All doors are unlocked if the unlock button is pressed.
3. Trunk open button. The trunk is opened if the button is pressed for more than 1 second. Yes, the trunk can me opened remotely.
4. Panic button. The horn sounds and the hazard warning lights will blink for a continuous 30 seconds if the button is pressed for more than 0.5 second.
5. This is where the Remote Keyless Entry is not so.. 'Keyless' after all. Press this button to release a hidden key.

This is how it looks like after we've removed the hidden key from the Smart Key case.

There are three ways to lock / unlock the car doors. The first two, are obvious, using the Smart Key lock / unlock button and the hidden key. The third, I shall reserve it when we speak on the Keyless Entry of Kia Forte. Most of the time, car owners won't be using the hidden key. The hidden key is for emergency, especially when the Smart Key battery is flat or when the communication signal sent to the car is weak. For myself, I've only used the key once, its to test the lock / unlock mechanism. And I rarely use the Smart Key button to lock / unlock my car. How do I lock / unlock the car then? Take a guess...

By now you must be wondering why its call a Smart Key! My guess is as good as yours. The Smart Key 'talks' (or communicates) with the car. Its sends encrypted signal to the car for verification. Without the Smart Key, the driver can't start the car. Yes, it has an immobilizer feature. With the Smart Key, the driver do not have to use a car key to start the car, in-fact, Kia Forte SX models do not have a key hole for driver to start the car; fyi, conventional car ignition system uses a car key to start the car.

Oh ya.. the Smart Key is powered by a 3 volt lithium coin battery (CR2032), 20mm in diameter. Hope this will get you a little curious and excited about the Remote 'Keyless' Entry of Kia Forte. I wonder how much do Forte's owners have to pay for a replacement of a Smart Key?