Styling not only forte for Kia Koup
PETER BLEAKNEY/FOR THE TORONTO STAR
The Kia Forte Koup, which starts at $18,495 for the EX trim level, starts with a 156 hp engine, against coupe rivals Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cobalt.
It’s fair to say that those who choose the coupe over four-door versions of such entry-level cars as the Ford Focus, Honda Civic or Chevrolet Cobalt are looking to spice up their motoring experience with a dash of panache.
It’s also fair to say that Kia has chiseled an exceptionally handsome two-door in the Forte Koup. Questionable spelling notwithstanding, the Koup’s aggressively kreased flanks and dark-tint 16-inch alloys drew komplimentary looks wherever I went.
Proving the stigma of selling only cheapo cars is harder to shake than a lip-locked pit bull, the most common response was an incredulous, “That’s a Kia?”
The front-wheel-drive Koup starts at $18,495 for the EX model fitted with a 156 hp 2.0 L four-cylinder, with DOHC variable valve-timing and a five-speed manual.
Step up to the $21,495 SX and you get 173 hp from a 2.4 L four hooked to a six-speed manual, plus leather, 17-inch alloys and sport-tuned suspension. The subject of this test is an EX with four-speed manu-matic transmission that goes for $19,695.
Hopping in the car for the first time, I wasn’t thrilled with the disconcertingly cheap sound the door made when closed. Once inside, the fabric seats felt supportive, and the cabin, although oppressively black, looked fine, helped along by the soft-touch plastic on the dash top, large legible gauges and simple, intuitive audio/HVAC controls on the centre stack.
Finding a multi-function tilting/telescoping steering wheel in this class of car was a harbinger of things to come.
With a torque peak of 144 lb.-ft., this is a punchy little four. Off-the-line acceleration is brisk, although with only four gears in the auto (the SX gets a five-cog auto) the ratios are quite widely spaced. This makes for a fair disparity in revs when the gears change, and the four gets coarse in the upper reaches of the tachometer. The payoff is a relaxed cruise (2600 rpm at 120 km/h).
In manual mode, with the floor shifter tapped into the right hand gate, gears are selected via the VW/Audi method of forward for upshifts and back for downshifts.
Dynamically, the Koup EX is sporty with quick steering but it lacks the sophistication its visual flair promises. The steering feels wooden just off centre, the ride is choppy, and when pressed, it defaults to early understeer. A VW Golf or Mazda3 it ain’t.
This should be of little concern for most buyers who will be pleasantly surprised with the Koup’s extensive list of standard features. Sticking to the Korean’s mandate of “load ‘em up and sell ‘em cheap”, the Forte Koup, even in this base trim, has Honda, Chevrolet and Ford nervously staring at their collective wing-tips.
On the safety front, the Koup has four-wheel disc brakes, traction and stability control, six airbags, Bluetooth with voice activation, windshield wiper de-icer, heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals, and active front head-restraints.
I commend Kia for its well-tuned six-speaker audio with USB and auxiliary inputs. The front seats are heated and as noted earlier, the audio, standard cruise and Bluetooth can be controlled from the steering wheel. .
Getting into the back seat is best done from the passenger side, where the seat slides ahead on its track when tipped forward. There’s decent legroom back there, but anyone approaching six feet will find their head against the top of the back window.
And puhleeze, can we abolish seats that don’t return to their pre-set rake adjustment after being flipped forward? This largely Asian practice is a complete pain in the neck, back, and other parts of the anatomy.
The Forte Koup’s trunk is a generous 358 L with a large opening, although the hinges are of the hoop-type “luggage crusher” variety. The rear 60/40 seats fold forward for more storage capacity.
The 2010 Forte Koup’s direct competitors are the 140 hp Honda Civic Coupe DXG ($18,880), the 143 hp Ford Focus Coupe SE ($17,999), and the 155 hp Chevy Cobalt Coupe LT ($18,425).
While pricing is pretty close, the Koup’s standard Bluetooth, steering wheel-mounted controls, cruise, heated seats, and six-speaker audio with USB aren’t found on the others. The Ford has heated mirrors and stability control, the Honda telescoping steering column and active head-restraints, the Chevy and Ford 16-inch alloys . . . well, you get the picture.
To these eyes, the Koup is the best looking of the bunch by a Korean mile, and perhaps more importantly, looks pricier than its modest sticker. Factor in Kia’s five-year roadside assistance, powertrain and comprehensive warranty, and this scrappy little coupe is hard to ignore.
2010 Kia Forte Koup EX
PRICE: base/as tested: $18,495/$19,695
ENGINE: 2.0 L four
FUEL CONSUMPTION: city 8.1, hwy 5.8, observed 8.3 L/100km (35/49/34 mpg)
POWER/TORQUE: 156 hp; 144 lb.-ft.
COMPETITION: Honda Civic Coupe DXG, Ford Focus Coupe SE, Chevy Cobalt Coupe LT
WHAT’S BEST: it’s a loaded looker
WHAT’S WORST: dynamics don’t quite match the visuals
WHAT’S INTERESTING: penned by ex-Audi designer Peter Schreyer
Freelance auto reviewer Peter Bleakney can be reached at
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