The Kia Forte Koup is the brand's first-ever sporty two-door, and if all goes as planned, the Koup and its Forte sedan sibling will go head to head with the segment staples such as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Mazda3.
The Koup shares its front-drive unibody platform with the Forte sedan, but manages to be slightly shorter in height and length than the four-door. It also shares the Forte's engine lineup consisting of an EX trim level base 2.0L four-cylinder (156-hp, 144 lb-ft) and a bigger 2.4L four-banger (173-hp, 168 lb-ft) in the higher-spec SX model - both of which should be good for more than 30 mpg highway. Entry level Koups come with either a five-speed manual or four-speed auto. Transmissions in the SX models get one more gear each.
Both Koup trims receive the same sleek styling highlighted by the automaker's attractive new front end. The nose is accented by wrap-around headlights and muscular wheel surrounds, while at the back, a dual exhaust set on either side of the rear diffuser further indicates the two-door's athletic character. Sixteen-inch rolling stock is standard on the EX, but 17-inchers can be had when customer moves up to the SX. Despite its size, the 2010 Koup sports a generous 90.7 cu ft of interior volume -- 12.6 cu ft of which is dedicated to cargo. Standard bolstered sport seats, air conditioning, power widows/door locks keep passengers as comfortable as possible. SX owners get red stitching, tilt and telescoping, leather-wrapped steering wheels, and metal trimmings added to the amenities list.
Bottom Line: Can the Koup score a coup over the established import players?
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