 |
Sponsored by:
|
| The Toyota Camry |
 |
|
 DETROIT --Although the Kia Koup is based on the Kia sedan it is a very different looking compact car
My test vehicle had an aggressive stance, wrap around headlamps, large air intakes and a pretty low profile. The taillights were slimmed and wrapped. There was a muscular shoulder line meant to exude strength and power and it did.
A black diffuser dominated the rear end and dual exhausts were on the right side of the car. Although based on the sedan, the Kia Koup had a look and personality of its own.
 The interior of my test vehicle was black with subtle red French stitching. The exterior of the car was what Kia called Copperhead (bronze). It was a snappy contrast. Its gauges were back lit in red at night and this made the Kia Koup seem more expensive than it was. My test vehicle was priced at $18,195.
It was spacious, especially in the front seats. I gave a friend a ride home and we had plenty of room in the front seats. Kia says the Koup is a five passenger car; maybe technically. First it’s an effort to get in the back seat. Second, once back there I think average size folks would find themselves somewhat cramped. And I just don’t see three people riding abreast comfortably in the rear seat of a Kia Koup for any real length of time.
Still, I didn’t think the car was meant for families or for people who plan to use the back seat for passengers with any regularity. If you do, get a Kia Forte sedan.
 The Koup was lower, shorter and a bit narrower than the Kia Forte sedan yet it had the same 104.3-inch wheelbase. That translated into a very comfortable ride.
I had the Kia Koup SX which was powered by a four cylinder engine that made 173 horsepower and 168 pounds-feet of torque. It was mated to a six-speed manual transmission. And my Kia Koup SX had a sport tuned suspension.
In a nutshell, my test car had a firm but not harsh ride, handling was very good, power was more than adequate and the car got 22 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the hwy.
Part of the performance package was 17-inch aggressively styled wheels. The Kia Koup SX also had satellite radio USB and auxiliary jacks and Bluetooth. The car even had a moonroof which I thought was pretty good for the price.
 In addition to the moonroof, I thought the adjustable rear headrests were a nice and thoughtful touch. The trend that the Kia Koup and its sibling Forte sedan symbolize is small cars having the same equipment as larger costlier automobiles.
What impressed me the most about the Kia Forte was engine noise; there was none which is an achievement for a four cylinder engine. In fact, to sync my gear shifts with the RPMs I had to turn down the radio. In other words, the engine was so quiet that I couldn’t hear it with the radio playing (I’m a blaster). It’s the sound of the RPMs that will tell drivers, in most cases, when to shift gears.
I found the Kia Koup to be snappy, fun to drive and good looking. At roughly $18,000, I think every manufacturer that produces a small sporty everyday car should be concerned from a competitive standpoint.
|
|
|
