The affordable sports-coupe market may have dried up like a sun-baked earthworm, but Kia has recently launched a new competitor that’s poised to shake things up.
The Korean brand’s Forte Koup is a two-door version of their ambitious Forte sedan. The premise, simply, is delivery of a nicely-equipped and sporty two-door that’s affordable, practical and great to look at. Budget-minded sports-coupe hopefuls should be sharpening their pencils to write thank-you letters to Kia for this machine.
Value through styling
Nobody pretends the Forte Koup doesn’t look like a two-door Civic from some angles, though it offers about the most detail-dense and youthful-looking body anywhere near its price range. Dual exhaust tips, a rear splitter and faux black bumper vents lend an import-tuner attitude to the package, and the SX tester benefitted from chrome accents, a sunroof and mirror-mounted turn-signals for an upscale punch.
Koup’s exterior styling hits harder than its price-tag suggests-- and the interior pulls off the same trick.
Nice accommodations
Visitors to the tester’s cabin quickly noticed the contrasting colours and textures, red accent stitching, gloss-black trim and soft-touch panels on the doors and dash. The centre control stack gets a pair of red LCD displays to match the driver computer, and the overall look is very modern, dynamic and sporty.
Kia hasn’t skimped on equipment, either-- and automatic climate control, a subwoofer-equipped stereo, sunroof, heated leather seats and a Bluetooth phone interface were all on board.
The cabin is finished with generous storage, 3 cupholders within reach of the driver, and even a pair of power outlets under the stereo. The rear seats are usable by those of average size, and each gets a cupholder and storage compartment, too. Ultimately, the Koup’s cabin feels well laid out, functional and generously-equipped.
Of the whole car, it’s arguably the cabin that makes most folks guess the Koup SX costs a few thousand more than it actually does.
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| The Korean brand’s Forte Koup is a two-door version of their ambitious Forte sedan. (Photo: Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com) |
The Korean brand’s Forte Koup is a two-door version of their ambitious Forte sedan. The premise, simply, is delivery of a nicely-equipped and sporty two-door that’s affordable, practical and great to look at. Budget-minded sports-coupe hopefuls should be sharpening their pencils to write thank-you letters to Kia for this machine.
Value through styling
Nobody pretends the Forte Koup doesn’t look like a two-door Civic from some angles, though it offers about the most detail-dense and youthful-looking body anywhere near its price range. Dual exhaust tips, a rear splitter and faux black bumper vents lend an import-tuner attitude to the package, and the SX tester benefitted from chrome accents, a sunroof and mirror-mounted turn-signals for an upscale punch.
Koup’s exterior styling hits harder than its price-tag suggests-- and the interior pulls off the same trick.
Nice accommodations
Visitors to the tester’s cabin quickly noticed the contrasting colours and textures, red accent stitching, gloss-black trim and soft-touch panels on the doors and dash. The centre control stack gets a pair of red LCD displays to match the driver computer, and the overall look is very modern, dynamic and sporty.
Kia hasn’t skimped on equipment, either-- and automatic climate control, a subwoofer-equipped stereo, sunroof, heated leather seats and a Bluetooth phone interface were all on board.
The cabin is finished with generous storage, 3 cupholders within reach of the driver, and even a pair of power outlets under the stereo. The rear seats are usable by those of average size, and each gets a cupholder and storage compartment, too. Ultimately, the Koup’s cabin feels well laid out, functional and generously-equipped.
Of the whole car, it’s arguably the cabin that makes most folks guess the Koup SX costs a few thousand more than it actually does.
 |
| The centre control stack gets a pair of red LCD displays to match the driver computer, and the overall look is very modern, dynamic and sporty. (Photo: Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com) |