Kia

With each new model Kia unveils, the company proves a more formidable rival to well-established mainstream brands like Ford, Honda and Volkswagen. The new Forte Koup, which debuted at the New York International Auto Show, is yet another example.

 

It looks sleek and sporty, and like the recently released Forte sedan and Soul crossover, the new 2-door appears more upscale than cars Kia produced in previous years. When you sit in these vehicles, it’s still clear from the materials used that they’re designed around a low cost base. But they’re stylish, appear to be of higher quality than the models they replace, and offer a lot for the money. Value is key these days.

 

All Forte Koups have standard height-adjustable sport seats, Bluetooth connectivity, Sirius satellite radio compatibility and auxiliary and USB ports for the audio system, all features that can cost extra on some cars. Options include heated leather seats and a sunroof.

 

Chief Kia designer Tom Kearns said at the car’s unveiling that the three new models together help create a distinct look for the company, which is a first. With the Forte Koup, Kearns is most proud of the fact that they were able to keep a lot of the design intact from the Koup concept vehicle unveiled at the 2008 New York auto show.

 

Kia said the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine offered on the Forte Koup EX is more powerful than engines offered in the Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus and Honda Civic. It makes 156 horsepower and 144 lb-ft of torque and returns 25 mpg city/35 mpg highway with either the standard 5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic transmission.

 

The Forte Koup SX comes with a larger and more powerful 2.4-liter engine that produces 173 horses and 168 lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed manual is standard and a 5-speed automatic is optional. Fuel economy is lower than with the EX model, at 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway with the manual and 22 mpg city/31 mpg highway with the automatic.

 

The Forte Koup will go on sale this summer shortly after the sedan.