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The 2010 Kia Forte Koup SX is a rare mixed bag from Kia, a slick fashion statement that handles better than it needs to and doesn't go as fast as it should. Like fellow Korean giant Hyundai, Kia has churned out a series of remarkably competitive products as of late, not least the Forte SX sedan on which the Koup is based. Indeed, that sedan took down a similarly priced Mazda 3 i in one of our most lopsided comparison tests ever. The Koup, however, could use some fine-tuning.
For years now, the Honda Civic and Scion tC have been the only names worth mentioning among reasonably priced sedan-based two-doors. Enter the Forte Koup, which comes with a choice of two engines, just like its rivals (if you count the tC's dealer-installed supercharger option), but offers more head-turning style than both Japanese entrants put together.
But the stakes are higher for coupes than for sedans, whose buyers often want extra flair in return for surrendering practicality. The 2010 Kia Forte Koup SX has a nice body, but its 173-horsepower four is unchanged from the sedan, whereas the high-revving Civic Si and supercharged tC boast 200 hp apiece and consequently much friskier acceleration.
Some aspects of the five-door hatchback carry over to the 2011sedan and Koup models. The sedan and Koup will upgrade to six-speed manual or automatic transmissions and adopt the new grille and fascia design, the push-button start system and the paddle shifters. These models keep their class-leading list of standard features that includes Bluetooth, SIRIUS satellite radio and iPod connectivity.
Two of the 2010 Forte’s greatest weaknesses are its lackluster acceleration and small rear seat. Because the 2011sedan and Koup models have not changed much, its performance on the road and back seat dimensions remain the same.
Thus far, no reviewer has commented on how comfortable the five-door hatchback’s rear seat is. Reviewers are silent about cargo capacity too. And though the exact figure is unknown, the five-door hatchback’s cargo hold should measure greater than the 2010 sedan’s whopping 14.7 cubic feet.
The 2011 Kia Forte five-door hatchback will be available this fall, but Kia has not provided a release date for the 2011 Forte sedan and Koup. Keep checking back as more information is released on Kia’s newest additions.
The Forte Koup SX's styling provoked much discussion among our staffers, with some comparing it to the sexy Audi A5 and others panning questionable design elements like the silver-and-black 17-inch wheels. Our overall impression was positive, and we suspect the driving public will agree.
Inside, however, the Forte Koup is afflicted by the same boring styling as the sedan. Some aspects are slightly different, including a new rubbery dash surfacing, but the overall look is far less interesting than what you'll find in a Civic Si or Scion tC. Materials quality is adequate, but we noticed a handful of rattles and buzzes in our test car, unlike the solidly constructed Forte SX sedan we tested recently.
Suspension changes include uprated dampers, increased castor angle for greater self-centring steering and a sharper steering 'feel' in town driving. A thicker front stabiliser bar helps improve cornering stability and delivers extra grip. The steering wheel also has a quicker turn ratio.
While the handling is certainly improved the ride quality is too firm. The uprated dampers have far too much bump and not enough rebound, so that the suspension extends too rapidly when travelling over a large bump and the wheel thumps hard into the tarmac.
On smooth tarmac the car is much better to drive, and on smooth urban roads the car handles well, but the power steering is vague and over-sensitive at low speeds.
The general driving experience is one of a car that has been styled to look sporty, with hardware that almost delivers an enhanced driving experience. Kia is right to be classifying the Koup as a sporty, rather than sports car.
Then again, with a low entry level price and no real competitor in the market the style of the car will be the deciding factor for most buyers, who will not be concerned with performance.
The front-wheel-drive 2010 Kia Forte Koup SX is powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 173 hp and 168 pound-feet of torque. Our test car had the optional five-speed automatic transmission; a six-speed manual is standard (for 2011, a six-speed automatic transmission is available). At the test track, the Forte Koup SX hit 60 mph in 8.4 seconds en route to a 16.3-second quarter-mile at 85.8 mph.
That's more than a second slower to 60 than the Civic Si and supercharged Scion tC, though these models come only with manual transmissions. The base Civic trails the Koup SX by a few ticks, while the base tC is comparable. Remarkably, the Forte Koup SX zipped through our slalom cones at 68.5 mph, which is 1.2 mph faster than the Forte SX sedan and just 0.3 mph behind the last Civic Si we tested. The tC, for the record, doesn't handle nearly as well.
In the real world, the 2.4-liter four supplies a forgettable soundtrack, but it feels capable, with a broad power band that belies its middling acceleration numbers. The transmission, moreover, is smooth and responsive, and its extraordinarily tall gearing (2,400 rpm at 80 mph) helps produce decent EPA fuel economy ratings of 23 mpg city/31 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined, according to the EPA.
On winding roads, the sport-tuned Koup SX feels cool and composed, with good body control and responsive steering. But the only place you'll really notice its handling edge over the Forte SX sedan is at the track — on public roads the difference is barely discernible.
And that slight handling edge comes at the expense of ride quality, as the sport-tuned Koup SX isn't just stiffer than the sedan; it's as taut as a Civic Si. Some are willing to put up with this kind of ride, but they're likely looking for more juice under the hood to go with it. In short, the Koup SX has an identity crisis — it can't decide whether it wants to be a sport compact or a sporty-looking commuter car. Hey, Kia: Crank up the horsepower or tune the ride; then we'll talk.
SAFETY
On the highway, the 2010 Kia Forte Koup SX remains laudably quiet, and its almost Germanic high-speed composure lends peace of mind — until you hit a rough patch, that is, at which point sharp impacts are heard and felt. Be sure to drive the Koup SX over some broken pavement before signing on the dotted line. The leather-wrapped steering wheel isn't the nicest of its ilk, but at this price point we applaud Kia for trying. Like the sedan, the Koup lacks anything in the way of door armrest padding.
On the bright side, the supportive Koup-exclusive sport seats deserve credit for being fairly convincing riffs on the Civic Si's front chairs. The backseat, on the other hand, is about what we expect from a compact coupe. There's space back there for children and small adults, but legroom and especially headroom are at a premium. Overall, we'd deem the Forte Koup SX a supple ride away from satisfactory in the comfort department.
reference:usnews.rankingsandreviews.com,www.edmunds.com,www.suite101.com
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