Road Test: 2013 Kia Forte Koup SX Luxury

Story and photos by John LeBlanc LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Kia's Forte Koup has never sold in huge numbers, but that hasn't diminished the significance of the compact, two-door — the Korean brand's first-ever coupe. Debuting in 2008 as a concept, the original two-door version of the Forte four-door went on sale two years later. It was the first salvo in a string of good-looking cars from the Korean automaker that have helped it move from a bottom-feeder to a design leader. As Tom Kearns, head designer of Kia's California-based design studio responsible for the original Koup's looks, said when it debuted, 'The concept represents the future of the Kia brand.' Indeed. Since then, it's been difficult to find a new Kia that's hard on the eyes. But with Kia's hyper-paced product update schedule — reminiscent of the Japanese automakers in the 1990s — the Koup is being replaced for 2014 with an all-new model that debuted at this spring's New York auto show. Based on the all-new 2014 Forte four-door sedan and hatchback that will go on sale later this spring, the second-generation Forte Koup won't go on sale until fall 2013. So how relevant is the existing Koup if you're in the market for a new, small two-door today? No longer sold on dollar-store pricing alone, any Kia still offers plenty of value; for example, the base 2013 Forte Koup EX starts at $19,095. Highlights for the next-rung-up, $22,395 Koup SX include a bigger engine, larger 17-inch alloys, power sunroof, automatic climate control, sport leather seats and leather on its steering wheel and gear shifter, trip computer, satellite radio and 'sport tuned' suspension. With the small coupe segment in decline for some time, the front-wheel-drive compact Koup SX Luxury has only three real rivals: the $25,240 Honda Civic Coupe EX-L Navi, the $26,300 Scion tC, and the $25,199 Hyundai Elantra Coupe SE Auto. I suppose you could also chuck Volkswagen's Beetle into the mix, too, if you see it as a coupe and not a hatchback. But the top-line, $26,095 Koup SX Luxury I borrowed for a week-long golfing trip in Las Vegas won't break your bank either. On top of the SX, the Luxury adds a pair of chrome door handles, LED tail lights and a navigation system to make sure I made my early morning tee-times. An optional $1,400 six-speed automatic (that replaced a manual unit with the same number of gears) was the only add-on on my press fleet car. While the forthcoming 2014 Forte Koup's exterior eschews the crisp, Audi-esque lines of the original for a softer, more-rounded look, one aspect of the 2013 model I won't miss is its dated-looking interior. I spent a week behind the wheel, navigating in and around Vegas, with plenty of highway driving. From a functionality standpoint, the 2013 Koup's cockpit is workable, and the ergonomics are sound enough. The Kia's well-thought-out driving position and comfortable seats never brought undo attention. And — for the most part — all the interior bits are robust. But many of the plastics have a sheen to them as if they've been permanently slathered in Amor All. The 1990s called: they want their red, backlit lighting back. Not that two-door buyers are looking for the most space possible, but for its class, the Koup offers relatively good interior space. Overall, there's more room inside than the Civic or Scion two-doors, and the Kia has more trunk space than the Honda. But golfers note: my set of clubs fit in the Koup's trunk no problem, but it was a tight fit to add my playing partner's set. Along with all the above, you also get more motor with any Koup SX. A 2.4-litre four-cylinder making 173 horsepower and 168 lb.-ft. of torque stands in for the EX model's 2.0-litre four that delivers a less-impressive 156 hp and 144 lb.-ft. While that's well shy of the 201 hp the new 2014 Koup SX is promising, it's about the same amount of oomph as the Scion tC and much more than the Civic Coupe's 140 hp and 128 lb.-ft. ratings. Because of its relative power advantage, the Kia is also relatively quick. Zero to 100 km/h runs arrive in the mid-eight-second range, about a half-second quicker than its rivals. But that extra oomph will cost you at the pumps. While the Forte SX Luxury's 9.0 L/100 km in the city and 6.4 on the highway estimates are nearly identical to the Scion, the less-powerful Honda chimes in at 7.1 L/100 km city and 5.0 highway. Most of my drive time with the Koup SX Luxury was spent on Nevada's pothole-free pavement, which meant that the Koup SX's extra-firm suspension — with thicker torsion and anti-sway bars than on the base EX — never beat me up. The ride was taut, yet always composed. Over the few bumps I did experience, I found the Kia's rebound was quite good. The cabin was relatively quiet when hustling to courses during 100 km/h-plus freeway runs. Even though the Koup puts all its power to its front wheels only (64 per cent of its 1,341 kg are on those front wheels), driving enthusiasts will enjoy the Kia's steering. Although it suffers mild kickback in bumpy corners, the Koup's tiller has an appropriate level of heft and on-centre feel. I spent some time enjoying the twisty two-lane that winds through Red Rock Canyon just west of Sin City, where I found the Koup SX Luxury reasonably competent, with understeer at the limit merely deliberate, not debilitating. What I wasn't fond of was the Kia's too-snappy throttle response. Even the lightest pressure on the Koup's go-pedal made for jumpy stoplight getaways. As Kia's first-ever coupe and a style leader, no one will deny the first Forte Koup's significance. And while the new rear-wheel-drive Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ has shaken-up the small coupe market, that pair of sports cars don't offer the same level of day-to-day practicality or features a car like the Forte Koup SX Luxury delivers. Plus, amidst its Honda Civic and Scions rivals, the Kia continues to offer more interior room, underhood power and a higher level of equipment for the money. It can play highway cruiser as easily as back road burner. And although it's being replaced for 2014, I'd understand if you preferred the 2013 Koup's Audi-esque styling.

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