2010 Kia Forte Koup

Kia's “The Power to Surprise” slogan is well-represented by the models offered on the Canadian market. When Kia first arrived in Canada, it was tough to predict how much of the market share it would maintain. I'm convinced that many Canadians are pleasantly surprised by the models offered by Kia and by the position it holds on the market. The month of December 2009 confirmed this popularity with a 61.1 percent increase in sales over the previous December. According to Kia Canada, it was the best December in the company's 10-year history. After grabbing the public's attention with the Soul, we're now presented with the Forte Koup’s sporty design, as Kia ads acclaim their new star.

I tested and discovered the Forte Koup 2010 SX over the holiday season. What a gift! What's more, during this festive winter period, I was perfectly set up to test out the Koup in Quebec's inclement weather. I had beautiful clear days on the longer highway drives, while in the city I dealt with rain, snow, and freezing rain. With a good grip on the road, a sporty yet comfortable suspension, a good climate control system, and electronic stability control, the Koup always got me where I needed to go.

This model targets a younger driver who looks for performance, a nice look, and most importantly, a good price. With the manufacturer's suggested retail price of $18,390 for the SX ($17,290 for the EX), 17-inch alloy wheels, lines that draw the eye, fog lights, sport-tuned suspension, 6-speed manual transmission, and a 2.4 L 4-cylinder DOHC engine that puts out 173 hp with a nice purr, you could say that this new coupe meets those expectations.

Aside from performance, the Forte Koup also has a comfortable cabin full of conveniences. In the the EX base model we find electric wipers, heated electric mirrors with built-in turn signals, heated front seats, and a 6-speaker stereo system. With the SX model I had leather sport seats, a sunroof, and interior automatic climate control. I have to admit that even though the automatic climate control might seem fairly ordinary to some, it was an addition that I appreciated a lot. The week before I tested the Koup, I found myself in a car that did not have this option and I had the impression that I had to constantly adjust the heater and the air conditioning to try and keep the air temperature at a comfortable level.

I also really appreciated the Bluetooth® hands-free interface system for cell phones, offered on all Koup models. After a very easy set-up, this system allowed me to answer or make calls simply by pressing a button on the steering wheel.

As far as the practicality of a two-door model, it's perfect for a young couple with no children. On the other hand, for a family of three, it doesn’t fit as well. Travelling with my wife and our young boy, requires the 4-door Forte sedan. I didn't have any major problems, but I find that limiting oneself to two doors just complicates parents' lives when the time comes to seat the child in his seat or to get at the luggage in the back seat. Nonetheless, once everyone was seated and the bags are stowed (including on the rear seat), my trip was very comfortable and I didn’t feel cramped in the cabin which, offered good visibility.

On the topic of the family, its also reassuring to know that inside the Koup we find six standard airbags: dual front and side airbags, plus full-length side curtain airbags.

Fuel economy is rated at 22 mpg around town and 32 on the highway. The Koup is considered an ultra-low emissions vehicle (ULEV).

Sure, many people will probably still be pretty conservative and prefer to continue with cars that have already proven their reliability, like Honda or Toyota, however, for those who believe in Kia's potential and have confidence in the momentum of their dealers, I am certain that this model will surprise you, especially as you'll also benefit from one of the best warranties on the market.