NEW YORK — Kia is entering the compact coupe fray this spring with a production version of last year's Koup concept, introduced at the 2009 New York Auto Show. The 2010 Forte Koup shares its underpinnings with the new Forte sedan that was displayed in February at the Chicago show.
Slightly shorter and lower than the sedan, the five-passenger Forte Koup is aimed at such competitors as the Scion tC, the Honda Civic, the Chevrolet Cobalt and the Ford Focus. It is being offered in two trim levels, EX and SX.
The Forte Koup EX comes with a 156-horsepower DOHC 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Its EPA city/highway fuel economy numbers are 25 mpg and 34 mpg, respectively, with either transmission.
The Forte Koup SX gets a larger, more powerful DOHC 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 173 hp and 168 pound-feet of torque. With the standard six-speed manual transmission, it is EPA rated at 22/32 mpg, while the optional five-speed automatic changes the fuel-economy ratings to 23/31 mpg.
Both models come with standard air conditioning, tilt steering column, power windows and locks, remote keyless entry, cruise control and a six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and full iPod controls.
The Forte Koup SX is the trim level of choice. It comes with 17-inch alloy wheels and 215/45R-17 tires, as well as sport cloth bucket seats with red stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, plus metal pedals and trim.
Both Forte Koup models also come with a high level of standard safety gear, including front-seat-mounted side airbags and side curtains, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, electronic stability control and a tire-pressure monitoring system.
Inside Line says: No pricing yet, but this one should be an affordable entry in the segment. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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