The Honda Civic coupe is more efficient and comes with a promise of good reliability, but the interior is cheap and some features are hard to get unless you buy a top trim level. The Hyundai Elantra Coupe has better fuel economy, stylish looks and is well priced, but the engine can be weak. The Volkswagen Golf offers hatchback versatility and a well-finished interior, but features like a sunroof or Bluetooth quickly add to the price and it's not as attractive as the Kia. The Mini Cooper is efficient and fun to drive with great fuel economy, but offers less space than the Kia and gets very expensive.
So while it may not be the most premium competitor out there, the Forte Koup comes with lots of standard features and an aggressive style that makes its low price more surprising. It's also something that is backed by a long warranty and comes with decent fuel economy that should make it affordable for the young audience it's targeting. For something inexpensive with good looks, the Forte Koup merits consideration.