As its made-up name suggests, the Koup is essentially the coupe version of Kia's popular compact sedan. Additional features and performance enhancements complement the coupe’s sporty appearance, making it an economical alternative to several mainstream sport coupes. An available turbocharged engine and premium options haven’t kept the Koup from being a slow seller.
Now in its second generation, the current model wasn't introduced until after the start of the 2016 model year. Kia promotes the Koup's European-inspired design and race-proven performance, citing championships in the Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car A class.
What's New for 2016
Little has changed, except for adding a standard rearview camera to the EX trim level.
Choosing Your Kia Forte Koup
Forte Koups come in two trim levels, each with its own engine. In the EX edition, a 2-liter four-cylinder engine makes 173 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque. Either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission may be installed. The Koup EX is the only model in the Forte lineup that can have manual shift with the 2-liter engine. FlexSteer steering has Comfort, Normal, and Sport modes to vary steering effort.
A 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, standard in SX, produces 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet. The turbo four can be teamed with either transmission. The automatic is equipped with paddle shifters.
As usual for Kia, there are no individual options apart from various dealer-installed accessories.
Both Koup models are well-equipped for their class. Each trim level gives you access to all the high-end features available for the Koup. In fact, option packages can add enough premium features to make a Koup seem practically luxurious.