|
By MURRAY
HUBBARD
28 September 2009
Affordable
sporty coupes are thin on the ground in Australia at the moment.
But that's all set to change, because Kia is set to roll a budget
priced coupe called – wait for it – Koup (with the American
pronunciation, not the French one that we admit is our choice). If
the response we got during our initial test drive around Sydney is
anything to go by this clever new Koup coupe could pull off a coup
in the sales race.
Right
now Kia's first ever coupe is almost in a class of its own, other
marques having pulled out of the market with the rise of utes and
SUVs as the latest in fad vehicles. All the more so when you look
at the price, because the entry-level five-speed manual Koup hits
Australian showrooms at just $23,690 (plus
on roads). Those who prefer an automatic transmission will need to
fork out a further $2000 for the privilege, but it's still a
bargain priced vehicle.
The Kia Koup was designed in California by Kia America. Its full
title is Cerato Koup and it runs similar mechanicals to the Cerato
sedan, a vehicle that’s been well accepted on the Australian
market, particluarly since the launch of the current model here
early in 2009.
Apart from sharing the same bonnet, every panel on the Koup is
different to the sedan. Koup has the new Kia ‘family-look grille
named after its designer, Peter Schreyer. Koup retains almost all
the styling cues from the concept car first shown at the New York
Motor Show in 2008.
The Koup has frameless doors of the type usually found on more
up-market marques, a new design of 17-inch alloy wheels, fitted
with low-profile tyres, dual sports exhaust and vertical style fog
lamps.
At 60 mm lower than the sedan, Koup looks the sporty part and has
a wider stance. Piano black high-gloss front highlights give the
car a hard-edged appearance.
It's powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder Theta VVT power plant
also used in the Cerato sedan. This engine produces 115 kW at 6200
rpm and 194 Nm of torque at 4300 rpm. The all-aluminium engine
features four valves per cylinder and reaches 100 kmh 9.3 seconds
after it leaves the line
Two gearboxes are available, a five-speed manual and a four-speed
auto.
While there are some obvious changes to the sedan, Kia has worked
on the Koup's ride and handling to deliver performance that
matches the car's sporty appearance. The steering is quicker and
there's stiffer body control. Changes include a thicker front
stabiliser bar, enhanced shock absorbers and an increase in the
steering rack ratios. The turning circle is just 10.8 metres.
Much of the equipment you would expect on a more expensive model
has filtered down to the Koup: keyless remote entry, audio
controls on the steering wheel, MP3-compatible CD audio, auxiliary
inlet with iPod compatibility, cruise control, fog lamps,
climate-control air conditioning, leather wrapped steering wheel
and gear shifter knob and six function trip computer.
Korean-built cars have come a long way in recent years and the
Cerato Koup is no exception. The quality of plastics, seat
comfort, trim quality have all lifted considerably as has build
quality.
The Koup comes with Electronic Stability Program, rear park
assist, ABS brakes, with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Force
Distribution. Six airbags are standard including a full-length
side curtain airbag, linked to roll-over sensors and active head
restraints standard on front seats.
Once settled into the driver’s seat you soon notice that vision
is good all-round thanks to the frameless doors that reduce blind
spots. However, the seat belt is a long stretch over your right
shoulder thanks to the door length.
We tried the rear seat and it is fine for leg and head space, but
shoulder room is likely to be an issue for three adults. Getting
into the rear seat is relatively easy when compared to getting out
through the same limited space. Also, to move the front seat
forward there's only the usual seat handle on the right side of
the seat base. We'd like to see a second handle on top of the
front seats.
Our first road test program took us to La Perouse and Botany in
Sydney’s eastern coastal areas. No highway running was
available. The 2.0-litre engine, while not the most powerful
around, is lively and fun to punt up to 7000 rpm. The five-speed
manual transmission is smooth enough but hardly the fastest change
around.
Putting the car around some tight corners we found it pointed well
and kept its balance nicely.
Koup is surprisingly roomy for a coupe and the boot, although
smaller than the sedan, still boasts plenty of space at 385 litres.
If Koup had a price tag in the early $30k area you would say it
looked good. At $23,690 it looks even better. Kia's first ever
coupe has hit the styling nail on the head. It stands out from the
crowd, which is something many buyers are looking for in a car.
The Kia Koup comes with an unlimited kilometre five year warranty
for private buyers and 130,000 km, five year warranty for business
and commercial vehicles.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
|
|
