The Kia Forte Koup is a fun, affordable, compact sports car. I love the fresh styling and bold lines. The interior is functional, with easy-to-use controls and nice build materials, and the front seats are supportive and comfortable. The back seat is slightly tight for taller passengers, but bearable for short hauls. On the road, the peppy engine was relatively quick, but sounded harsh past 5000 rpm. I achieved 26 mpg in mixed driving. The Koup also has a decent-size trunk, which would be accommodating for weekend trips. Another win for Kia. –Joe Chulick
At 5 feet 9 inches, I'm only of average height, but I am too tall to sit comfortably in the Kia Forte Koup. The front seats don't lower enough for me to sit without my head pushing into the roof lining. As a result, I had to slouch, or sit with my head tilted slightly sideways, and after only a few minutes I felt some back pain. I didn't even bother trying to stuff myself into the back seats, after finding the front too confining. The Koup is outfitted with a peppy engine; however, it sounds slightly rough. It is responsive though, and somehow the Forte Koup gives the impression of covering ground faster than the speedometer or traffic around you implies. If only Kia had made a seat specially suited to the Koup, the sporty Forte might be worth a look. –Paul Hagger
I love it when an automaker takes a well-received concept car and turns it into a production model without changing much. This is just what Kia did with the Forte Koup. It looks almost exactly like the Koup Concept from a few years back. It has nice lines, featuring what has become the signature Kia grille, and great-looking alloy wheels. The interior is nothing fancy, but it is clean and has all the necessities, including Bluetooth connectivity and a nice stereo with MP3/iPod hookup and speakers that light up to the beat of the music — a hit with the younger crowd, especially my 12-year-old daughter. The Koup also offers good performance. Acceleration is surprisingly strong - the engine does get loud at high rpms, but it doesn't sound bad - and the ride is good, if a bit stiff. Overall, Kia provides an impressive package — good looks, performance and plenty of amenities — all for around $19K. –Perry Stern