Review: Kia Koup 1.6 T-GDi
| by Tristan Wiggill
Kia Koup
1.6 T-GDi
Kia’s first Cerato Koup, launched in 2008, was an edgy-looking coupé, and one of the most radical design
departures from Kia’s traditionally conservative treadmill.
I
ts risqué elements were penned by
Peter Schreyer, the lauded German
designer responsible for bringing
arresting cars, such as the original Audi TT,
to the Autobahn in 1998. Schreyer is now
one of three presidents that manage Kia
Motors worldwide and is also Chief Design
Officer of both Kia Motors and Hyundai
Motors globally.
In many ways Schreyer’s original Koup
design lived up to Kia’s mantra of delivering
unexpected surprise. Problem was, the
desire created by its sharp, attractive looks
were toned down by its sluggish two-litre
naturally aspirated engine. Still, a number
of original Koup’s can be seen on the
roads today, and it appears to be a popular
choice among used car buyers looking for
a stylish two-door runabout.
Newcomer
While the new Koup is a good-looking car,
complete with all the necessary go-faster
bits (side-skirts, twin exhaust pipes, a rear
diffuser, LED Daytime Running headlights
and 18-inch alloys that sit on low-profile
rubber) it’s not quite as radical as its
forebear. That said, Schreyer’s second
incarnation did turn more than a few heads
dur ing our week spent behind its leatherclad, multi-function steering wheel.
Fast learners
History has shown that Korean’s are very
quick to learn - either from their own
mistakes, or from the mistakes of others
- and it’s little surprise that Kia has made
radical changes to the engine that powers
its second Koup.
Both engine downsizing and turbocharging
(who would’ve thought) have been
incorporated into the new 1.6-litre unit.
Apart from developing a healthier 152
kW and 265 Nm (versus 115kW and
194 Nm before), the new power plant is
technologically more advanced, with direct
injection and dual CVVT at play.
Oddly, it doesn’t incorporate Start/Stop
technology and can get quite thirsty in city
driving - we averaged 9.3-litres per 100
kilometres. Performance is punchy, but it’s
not in a GTI’s league.
To Kia’s credit there is very little turbo lag and
I was also impressed by the non-existence
of torque steer. While I expected the ride to
err on the side of sporty, it isn’t particularly
stiff and in most respects is composed and
compliant. Even the low-profile tyres (to my
surprise Continental’s), didn’t render the ride
too harsh unless, of course you find yourself
on badly rutted roads. Potholes should be
given a wide berth.
Interior
The interior is attractively styled in chiclooking black, although this creates the
impression that there is less space than
there actually is. Kia has made use of faux
carbon fibre trim detailing on the dash, while
the bucketed leather seats are lined with
a similar effect. As is customary with Kia,
all instrumentation is displayed in bright
red illumination. A 4.3-inch colour LCD
touchscreen is used in the centre of the dash
and, apart from displaying audio information
and controlling various multimedia sources,
it also displays a live feed from the reverseassist camera.
Call me old-fashioned, but I still prefer to
use my own eyes when performing these
tasks (trust issues?). Park Distance Control,
front and rear, is also provided and myriad
of chimes go off whenever you get close to
anything. These sounds can be (momentarily)
turned off.
Impracticalities
Coupés are, by their very nature, impractical
and so it is with the Koup. The sashless
(frameless windows that are common
| Wheels in Action
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june 2014
among older Subaru’s) doors are big and
heavy. Blindspots are bigger than they
should be. Entry to the rear seats is more
difficult than it could be.
Yet, once you get there, rear leg and
headroom are good and the 433-litre boot,
while narrow, is cavernous.
Gimmicks
There are a couple of gimmicky features
that could have been left out. One is the
audio jingle that plays when you press or
depress the Start/Stop ignition button.
It can be turned off.
The other is the Flex Steer feature that
allows you to lighten or make heavier the
steering - it is best left in Normal mode,
unless you want forearms like George
Foreman in his prime.
Another oddity is the ability of the side
mirrors to fold in and out automatically
when you approach or walk away from
the car when it is locked, yet the doors
themselves can’t open until you press the
button on the door handle.
Conclusion
The Kia Cerato Koup is an
attractive, inoffensive Coupé.
At R334 995, it isn’t particularly
cheap. Then again, it is well-made
and highly specced (cruise control,
Bluetooth and six airbags are
standard among other niceties) and
has a massive five-year 150 000 km
warranty.
It’s not a robot-racer, nor a family
car (only bicycles can be towed),
but a classy, two-door alternative
designed for those individuals
looking for a spirited home-to-workand-back-again commute.