By Christopher Tan
Senior Correspondent

You know an Asian car manufacturer has lofty ambitions when it begins to roll out sporty models. But sometimes, those lofty ambitions come ahead of actual capabilities, as with some latter-day brands.

Kia is certainly not one of them.

The company is Korea's oldest automotive group, dating back to 1944 (three years before parent company Hyundai Motor was formed).

Having established itself as a competent maker of good-value cars such as the cheerful Picanto and well-equipped Cerato Forte, it recently unveiled the Koup, its first two-door coupe.

Kooky name aside, the Koup is a surprisingly good car. It definitely looks cool, with an eyecatching exterior design that is neither outlandish nor offbeat. From any angle, it appears smart, contemporary and completely inoffensive.

And unlike some Korean examples in the past, it actually has some family resemblance to its siblings.

In this case, the four-door Cerato Forte.

It sits lower than the sedan, is slightly wider and slightly lighter. Inside, it is definitely a cosier fit, as is often the case with coupe versions of saloons.

The Koup's cockpit is almost identical to the Cerato Forte's.

That means it has an aesthetically designed fascia with panels and bits that are not made of fanciful materials but fit well, and an equipment list that might make an entry-level BMW seem austere. Climate control, iPod connectivity, USB port, sunroof, anti-glare rear-view mirror, and keyless access and ignition are some of the goodies.

For a dash of pimp-my-ride pizzazz, the designers added big stereo speakers with LED-lined rims, which pulsate to the beat of the music in the same red glow as the illumination on the centre console and the speedometer.

It is also the same red glow made famous by Audi.

Little wonder, as the Koup's styling is influenced by Kia chief designer Peter Schreyer, who spent 25 years with Audi and was responsible for the original Audi TT.

So far, so good. But how does the Koup drive?

Not too shoddy at all.

With a chassis that sits 10mm closer to the tarmac than the Cerato Forte, a lower roofline, a slightly wider front track and 17-inch rims, it has the fundamentals for fun.

It does not deliver a blistering performance but its free-breathing revvy engine does a creditable job of putting usable torque out there. Its four-speed autobox is nothing to write home about, either, but it never fails to be in the optimal gear.

The Koup's steering is its best performance feature. It has a sportily hefty weight and is amazingly communicative.

It is a system that will happily handle more than what the car can throw at it.

Combine that with a body and suspension that hold up stoutly to the occasional bout of enthusiastic driving and you have a car that is hard to fault.

At speed, the cabin even keeps out road and wind noises better than some costlier models.

The only things missing are sports car traits, such as a throaty exhaust note and an emotive feedback from your seat. And at the wheel, you do not feel like you are in a low-slung speedster.

But then again, this is not a hardcore coupe. You could say it is somewhat similar to two-doors of years past such as the Honda Integra, Toyota Passeo and Nissan NX Coupe - all "soft" sports models which proved to be hits (and not just among hairdressers).

In that vein, the Koup does not disappoint. It even has a good measure of practicality.

It has sufficient room for four adults (although not as much headroom or shoulder room as the Cerato Forte) and a boot that is compact but still usable.

Its well-placed driver footrest, an oft-omitted comfort feature, scores points too.

How does the Kia compare with its peers?

Hmm, let's see. You know what? There is no two-door that even comes close to its $61,000 price bracket. Not one.

No wonder Kia waited 65 years to make this car.

It is truly a winner.

christan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in The Straits Times.

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