Kia’s been successfully turning around perceptions of its vehicles, not only here in the good old Republic of South Africa, but in Europe and North America as well. And while the Korean manufacturer has built up a significant presence in most of the major automotive segments with quality products, what it always lacked was a sporty halo-model – something that people aspire to.
And I’m not alluding to supercars here, not even sportscars for that matter – just something that’s stylish enough to draw admiring stares, but has the grunt to match those looks. A lack of oomph was ultimately why the previous Koup was such a disappointment. However, the Korean marque now has a powerplant to match the sleek lines of the Cerato Koup – a turbocharged, direct-injection 1,6-litre motor. That combination is now available in South Africa.
So it still looks good?
You bet. The previous generation Koup featured distinctive sharp lines, but this new model boasts rounded edges and a more “grown-up” appearance to appeal to a wider audience – it’s also longer, wider and taller that its predecessor. There are classy touches that add to the Koup’s presence, such as the narrower tiger-nose grille that’s marked Kia Head Designer Peter Schreyer’s stint at the company, carbon-look detailing on the bumper and wide airdam split by a carbon-look crossbeam – all making for a significantly more aggressive expression in your rear-view mirror.
Frameless doors, gloss black mirrors and 18-inch alloys are hallmarks of the Koup’s profile, while at the rear the same carbon-look detailing mentioned above can be found on the diffuser. The diffuser also houses dual exhaust tailpipes.
Slick on the inside too
The Koup also boasts the same cabin that the recently-launched sedan and hatchback Cerato does – so with perceived quality never seen before coming out of Korea, at least in the compact market, the Cerato scores highly. I’d really be nitpicking to say that the cabin is slightly too dark, but the touches of chrome and more of that carbon-look detailing help to pull off fine visuals.
Although the seat bolstering might not be enough for some enthusiastic drivers, the two front seats sure are comfortable and wrapped in soft leather. There’s more room in the rear of the cabin than I’ve seen in some other coupes and certainly some of the Koup’s direct rivals. The touch-screen mounted in the centre of the facia is a nifty addition, as well as the safety-belt extenders that ensure the driver and front passenger don’t have to strain their arms while reaching over their shoulders to buckle up.
And to drive?
At the push of a button mounted on the right side of the steering column, the new Gamma T-GDi motor spins to life in a muted fashion. With rake and reach steering adjustment, as well as seat cushion height adjustment, I expected to have been perched a little more comfortably because the seats are mounted quite high to begin with.
Getting moving is a tricky affair, as the lifeless clutch and spongy throttle make stalling a possibility after not driving with such a soft set-up for prolonged amounts of time. Fortunately, the six-speed manual gearbox is characterized by a short throw and positive shift, so it’s easy to stir ratios. At low speed, the benefits of forced induction are not so evident…
But as the revs approach 2 000 r/ min the Koup starts picking up serious momentum as the 265 N.m torque peak makes its presence felt. The flat torque curve a from 1 750 r/min all the way to 4 500 r/min enhances the experience such that piloting the Koup in urban situations can be enjoyed in a higher ratio than usual, with no lugging.
More enthusiastic driving opportunities were presented as we left the confines of the city on the local launch of the Koup in Johannesburg. The 1,6 turbopetrol has very good mid-range shove, and with 152 kW available at 6 000 r/min it’s tempting to chase that peak – but because the torque curve drops sharply after 4 500, it felt better to shift at 5 000 for optimal progress.
But as the road condition deteriorated, it wasn’t possible to fling the Koup around to test the handling provided by the basic MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension, let alone the 225/40 18-inch rubber. The electric power steering settings can be adjusted by a button on the steering wheel, with three levels of assistance – comfort, normal and sport.
We hope to get a better understanding of the Koup’s true abilities when we perform a full test a road test back in Cape Town.
Summary
The new Kia Cerato Koup is a very likeable product from a manufacturer that, despite the plethora of fantastic models it offers across its product line-up, always needed something that was particularly desirable. Don’t mistake it for an all-out performance model – because it isn’t. Instead, think of it as a grand tourer for the average man. It’s got just enough oomph, and looks good, while also providing features that some rivals can’t match at this price point, and usable room. Finally, a drool-worthy Kia.
Specifications
Model: Kia Cerato Koup T-GDi
Price: R334 995
Engine: 1,6-litre, four cylinder, turbopetrol
Power: 152 kW at 6 000 r/min
Torque: 265 N.m between 1 750 and 4 500 r/min
0-100 km/h (claimed): 7,7 seconds
Fuel consumption (claimed): 7,2 litres/100 km
Top speed: 224 km/h
Price: R334 995
Service plan: 5 years/90 000 km
Warranty: 5 years/150 000 km