Kia Cerato Koup 2013: Road Test

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory & delivery charges): $23,990 (Si) / $30,190 (Turbo)
Options fitted to test cars (not included in above price): Metallic Paint $520
Crash rating: N/A
Fuel: 91 RON ULP
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 7.3 (Si) / 8.0 (Turbo)
CO2 emissions (g/km): 175 (Si) / 190 (Turbo)
Also consider: Ford Fiesta ST (from $25,990); Hyundai Veloster (from $24,490); Toyota 86 (from $29,990); Subaru BRZ (from $37,150)

Kia and excitement are two words rarely uttered in the same sentence… and for good reason. Known mostly for its cut-price hatches, practical people movers and soft-road SUVs, there hasn’t been much from the Korean manufacturer to get the pulse racing, apart from some inspired styling and five-year warranty.

But times are changing. Kia recently dipped its toes into the performance car market with its first turbo-charged petrol engine, slotted into the latest version of its sporty two-door Koup. And next year it will follow up with the brand’s first bone fide hot hatch.

Priced from $27,990 (plus on-road costs) the force-fed Koup Turbo is the ‘halo’ model of the recently upgraded Cerato small car family. It sits above the $4000 cheaper, naturally aspirated Koup Si, as well as sedans and hatches priced from $19,990 (again plus ORCs).

With the same 150kW/265Nm 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged engine as sister company Hyundai’s Veloster SR Turbo hatch, the Koup Turbo undercuts its sexy cousin by five grand, making it somewhat of a performance car bargain.

Also sharply priced is the entry-level Koup Si. Priced from $23,990 (plus ORCs) with six-speed manual (or from $26,190 with six-speed auto), it’s powered by a 129kW/209Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine and comes with a decent swag of standard equipment.

Kit includes 17 inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, keyless entry, power windows, 4.3-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth connectivity, six airbags, stability control, anti-lock brakes, and a full-sized matching spare wheel.

In substance and style, there’s not much separating the entry-level Koup Si and top-spec Turbo. However, the pricier Koup Turbo is likely to garner more admiring glances from the neighbours.

Mostly this is due to the extra eye candy that includes bigger 18-inch alloy wheels, side skirts, chrome-tipped dual exhausts and special black trim across the front grille, bumpers, door mirrors and handles.

The Koup Turbo also stands out with LED daytime running and brake lights, and wing mirror and door handle ‘puddle’ lamps to find your way at night.

Inside, any differences are less obvious, with alloy pedals, faux leather inserts on the cloth seats, and a push-button engine start giving the hi-po Koup a slightly sportier feel.

Although not fitted to the model tested, a $2200 Touring Pack is also available, adding dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery and a DVD player with bigger 7.0-inch touchscreen and sat nav.

Both Koups have a similar dash layout and interior look to other Cerato variants, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. With 140mm ground clearance, climbing in requires some stooping but once nestled inside it’s a classy, inviting environment.

The large, front seats are particularly comfortable and offer side bolstering for additional support. The driver’s seat and steering wheel offer enough manual adjustment to achieve a relaxed driving position, even for taller drivers over longer journeys.

While bulky A-pillars can restrict the view through corners, the big, pillarless glass areas courtesy of the massive side doors aid side and rear visibility.

The centre console is neatly laid out and angled towards the driver for good access to the standard touchscreen -- although it’s a bit fiddly due to its compact size. Storage spaces throughout the cabin are plentiful although mostly small.

It’s obvious Kia has looked closely at the upmarket Europeans when designing the Koup’s interior, and the results are impressive. The all black decor, with its soft touch finishes, subtle chrome highlights, and robust switches, has a distinctly Volkswagen/Audi feel.

There’s also the solid, well-screwed together feel of a German car, right down to doors that close with a solid thump.

Slightly bigger than its predecessor, the second-generation Koup has enough interior room for five adults, despite its low-slung, svelte coupe shape. The only issue is the sloping roofline in the rear means taller adults clash with the black roof-lining.

The boot lid opens remotely, revealing 433 litres of cargo space. This can be extended by pulling levers in the boot to fold down the 60:40 split-fold rear seats.

Unsurprisingly, the driving experience is where the two Koup models differ most. While there’s not a lot on paper in terms of power and torque, the smaller turbo engine delivers peak torque of 265Nm from just 1750rpm through to 4500rpm, whereas the 2.0-litre doesn’t hit its straps until 4700rpm.

It means you don’t have to wring the Koup Turbo to achieve decent performance, so it’s more relaxed in everyday driving.

The Koup Turbo also feels quicker to 100km/h and it is: 7.4 seconds compared to 8.9. The more urgent acceleration means you don’t think twice before overtaking or dashing out in busy traffic, with strong, linear acceleration from the get-go and little sign of turbo lag.

The Koup Si, on the other hand, requires a few revs to get a head of steam, although it’s still zippy in everyday traffic and should meet the needs of most drivers.

However, the Koup Si emits a sweeter engine note at higher revs; while louder, the Koup Turbo’s dull drone sounds more hairy-chested vacuum cleaner than spirited four pot.

While providing short, fairly sharp shifts, the six-speed manual in the Koup Si was a touch rubbery for our liking. It was fine around town, but when rushed could easily slot into the wrong gear.

While sometimes slow to react or down-changing too readily under heavy throttle, the six-speed auto was less hassle and worked well with the turbocharged engine. There are also steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts for those who want to take matters in their own hands.

While the Turbo punches in and out of corners harder, the 76kg lighter, base Si is arguably as much fun in the twisties. With old school stick shifter, sweet-revving engine, and responsive, chuckable chassis, the Koup tackles corners with gusto.

The locally- tuned suspension is a treat, delivering a good compromise of supple ride and sporty handling. While not as pin-sharp or involving as a Mazda MX-5, decent front-end grip and minimal body roll inspires confidence.

Those wanting a stiffer, more responsive set-up might want to wait for the similarly-spec’ed Pro_cee’d hatch arriving early 2014, but as a bump-soaking daily driver cum Sunday thrill-rider, it’s hard to beat.

Both models coped particularly well with larger bumps and pot holes, although the Koup Turbo’s lower profile rubber was slightly less forgiving.

While numb on-centre, the electric-assisted steering is sufficiently meaty, while wheel-selectable Sports, Comfort and Normal modes allow the driver to dial-in extra steering weight as required.

There was also little evidence of torque steer, or even wheel spin, when given some stick. The Koup Turbo has slightly bigger front brakes but both set-ups provided strong braking with good pedal feel.

Not surprisingly, the Koup Si used less fuel: around 8.0L/100km versus 9.5 for the Turbo. It’s worth noting both auto and manual-equipped versions revved quite high on the freeway – around 2500rpm at 100km/h in top gear, which would have boosted fuel consumption slightly.

However, even then the cabin retained a peaceful ambience apart from some wind and tyre noise.

We came away impressed by both variants of the latest Cerato Koup. While the Turbo is more ‘warm’ than ‘hot’ in performance car jargon, both deliver an enticing blend of style, practicality, comfort and go-fast appeal, at an affordable price.

If funds are tight, the Koup Si gives away little to its boofier brother. But for effortless, turbocharged performance in a sporty yet accommodating package, the Koup Turbo is hard to beat.

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