2012 Kia Forte Koup Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Kia Forte Koup review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Forte Koup, and includes Kia Forte Koup safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The Forte Koup (pronounced “coupe” because, well, you know) is the sporty, two-door member of the Kia Forte family that competes with other compact coupes such as the Scion tC and the Honda Civic Coupe.

The 2012 model year brings only minor changes for the Kia Forte Koup. The EX model benefits from a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, and the EX Technology Package has a prettier gauge cluster.

Kia makes the Forte Koup attractive for its audience, both in its handsome visage and its standard equipment list for either the EX or SX trim levels. The base model, the EX, includes 16-inch wheels, power door locks with remote keyless entry, power windows, power heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals, air conditioning, and cruise control. The driver’s seat is height adjustable, and features fairly thick bolstering. But what really draws Kia’s target customer’s attention is the Forte’s extensive infotainment system. Music, whether sourced from an auxiliary input jack, a USB port, a plain old CD or satellite radio (with three months’ complimentary subscription) can be thumped out of a Power Bass surround sound system. And did we mention this car also includes standard Bluetooth?

Though the EX is nicely equipped, you might be interested in a few options. There’s the Sportmatic automatic transmission, a power sunroof, and the Technology Package, which gives you a navigation system with a reversing camera, automatic climate control, automatic headlights, a Supervision gauge cluster, Smart Key keyless entry and ignition, fog lights, and shiny chrome door handles.

You may wonder why you might want to step up to the Forte Koup SX. If you’re more of a performance driver, this is the one to get. The SX is powered by a feistier engine and backed up by enhanced brakes and a sport-tuned suspension, all riding on bigger wheels wearing low-profile tires. Continuing the too-cool-for-school theme, the SX is equipped with stereo speaker lighting that pulses to the beat. Unless you’re rocking out to Whitney Houston. Then it stops pulsing and serves as ambient lighting. Other interior enhancements for the SX include leather trim for the shift knob and steering wheel, metallic bits sprinkled about the cabin, and upgraded fabric upholstery with contrasting red stitching. You can add the optional Technology Package or an exclusive Leather Package with heated front seats.

As we alluded to above, Kia offers two different engines for the Forte Koup. Acceleration for the Koup EX models comes courtesy of a 156-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Fuel economy ratings are pretty good for a sporty compact, the Koup consuming a gallon for every 24 miles traveled in the city and 33 miles on the highway with the standard six-speed manual transmission. Get the optional six-speed Sportmatic automatic, and the Koup’s fuel economy actually improves to 25-city/34-highway.

The SX models get a larger 2.4-liter four-cylinder good for 173 horsepower. As expected, the more powerful Koup SX is not quite as thrifty with fuel. The manual gearbox returns 22 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway, while the automatic is good for 23-city/31-highway.

Every Forte Koup is equipped with a healthy compilation of safety features, including four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution, traction control, and stability control. Get the optional Technology Package, and a reversing camera is also included. In case these features can’t prevent you from getting into a collision in the first place, six airbags stand ready to help absorb the impact.

Unfortunately, we can’t tell you how well the airbags will protect the Forte Koup’s occupants, since neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have put the Forte Koup through their crash-test programs as this review is written.

The Forte Koup could stand to improve leading market research firms’ impressions of its dependability. Both Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates think the car will return average levels of reliability over time.

To help assuage owner concerns on this front, Kia covers the powertrain for 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. The Forte Koup also includes a bumper-to-bumper warranty and roadside assistance for five years or 60,000 miles.

Yes, the 2012 Kia Forte Koup a nice looking little car, and it’s certainly easy enough on your budget. It’s also well equipped and has the safety features that we think are necessary in any new vehicle. Plus, the sportier of the two, the Koup SX, may be just the thing to scratch that itch to push a car hard through the twisties, although you’ll pay for that ability on rough city streets, as the ride is stiffer than one might expect. However, given merely average reliability predictions and the lack of crash-test data, we would recommend careful consideration of the Forte Koup’s competitors before settling on this Kia.

By Liz Kim