Kia, when it first launched in Australia, wasn’t known for desirable affordable cars. Fast forward to 2014 and Kia seems to be on a roll with the release of its new 2014 Kia Cerato Koup, and 2014 Pro_cee’d GT.
The Kia Cerato Koup is a front-wheel-drive sports coupe that is available in two grades, firstly the Kia Cerato Koup SI is a 2.0litre four-cylinder engine that produces 129kW of power and 209Nm of torque. Secondly the Kia Cerato Koup Turbo is a 1.6litre turbo four-cylinder that ups the power to 150kW and 265Nm of torque.
Design wise, the look of the Kia Cerato Koup is similar to the rest of the Kia Cerato line up. The body is elongated and looks sportier than it has ever looked before.
When it comes to pricing, the SI model starts at bargain price of $29,990 drive away and the Turbo starts from an impressive $31,990 drive away. However, you might be able to find both grades below those price points.
Finally the swag of standard features makes you feel like you’re getting even better value for money. These include Kia’s FlexSteer system and a 5 star ANCAP safety rating.
So how does this perform on the road? Let’s take it out and see what we can discover.
Initial Impression
In person the Kia Cerato Koup looks significantly better in person than it does in photos. The front nose design sets the tone for the entire car.
If you were to directly compare the Cerato Hatch or Sedan against the Cerato Koup, you’ll notice that the front track looks slimmer from the front. As soon as you start to look at the rest of the car the long lines the lead all the way to the rear of the car.
On the inside you will be met with Kia’s updated cabin that is similar to the Cerato Hatch and Sedan. Everything is laid out sensibly and the soft touch materials give a premium feel.
The multi-function steering wheel shape, and where your hands sit feel odd at first. This is because when at the 9 and 3 positions your hands rest lower than the center of the steering wheel. After you get moving though, you settle into the new position.
So far so good, the price is right, the look is great and the interior is shaping up well.
Target Market
When thinking about who this car is targeted to, the Kia Cerato Koup feels like it would be perfect for anyone who would love a sporty coupe but don’t want the price tag or traditionally hard ride from a hardcore sports coupe.
The rear seats are more usable than of its competitors, the interior is still straightforward and easy to use. There’s nothing that a non-car person wouldn’t understand in this car.
Practicality
As mentioned earlier, the Kia Cerato Koup feels a lot more practical than any other coupe that it competes with. Arguably, it’d beat out quite a few 3-door hot hatches too when comparing rear passenger legroom.
In the boot, you also still retain a decent amount of space. Perfect for if you were embarking on a road trip during a long weekend with some friends.
It’s also nice to know that even with the longer coupe doors and slightly lower height, getting in and out of the Kia Cerato Koup isn’t as much of a challenge as you would think. You can jump in and out of the car with ease and without a struggle.
Drivability
In the previous generation, the Kia Cerato Koup did disappoint drivers with its handling and general composure on the road.
For the new shape 2014 Kia Cerato Koup, I’m glad to share that the handling and performance on the road is fantastic. Usually when driving a front-wheel-drive car at speed around corners you experience under steer – an inability to turn as tightly as you want – but this wasn’t an obvious behavior when we tested it.
The electric power steering gives you a reasonable amount of feel, and accuracy at both high and low speeds.
Fuel economy, in our SI Automatic, for our 500km test was just under 7.8litres per 100km. Just above Kia’s quoted 7.4 litres per 100km fuel economy figure.
Passenger comfort when travelling through semi-rural roads, and mountain roads was quite good. The front seats held you firmly and prevent you shifting around more than you are comfortable with.
Whilst we were very happy with the performance of our SI Automatic, the Turbo is an even more exciting experience.
If we were wanting to improve the experience further, the tyres which come with both the SI and Turbo models doesn’t let the car realise its full potential. A better performing tyre will enhance it further.
Cost
The best part about the Kia Cerato Koup is the price. With the entry-level SI model starting from $29,990 drive away and the Turbo model starting from $31,990 drive away; it creates some stiff competition for those wanting a hot hatch or coupe.
Included in that price is Kia’s excellent 5 Year Unlimited KM warranty and ability to have your car serviced under the Kia Capped Price Servicing Program.
There’s also the 5 star ANCAP rating, soft touch material dash, instrument cluster, door armrest and centre console armrest. 4.3inch touch screen LCD for multimedia with optional 7inch touch screen navigation system. Plus full iPod/Bluetooth connectivity with multifunction steering wheel.
So you don’t miss out on your creature comforts, plus there’s a whole heap of car for you to enjoy on a budget.
Conclusion
Kia obviously saw an opportunity to turn their Kia Cerato Koup into a fun to drive, sporty coupe at a bargain price and seized it.
We were pleasantly surprised when we decided to take on some more challenging roads and be rewarded with an experience that we had only got from more expensive hatches and coupes.
Coupled with a big 5 Year Unlimited KM warranty and there will be years of happy motoring.
So do yourself a favour and go test drive a Kia Cerato Koup for yourself to see how good it really is or see our stock on line below.
Keyword: Review: 2014 Kia Cerato Koup