Kia K3 Koup

Last year, Kia Motors shocked the world when their newest medium sedan, the K3, broke cover in the Autumn and served as the replacement to the Forte. Well, in some countries, the K3 was sold as either this, the Forte, or the Cerato. It maybe available only in sedan but for 2013, the K3 range expands with two additional body styles such as the hatchback called K3 EURO (to come out late this year) and then this...

2014 Kia K3 Koup

Debuted since the 2013 New York Auto Show, the new generation KOUP, now based on the K3, features European styling and performance to match with the 1.6 Turbo GDi engine. Wait, did you say turbo? Well, since the new model's turbocharged, the K3 KOUP is officially THE MOST POWERFUL KOUP EVER. Amazingly, this is the sort of engine as expected from the Veloster Turbo and let's explain why this new model's turbocharged.

2014 Kia K3 Koup

Well, the brand new 1.6 T-GDi engine offered on the new K3 Koup develops about 204PS of power and 27.0kg-m of torque. With about that stats, that's more powerful than the outgoing model and more importantly, more than the non-turbo model, which you can have one on the entry-level model. In terms of transmission types; you can have either a flappy-paddle gearbox or for the spartan ones, a 6-speed manual gearbox. What luck indeed, a 204PS engine mated with a 6-speed manual is just what this car needs. Although may not be a decent alternative to today's hot hatch, it's still worth trying to impress its owners but sadly, this is a Korean car and Korean cars are harder to impress than its European rivals so it may take some tough love getting to know more about the new KOUP.

To explain what I'm on about, I'm using both the Peugeot 208 GTi and the 2014MY Scion tC as the basis on what's what on the new KOUP. First of all, the new K3 KOUP weighs about 1,305kg or about 2877lbs, meaning that it weighs more than the 208 GTi but a few kilos lighter than the 2014 tC with the manual gearbox on it. Sure, all three have manual gearboxes but let's not forget that this new KOUP got more power than the 208 GTi or the 2014 Scion tC because of its 204PS power output. That seems legit but enough about that, what about how they drive?

2014 Kia K3 Koup interior

Well, if you are in the 208 GTi, it feels a bit more enjoyable thanks to its 3-door shape and its European handling but if you're in the tC, this is a totally different story because it feels a bit harsh in every direction. So, what's like on the new KOUP? Hmmm... Well, it may have the right tools, the right turbo engine for the enthusiasts, the right gearbox for the enthusiasts but let's be honest, this is a bit too odd to drive one even for a Korean-made car like this. It feels a bit rough, the steering's vague, the ride feels like you're in the economy section of Delta Airlines, and overall, it's not quite insane enough to be a "speedo boy" trend-setter. Even when you fickle its FLEX STEER setting to SPORT, it's not quite a "player" even when you thrash this around like a West Side gangster.

So, there we are, the new K3 KOUP. This new model proves that it has the right elements to succeed as a front-wheel drive sportscar rigged with a turbocharged GDi engine and a standard 6-speed manual but for a keen driver, these right elements hasn't been put into use just yet because there's been a long road ahead for the new K3 KOUP.

Available colors: Snow White Pearl, Bright Silver, Racing Red, Abyss Blue, Metal Stream, and Aurora Black Pearl.

Photo: Kia Motors