The all-new,
beautifully crafted Cerato Koup T-GDI raises Kia's sporty appeal
Cute number plate, and hence the mighty title. Appropriate
too, as it’s Kia’s first turbo petrol. From being a fetching, affordable
and fast selling two-door, Kia’s second-generation Koup has moved upmarket to a
higher-power, higher-spec single model variant costing $42,490 as a six-speed
auto; a manual is available on indent. Kia reckons that the auto is quicker
anyway; they quote 7.4sec 0-100, and 7.7sec for the manual. Given the former
Koup only managed 9.0sec with a tail wind, it’s clear this new one is more up
for it, even if it is $8,500 more expensive. The question then: is that 25 per
cent price hike justifiable?
The Koup is the first Kia to use both direct injection and
twin-scroll turbocharging together in a petrol mill, its stroppy little dual
VVT 1.6-litre engine producing 150kW, and 265Nm from 1,750-4,500rpm. That’s
quite a step up from 115kW/194Nm previously. So is the specification, as
this bold looker comes packed to the gunwales with stuff like proximity key,
alarm, a heated and ventilated driver’s seat, full leather trim, parking
sensors each end and a reversing camera, trip computer, a multifunction
steering wheel and dual zone climate air. Add heated door mirrors, Xenon lights,
18-inch alloys, and satnav with real time traffic updates to that list.
And more besides. Already the price hike doesn’t look too far out of place.
Kia Cerato Koup
T-GDI interior
While it might seem more than a little familiar to the
original generation physically, only a couple of panels are carryover. The new
front resembles that of Cerato.
Under the skin, it’s much more rigid than before, and has a
sporty Australasian suspension set-up. Still torsion beam at the rear, mind,
but one advantage is a decent boot space, 433L, accessed through a slightly
wider opening. Pity the full spare isn’t sacrificed because even more
space could then have been liberated but there’s decent width for strollers or
golf bags.
And on the space thing, there’s definitely more cabin
breathing room, especially in the back thanks to 50mm of extra wheelbase
length. But the two rear passengers won’t want to be supermodels or
lock-forwards, despite a 30mm increase in headroom. Still, a pair of modestly
sized adults will fit comfortably enough, with an extra 50mm of legroom,
and access in and out via the sliding front seats is decent for a two-door
coupe.
What made the former car so popular was its stupendous
price, starting at $28k in manual format but fast on straights and through
bends it wasn’t. All that changes. Performance takes a hike, although it fell
just short of its claimed 7.4sec sprint time to 100. We reckon Kia might have
been optimistic on that count, for others suggest 7.8sec for the sprint run,
and that’s pretty much what we found (7.7sec). In the wings is a seven-speed
twin-clutch tranny which will likely find its way into this car in time.
Not that there’s anything awry with the close ratio auto, but in tight going
around 80km/h second gear is too low, and third a touch high, so a
seven-speeder would be ace.
Kia Cerato Koup
Turbo Engine
