Back in the ’70s, Chrysler made a slick-looking coupe called the Plymouth Duster. Aside from the swoopy roofline and smaller back seat, the Duster was identical to the Plymouth Valiant, which meant it was about as mechanically complex as a hammer and every bit as reliable. The Duster was cheap to run and easy to live with, and Chrysler sold them in droves. Nowadays, good simple coupes like the Plymouth Duster are hard to find, but I think I’ve stumbled upon one. Yep, you guessed it — it’s the all-new 2010 Kia Forte Koup. $17,290 base, $20,090 as tested, EPA fuel economy estimates 22-25 MPG city, 31-34 MPG highway.
Pros
* Good looking
* Roomy back seat and trunk (for a coupe)
* Fun to drive
Cons
* Vague clutch
* Ride deteriorates with a full passenger load
Description
* Koup is the two-door version of Kia’s Forte sedan
* Price range (including options): $17,290 – $21,500
* Powertrain: 2.0 liter inline 4/156 hp or 2.4 liter inline 4/173 hp, 5-6 speed manual, 4-5-speed automatic, front-wheel-drive
* EPA MPG estimates: 25 MPG city/34 MPG highway (2.0 manual/automatic), 22/32 (2.4 manual), 23/31 (2.4 automatic)
* Observed fuel economy: 28.5 MPG
Related posts: