Good intentions and bad execution. It’s hard to criticize when failure is the result of such valiant attempts. In looking to create a sporty Forte, Kia took its slick little sedan and did what might seem logical – made it handle even better. This seems prudent and smart, and unfortunately it’s wholly incorrect. What the Forte Koup needed was more power.

The Forte already handled quite well, spending its time straddling that fine line where cornering meets comfort, where spring rate meets shock absorption. The Koup had no qualms about what side of the line it landed on, however, willing to sacrifice panache for performance. Customers noticed. Customers complained. For 2011, Kia has addressed these issues, claiming to have made suspension adjustments to the Koup that bring things closer to the cause of comfort.

It’s a good thing, and the 2011 Koup does ride with less firm brutality, no longer ready to accordion your spine back and forth with every seam, lip and ripple you encounter on your ride. But again, this is merely correcting a previous mistake rather than a glaring omission. The Koup needs to be faster.

With its base 156-hp 2.0-liter Theta II engine, the EX trim of the Forte Koup is woefully anemic. The engine begs for more power at any speed and sounds like it will come apart upon adding any rpm, more of which is always needed. With 144 lb-ft of torque it’s lacking just as much down low as it is up high.

The SX fares marginally better with 173 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque, but this is still the same engine available in the sedan. Where’s the turbocharged version we saw at the NYIAS back in 2008? Where’s the added “oomph” we’ve come to expect, desire, require? This engine too is a noisy affair, producing more sound than fury and offering little in compensation for preventing conversation at anything other than cruising speeds.

Transmission choices are a welcome improvement at least, with new 6-speed offerings in manual and automatic offering a big improvement over outgoing models. Clutch feel is a high point of the new 6-speed manual, but the automatic is slick and responsive as well, even offering a manual shiftgate for those who don’t want to give up gear choice altogether.

The EX trim will get you the more forgiving suspension and 16-inch alloys, which improve the ride comfort greatly, but it's only available with the weak 2.0-liter engine. On top of that while traction and stability control are standard, the EX isn’t very well equipped with a base stereo and a pedestrian power package. Moving up to the 2.4-liter gets you the extra power, but it’s still not enough, and with it you’ll have to suffer through the stiff sport suspension and 17-inch wheels, which make this little coupe handle like a hay wagon. Features are slightly more abundant with automatic headlights, a tilt and telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel and foglights, but the leather for the steering wheel is nothing to be impressed by, looking like it’ll start flaking away after a few thousand miles.

No, Kia came close with the Forte Koup, but it isn’t there yet. With a bit more power and a few extra features, it could have something to actually compete with its compact sport coupe rivals. For now, it's got a car that’s too firm and not fast enough.