Kia ProCeed GT - a sporty sports car with a surprising boot space

There are already a handful of Kia Ceed models in the Kia range. The Kia ProCeed GT is the most streamlined shooting brake-style small car in the range. The GT trim adds sporty red-black details and the most powerful engine in the ProCeed range.

Rigid driveability first and foremost

The ProCeed GT is a pleasantly nimble affair to drive. The steering is precise and the platform’s snappiness is not overlooked. The sportiness of the exterior is well conveyed behind the wheel.

The narrow diameter of the steering wheel emphasises the smooth and quick steering. The feel of the steering is by no means the most refined, but the snappiness of the small car is emphasised. The GT model is fitted with 225/40/18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres.

The chassis is set hard in the car. During the week-long test drive, the hardness of the chassis has not yet become a problem, but at some point the surface hardness may start to annoy.

One engine for the GT – over 200 horsepower

Only one engine option is available for the GT model, a four-cylinder, 1.6-litre petrol engine producing 204 horsepower. The engine has a pleasant kick to it, with a curb weight of less than 1,500 kg.

The engine has enough power that, on a rough road, the steering can be a little draggy under hard acceleration. From the feel of the rear end, you’d guess that the car has more horsepower than what’s written on the paper.

The test car had a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The gearbox can’t be faulted, on the contrary, the box does its job precisely and nicely.

To add to the sporty character, the engine’s exhaust note has been enhanced, but it sounds more like a hollow, annoying sound after a long drive than a sporty, masculine one.

Design again a plus

Kia stands out from the crowd with its own models, as long as they’re not completely basic. The ProCeed GT is a good example of how well Kia makes its sportier models look.

Externally, the ProCeed GT’s best features are the sporty honeycomb air intakes on the front bumper, the very nicely sloping rear body lines and the side-to-side tail lights.

In terms of exterior design, the closest competitor is the Mercedes CLA, but there are few stylish small shooting brake models on the market so far. Inside, the sportiness continues with leather upholstery and red stitching.

GT-Line equipment also available for the ProCeed model

In addition to the GT equipment, the ProCeed is also available with the more affordable GT-Line equipment package. Two smaller petrol and one diesel engine are available. The starting price for the ProCeed GT-Line is just over €26,000.

The standard equipment list is very comprehensive, as in the Kia GT and GT-Line models. Standard equipment includes active lane departure warning, Apple and Android car apps, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel and LED headlights.

The only options available on the GT-equipped car are a panoramic glass roof and interior LED lighting, indicating the comprehensiveness of the standard equipment list.

In ProCeed models, the boot is a respectable 594 litres with the rear seats up. The maximum boot space is up to just over 1500 litres. The luggage compartment can be easily divided using a space divider attached to the floor rails. There are also smaller storage compartments under the floor of the boot, about 10 cm deep, for smaller loose items.