Kia pro_cee'd ON THE ROAD

Review & Photos by Rob McSorley

Since its launch in 2008 the three door pro_cee'd has built up a reputation as a stylish, solid and dependable hatch-come-coupe complementing the other models in the popular cee'd range. As the final member of the new second generation cee'd family joining the five door hatch and estate (SW) this new version aims to build on the success of the original. Read on to find out if it's any good.

Whether you choose the S or SE trim level you will get stacks of kit. Goodies include alloy wheels, fog lights, LED daytime running lights, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, automatic lights, electric windows and mirrors, cruise control and reversing sensors. There's also a host of safety equipment as you would expect. All manual models also come with Kia's Intelligent Stop & Go system to reduce emissions when stuck in traffic.

The SE model you see here adds larger wheels, powered seats, dual-zone climate control, automatic wipers, a seven-inch touchscreen sat nav system, a colour reversing camera and a keyless entry system. Impressive given the competitive asking price.

The cabin is a joy to sit in. The dash has been lifted straight from it's five door stablemates so you get the same stylish piano black driver-focused layout bringing all of the controls within easy reach with plush materials used throughout. The seats are very comfortable offering plenty of support and it's easy to find a comfortable driving position. The black headlining, 40mm lower roofline and narrow glass area make for an appealing cocooned feeling from inside.

But don't expect big compromises in terms of cabin space. You see the new pro_cee'd is the same length and width as the five door so there's plenty of space in the front and rear although admittedly the heads of those in the rear will be much closer to the headlining. The boot too offers the same 380 litres but access is a little more restricted due the high load lip and narrow opening but if you fold the rear seats you have 1,225 litres at your disposal. With such long doors grabbing your seat belt can be quite a stretch but Kia have even thought of that by fitting a neat extended anchor-point.

There's a choice of two 1.6 litre direct-injection engines, one diesel and one petrol offering 133 and 126 bhp respectively. Fitted to our test car is the diesel engine mated to a slick-shifting six speed gearbox. It's a punchy and refined unit getting into its stride from 1,900 rpm when the 260 Nm of torque kicks in. Acceleration is brisk making overtaking a cinch without compromising economy.

The driving experience is little changed from five door hatch on which it shares its underpinnings so it has a supple, forgiving ride, good levels of grip and little body roll in corners. The chassis copes well on twisty roads remaining stable and composed if lacking in driver involvement. The steering doesn't help matters despite Kia's gimmicky Flex Steer system offering three different levels of assistance. Even in the heaviest Sport mode where its weighting feels most natural it feels vague which is a real shame.

What you definitely can't fault is the bold styling of the pro_cee'd as it shares little with it's stablemates. At the front there's a slimmer grill (that now joins the headlights) and aggressive lower bumper that accentuates the car's width. The sleek roofline and rising waistline lend to the athletic coupe profile and it's all finished off with a shallow rear window and diamond-shaped LED tail lights. It certainly turns heads.

Tech Data

Price as tested: £20,595
Engine: 1.6 litre 16v 126 bhp - 0-60 mph: 10.5 secs - Maximum Speed: 122 mph -
Economy: 55.4 mpg (urban) –74.3 mpg (extra-urban), 65.7 mpg (combined) - Emissions: 112 g/km (Band C) - VED (12 months): £30
Dimensions: Length: 4310 mm - Width: 1780 mm - Height: 1430 mm - Wheelbase: 2650 mm
*data from Kia UK

DriverVIBE Verdict

This second generation pro_cee'd picks up where the old model left off. It has eye-catching good looks, a spacious cabin that's well equipped and beautifully built yet is still competitively priced compared to it's Volkswagen Scirocco and Vauxhall Astra GTC rivals. It also has a broad range of abilities on the road as it's economical, refined, handles well and is very comfortable. It just lacks the dynamic sparkle that enthusiastic drivers demand and it's a shame it isn't sportier to drive than the five door cee'd. There is no denying though that it's a very compelling package, attractive in its own right but definitely Kia's best model yet.

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