2012 Kia Cee’d 1.6 GDI DCT ‘4’ Tech FULL ROAD TEST

No this isn’t the latest premium offering from Audi or BMW, its Kia’s latest addition the second generation Cee’d. The original was the first model in the Korean giant’s line-up to really make established rivals stand up and take notice. It was a superb all-rounder that majored on value and simple design intertwined with a driving experience that was really very pleasant. This new Cee’d therefore has a lot to live up to especially as most rivals have now moved upmarket. Read on to find out if it’s any good.

It’s a right looker isn’t it? Arguably this is Kia’s finest design so far that cleverly manages to look high-end and individual at the same time. The front end sits low with a much more pronounced “tiger nose” grill with smooth sweeping projector headlights and metallic effect fog light surrounds. The side profile is equally high-class with its rising waistline and chrome framed glass area. It is worth mentioning though that this is the top spec ‘4’ Tech trim level which has the biggest wheel rims and plenty of shiny bits. Perhaps the least appealing aspect is the rear that looks a tad bland but is lifted by the sporty oval tailpipe.

Open one of the substantial feeling doors and you will find a thoroughly luxurious cabin. The design itself is very appealing borrowing much from the larger Optima. The centre console is nicely angled toward the driver bringing everything within easy reach. Build quality is unlike any other Kia before; everything is made from well chosen, quality materials that sit very well together especially with the two-tone leather of the example we tried. Cabin space is generous by class standards with lots of useful storage areas, good rear head and legroom and a generous boot.  That said rearward visibility could be better.

If you like your gadgets then the ‘4’ Tech is the model for you. It comes absolutely stuffed with everything you could ever want…and more! Standard equipment includes the usual dual-zone climate control, heated leather memory seats, rear parking camera, satellite navigation, power fold mirrors, automatic lights and wipers and cruise control to name a few. On top of this you also get Bluetooth and USB connectivity for the stereo with audio streaming and Kia’s Parallel Park Assist, Lane Departure Warning System, Flex Steer, ambient lighting and best of all, a simply brilliant heated steering wheel. The Cee’d also greets you when you get in and out via the standard fit LCD TFT high definition display ingeniously integrated into the speedo.

With talented rivals such as Ford’s superb Focus this Kia has to be good to drive to succeed. Largely it is. Although based on the same platform as the previous car with independent suspension at each corner this Cee’d has been completely retuned. It rides incredibly well even on the 17” alloys on our car managing to smother any imperfection in its path. It is also more refined than you would expect with almost a complete lack of wind or tyre roar. It handles well too feeling neutral until really pushed with plenty of grip and well controlled body roll. Undoubtedly enthusiastic drivers will find the Flex Steer system over assisted in Normal mode and even more artificial in Sport or Comfort mode making it difficult to judge what the front wheels are doing.
 

Our car came fitted with Kia’s first ever dual clutch automatic transmission called DCT which impressed us. Gear changes weren’t quite as speedy as Volkswagen’s DSG but were still very quick making the most of the 133bhp on offer. Gearchanges can also be made via the flappy paddles for a little more control. There is also a Sport mode which not only changes the speedo digits to italics but hangs onto gears for longer and tidies up throttle responses.  The Cee’d can reach 60mph in 10.4 seconds but in reality it feels much quicker than this. We really liked the relaxed nature of the engine and gearbox combination that always seemed to have enough grunt for most situations. In return we managed around 30mpg which is a little disappointing and 140g/km of co2 could be better. 

Words and Photos by Rob McSorley

Price as tested: £23,795 

Engine: 1.6 16v 133bhp - 0-60mph: 10.4secs - Maximum Speed: 121 mph - 

Economy: 35.3mpg (urban) –57.6mpg (extra-urban), 46.3mpg (combined) - Emissions: 140g/km (Band E) - VED (12 months): £120 

Dimensions: Length: 4,310mm - Width: 1,780mm - Height: 1,470mm - Wheelbase: 2,650mm 

*data from Kia UK

The Verdict

Not only is the new Cee’d better than the old model but it’s arguably the best Kia yet. It has the looks, comfort, refinement and technology to match the very best as well as a very accommodating cabin. Coupled with Kia’s superb warranty it’s a tantalising package. However we wish the driving experience felt more involving and despite all of the kit on board our ‘4’ Tech £23,795 is a lot of money for a c-segment car, especially one with a Kia badge even if it is built as well as this. We suspect that trim levels lower down in the range will make more sense, especially when equipped with Kia’s superb diesel engines. Overall the Cee’d is very impressive, just a little less than we expected.

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob Mcsorley (info@robmcsorleyoncars.com).

Kia goes for a sporty image boost

Kia is looking to add sports and performance cars to its range to help raise its brand image, and is even considering a rear-wheel-drive coupé based on the 2011 GT concept.

First in line is a high-performance version of next year's second-generation pro_cee'd, which made its debut at the Paris show.

It will be powered by a 200bhp 1.6-litre direct-injection turbo engine and offered with six-speed manual and double-clutch transmissions. It goes into production in the middle of next year.

But Kia's vice-chairman and CEO Hyoung-Keun (Hank) Lee says the company is "seriously looking" at the idea of building a car based on the GT coupé concept from last year's Frankfurt show. If it goes ahead it will almost certainly be RWD.

"In my opinion a sports car should be RWD," Lee says. "When I was at Hyundai we tried the Coupé with front-wheel drive. It was considered sporty looking, but the driveability was different.

"We haven't decided yet, but we need a certain product to help with our brand image. We have tried a couple of concept cars and found some potential in the GT. We will try a couple more in the future, starting at Geneva next year, and test the media and consumer response before choosing one."

Kia has had a sports car in its range in the past, in 1997, when it bought the design rights to the Lotus Elan and began a small production run with one of its own engines in place of the original Isuzu unit. But a year later Kia went bust as Asia's Tiger economies collapsed, leading to the takeover by Hyundai.

Top 10 New Car Gadgets

Many moons ago if your supermini came fitted with two wing mirrors and a stereo you were one of the lucky ones. Back then essentials such as ABS or Airbags were reserved for luxury cars costing a fortune. Today’s cars are very different and are all about gadgets and gizmos that either make life a little easier or are genuine safety solutions. This year we have road tested over 40 models from a variety of different manufacturers that have featured a wide range of different electronic gadgets. Some have been useful, others not so. If you are wondering what options to add to your next car, read on…

Satellite Navigation

Remember the days when a map was your only way to work out where you were going? I certainly do. Thankfully times have changed with the arrival of satellite navigation which features in many new cars. Systems used to send you all over the place including farmers’ fields and the wrong way down one way streets. The systems fitted to the cars we have tried have been much better and are integrated into the car better than an aftermarket device stuck onto the windscreen.

As seen on the Peugeot 208 Allure

Reversing Camera

It sounds silly, why would you want a camera mounted on the back of your car when parking. Well, these are a lot more useful than you would think especially as the majority of new cars have awful rearward visibility. The models we have tried with a reversing camera fitted also came with parking sensors and a neat grid on the screen giving the driver an idea of exactly how much room there is behind the car. It also makes parking in bays much easier as the edges of the lines can be lined up with the grid on the screen. Kia for example have even cleverly integrated the camera screen into the rear-view mirror.

As seen on the Kia Soul Hunter

Seatbelt Warning

Years ago seat belts were not standard, seems crazy now. Today every car has them but perhaps the hardest passengers to get to buckle up are small children who often think they are a toy to be played with. The majority of new cars have seat belt warning lights and bongs to help drivers ensure everyone on-board is safe. Many MPVs go one step further by offering an individual warning light for each seat, some of the time all seven seats. For parents ferrying kids around looking out for cars with this feature is a must.

As seen on the Peugeot 5008 Allure

Lane Departure Warning

Let’s face it, overtaking isn’t difficult. For some however using indicators to tell other motorist what you are doing isn’t second nature. For this reason lane departure warning systems are a pretty good idea. Using sensors underneath the car they can detect the cars position within a given lane and alert the driver if they get too close or cross the line. Some systems have an annoying bong which will drive everyone crazy; others cause the steering wheel or driver’s seat to vibrate. It’s a system that really works. Ford have taken the system one step further and offer intervention, the car will gently steer itself back into the centre of the lane if needed, this can however be overridden.

As seen on the Ford Focus Titanium

DVD Players

Everyone loves a good movie, now you can easily watch your favourite film in your car. DVD players mounted in the rear headrests have been around for quite a while hidden on option lists. Manufacturers are now starting to fit them to some models as standard. For parents with screaming, bored kids they are a dream to have. If equipped with wireless headphones long journey can come and go with ease, some systems even have pre-loaded games. Brilliant!

As seen on the Mitsubishi Shogun SG4

Blind Spot Warning

One of the more common accidents on today’s roads is caused by drivers not seeing people, bicycles or other cars that are hidden in their blind spot. Modern cars are being fitted more and more with blind spot warning systems. These are usually neatly housed in the car’s wing mirrors consisting of a small led bulb that either lights up for flashes if the car senses an obstacle in the driver's blind spot. It’s a simple system that really can be trusted.

As seen on the Volvo XC60 R-Design Lux

HDD Music Drive

Who frequently listens to CDs in their cars? Most people actually. This could soon be a thing of the past. In the same way that you load music onto your MP3/IPod you can do the same with your car thanks to systems offered on a series of models. If you insert a CD into the unit you will be prompted with a menu asking whether you would like to copy the CD to the units’ hard drive. In doing this you can build up a music collection just for driving. Amusingly in a handful of the press cars we have tried we have found a rather eclectic mix of music from previous road testers.

As seen on the Peugeot RCZ GT

Active City Stop

Ever driven in a built up area and a football comes rolling across the road? Most have; all too often it’s followed by a child unaware of your approach. Active City Stop systems have the ability to activate the car’s brakes at lower speeds and more quickly than the most alert driver can. The systems work surprisingly well, although difficult to test with the use of a little ingenuity their full effectiveness can be demonstrated. These systems are cropping up more and more even in low-cost city cars such as the Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo.

As seen on the Ford Focus Titanium

Intelligent Cruise Control

Cruise control has been around for years and boy is it useful on long journeys. Keeping a constant speed on motorways without the use of your feet is a great idea. Cars today take this one step further. With the help of sensors that detect the distance from the car in front. When activating the cruise control a predefined distance from the car in front can be selected. The car will brake itself if it becomes too close to the car in front and can accelerate fairly hard if needed when a gap ahead increases.

As seen on the Volvo XC60 R-Design Lux

Heated Steering Wheel

OK, you are probably thinking, why on earth would you pay for a heated steering wheel? Well, because they are brilliant. More and more cars are being fitted with this brilliant device that consists of a small element in the wheel that keeps the drivers hands nice and toasty. Most cars just have an on or off function; others have a handful of settings for different temperatures. It seems a little gimmicky but coupled with a heated seat Britain’s cold winters can be an absolute pleasure to drive around in. It’s as simple as that!

As seen on the Kia Cee’d 4 Tech

Words by Rob McSorley

2012 Kia Soul FULL ROAD TEST

Personalisation options are all the rage at the moment from stickers, roof decals, fancy wheel designs to customizable interior trim combinations. The purpose is to enable buyers to tailor their cars appearance to individual tastes. It’s an idea that’s really taken off since the launch of the highly successful MINI.

There is one car that has pretty much gone unnoticed in the cut-throat compact urban hatch sector being completely overshadowed by the MINI, Fiat 500 and Citroen DS3. That car is Kia’s intriguingly named Soul which has recently received a fairly extensive midlife spruce-up. We find out if it’s a good as its name would suggest and whether it can tempt drivers out of their Fiestas, MINIs and Nissan Jukes.

What is it?

Library image

The Soul was first unveiled in concept form at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and went on sale in 2008 with surprisingly minor alterations. It was the work of Kia’s California design centre and was the first model that ushered the new design-led strategy featuring the company’s now familiar Tiger Nose or Bow Tie grill. The main aim of the Soul is to offer buyers a refreshing alternative to more conventional hatchbacks with its unique styling and extensive customisation options. Based on the same platform architecture as Kia’s Venga and Rio as well as Hyundai’s i20 and iX20 the Soul is larger than the average supermini but still smaller than anything in the c-segment. Earlier this year it received a thorough reworking including revised styling and a new GDi petrol and revised CRDi diesel engines mated to new 6 speed manual and automatic transmissions. Trim levels remain similar to the original Soul but with boosted levels of standard equipment. As before there are two regular trim grades logically named ‘1’ starting at £12,795 and ‘2’ starting at £13,600. Of more interest to those looking for something a little different are the ‘Soul Originals’ which consist of the aptly named Hunter, Quantum and Inferno. Prices range from £15,100 for the petrol Hunter to £18,695 for the Petrol (only) Inferno. Here we are testing the 1.6 138 bhp GDi petrol Hunter with metallic paint.

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Rivals: Nissan Juke, Ford Fiesta, Toyota Urban Cruiser, Citroen DS3

  Key Features

• 18” alloy wheels
• Reversing camera (Rear View Mirror)
• 8 Speaker Stereo with Amplifier and Sub-Woofer
• Bluetooth/USB/Ipod connectivity
• ABS, EBD with BAS, ESC, VSM, HAC
• Automatic Projector Headlights
• LED Front and Rear Lights
• Air Conditioning
• 4x Electric Windows
• Powerfold mirrors (LED Indicator lights)
• Electric Tilt-Slide Sunroof

Looks are everything if you are in the market for something a little different from the norm and this is where the Soul really scores. Its upright, utilitarian looking shape with floating roof contrasts nicely with the wide curvaceous wheel arches and headlights. New for 2012 is a heavily revised front facia with much larger fog lights and new LED daytime running lights now nestled under the projector headlights. There is also a new more butch-looking rear bumper, jazzy redesigned rear light clusters and fresh chubby 18 inch alloy wheels. The raft of changes build on the Souls already bold looks and make the whole recipe seem to gel better than ever before; it’s a real head-turner in the metal.

The cabin is well designed with a curved uncluttered centre console, revised switchgear and Kia’s now signature individually hooded dials. If you find black trim bland then the Hunter is the trim level to consider as it comes with ice white highlights all over the place including the steering wheel and best of all the tops of the seats and door panels are trimmed in black and white tartan! Everything is sensibly located and clearly labelled with improved build quality. The majority of the dash-top is nicely squidgy with the door pulls and centre console finished in harder plastic with a thin rubberised coating. You certainly won’t have to worry about trim rattles in years to come.

A considerable advantage of that squared-off body is a cabin with an abundance of space especially considering the cars footprint that isn’t much bigger than a Fiestas. Space in both the front and rear is cavernous with masses of leg and headroom and the Soul’s generous width means that three abreast in the back isn’t too much of a compromise. The driving position won’t suit all, we found that even with the seat in its lowest position it still felt too lofty but the height and reach adjustable steering column helps. The biggest gripe the driver will have is all-round visibility which is restricted by the thick windscreen pillars and even thicker rear pillars. Luckily our car came as standard with a reversing camera neatly housed in the rear-view mirror making parking easy.

The spacious cabin seems to have come at the expense of boot space which isn’t as generous as we would have hoped but is no worse than in a Polo or Fiesta at 340 litres extending to 818 litres with the seats folded. We liked the additional under floor storage which had a number of smaller sections to stop items rolling around.

Powering our Soul is an all-new 1.6 litre 138bhp petrol engine now with direct injection. We were left underwhelmed by the figures; 0-60 mph takes 10 seconds but at 1,245kg the Soul is noticeable heavier than the likes of the Fiesta. In practice the engine is clearly geared for economy which is all too evident by the gearshift indicator which encourages changes around 2,500 rpm which makes the Soul feel far too sluggish. With the maximum torque of 122lb/ft available from a fairly high 4,850rpm holding onto to each gear for longer allows the driver to make the most of the power on offer. The engine’s hunger for revs found us opting for the latter fairly frequently although we wish the soundtrack was a little more characterful.

On the move engine refinement is impressive as is our cars super-slick 6-speed gearbox which is the best we have experienced from Kia so far. The fade-free disc-brakes all-round do a sterling job of bringing the Soul to a halt backed up by standard fit ABS and EBD. We didn’t however; get on with the pedal arrangement as the clutch pedal is very light and overly sensitive making it easy to stall or kangaroo when pulling away.

What will surprise most is the Soul’s ability when dealing with challenging corners. To counteract the higher than normal centre of gravity Kia have opted for a taught suspension setup that results in superb body control with next-to-no bodyroll. Those good looking 18” alloy wheels shod with 225/45 tyres provide masses of grip and coupled with its sharp turn-in make Soul good to drive. We just wish there was more feedback through the steering which is numb at best. When we learned that Kia enlisted the help of Lotus to tune the Soul’s suspension the thrills on offer made much more sense.

Its Achilles heel however; is the ride quality that will be too wooden for most, initial damping is supple enough but rougher urban surfaces ricochet noisily through the cabin. Models with smaller wheels however; are likely to ride much more smoothly. That said we found that at higher speeds the busyness of the suspension fades away making the Soul decent for longer journeys.

Words and Photos by Rob McSorley

Technical Data

Price as tested: £15,545

Engine: 1.6 16v 138bhp - 0-62mph: 10 secs - Maximum Speed: 112mph -

Economy: 36.7mpg (urban) –50.4mpg (extra-urban), 44.1mpg (combined) - Emissions: 149g/km (Band F) - VED (12 months): £135

Dimensions: Length: 4120mm - Width: 1785mm - Height: 1610mm - Wheelbase: 2550mm

*data from Kia UK

The Verdict 4/5

The Kia Soul has a lot to offer buyers looking for a refreshingly different hatchback. Its utilitarian inspired styling holds a lot of appeal when compared to more conventional offerings and the recent refresh has refined the finer details with impressive results. With one of the most spacious cabins in its sector and a well sorted chassis and the Soul’s case becomes even stronger. In Hunter trim as we tested here equipment levels are generous and the additional exterior details including those massive wheels make the asking price of a smidge over £15,000 seem like a good deal. As with every car there are weaknesses which include a crashy ride, numb steering and over-sensitive clutch pedal. Also whilst with us we were underwhelmed by the economy of the petrol engine, when driven carefully guided by the gearshift indicator over a mixture of roads we averaged 34 mpg. This is some way off the figure given by Kia of 44.4 mpg combined. The Soul deserves to be incredibly successful as it has so much to offer buyers willing to take the risk and buy something vastly different. Sadly for most the Kia badge lacks the cache of the MINI brand but for those who can see past this the Soul is a very complete package.

You will like

+Individual looks

+Value for money

+Talented chassis

+Practical interior

You won’t like

-Hard ride

-Poor economy

-Over-sensitive clutch

-Numb steering

Special Thanks to; Kia Motors (UK) Limited, 2 The Heights , Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0NY

2013 Kia Carens PREVIEWED

 

Ahead of its official world premiere at the Paris Motorshow in September Kia have released first images of its all-new Carens compact MPV.

The Carens is the next model in Kia's impressive range to feature styling by Peter Schreyer. It takes cues from the recently launch new Cee’d, the new car is a world away from the conventional boxy look of the current car. Kia describes the design as “completely fresh, sleek, cab-forward design, lower roofline, longer wheelbase, larger wheels”. 

The current Carens originally went on sale in 2006 and along with the Sedona is the last of the old generation of cars. Unfortunately for Kia it failed to attract much attention away from established competitors due to its lacklustre design and engineering which is set to change with the new model.

As yet it isn’t confirmed which platform the new Carens will use but it is highly likely that it will be based on the same architecture as the Cee’d which should mean big improvements in  comfort, agility and refinement. Like the current car there will be 5 and 7-seat versions with a range of efficient petrol and diesel engines to choose form. Prices are likely to mirror the current car stating at around £15,000 which in combination with Kia’s industry-leading 7 year 100,000 warranty should make for an attractive ownership proposition.

Further details will emerge at the new cars launch conference on 27^th September 2012 at 17h:30 (CET)

 

2012 Kia Pro_Cee'd FULL ROAD TEST

In years gone by if practicality didn’t sit high on your agenda opting for a 3 door variant over a 5 door made perfect sense and would save you over £500 of the list price.

In recent years from extensive research it has been realised that 3 door hatches appeal more to young drivers who prefer the simpler, sportier appearance. Since then manufacturers have tried more than ever to tailor these cars to catch the eye of this clientele.

It all kicked off with Fiat’s C-segment entry which arrived in two distinctly different flavours, a practical 5 door Brava and a much sleeker looking 3 door Bravo. For the first time the difference between these two variants was more than losing the pair of rear doors, they actually only shared body panels up to the a-pillar – everything else was vastly different

It was obviously a strategy that paid off as today most C-segment cars have a sleek 3 door sibling and some are even marketed as Coupes and demand a price premium. Kia is not only new to this increasingly popular mini-segment but has also never produced a C-segment model ever before so the Pro_Cee’d has a rather tough task on its hands. We hop behind the wheel to find out what it has to offer.

What is it?

2006 Pro_Cee'd concept (library image)

The Pro_Cee’d was originally revealed in concept form at the 2006 Paris Motorshow and was extremely well received so went into production the following year almost unchanged. Designed to sit alongside the 5 door and SW Cee’d models the Pro_Cee’d is the sportiest of the three. Having been on sale for over five years it received a facelift in late 2010 with similar updates already seen on its siblings including revised front headlights, bumpers and changes to the interior trim including a new steering wheel. The range starts with the base “1” at £13,300 rising to the top of the range ‘4’ we are testing here which costs £18,995. There are a range of engines on offer including 1.4 and 1.6 litre petrol units and a 1.6 CRDi diesel unit that is available in 89, 114 or 126 bhp outputs. Here we are testing the plush Pro_Cee’d 4 1.6 CRDi 126bhp mated to Kia’s 6-speed manual gearbox.

Rivals: Seat Leon, Vauxhall Astra GTC, Renault Megane Coupe

  Key Features

• 17” Alloy wheels
• Heated leather seats
• Dual zone air conditioning
• Cruise control
• 7” Touchscreen satellite navigation
• Reversing camera
• ABS, EBD, ESC, BAS & HAC
• Powerfold mirrors

Viewing the Pro_Cee’d from the front you could easily mistake it for its 5-door brother as it shares the same headlights, chrome effect grill and chiselled bonnet – the only difference is the more rakish lower bumper treatment. This is where the similarities end as the a-pillar is much shallower creating a sleeker look which works well with the broad, rising waistline to create a squat, wedgy coupe-like profile.

It gets better at the rear with ultra-modern hip level light units that combine with the sleek rear windscreen and sporty oval tailpipe. It’s all topped of with the attractive 17” alloy wheels of our test car and a slightly lower ride height. It’s a well-proportioned, athletic design that’s unique when compared to its competitors.

Rear styling manages to look sporty and modern

From the front the Pro_Cee'd shares lots with its 5-door sibling but still looks fresh enough

Open the long front doors and inside you will find an inoffensive, neatly designed cabin that’s built to a high standard. Quality materials feature on all of the surfaces that the driver comes into contact with. Admittedly it’s not the most eye-catching design and is starting to look a little dated but it works well and feels suitable sophisticated.

The controls fall nicely to hand and operate with ease especially the superb multimedia stereo fitted to our car which incorporates an intuitive touchscreen interface. It also displays images from the rear mounted camera when reversing.

The standard fit leather seats not only look great but also offer plenty of adjustment and support in all the right places. During cornering they are successful in keeping you in place and on longer journeys they are perfectly comfortable.

Well built, logically laid out cabin is easy to live with if lacking in excitement

Reversing camera is an excellent feature that's appearing in Kias more and more.

Access to rear could be better and once inside its dark and short of space

As you would expect of a car of this type there have been compromises in interior space. Up front there is plenty of room to stretch out but the rear is a difference story. To start with getting in and out easily is the art of an acrobat, the seats do slide forward but not by enough and the low roofline only complicates the issue. Annoyingly – as we have noticed on a handful of recent cars – the seats fail to return to their original position so need to be re-adjusted each time. Once in the back it’s not a particularly nice place to spend much time, legroom is good but headroom is tight and those small windows make for a dark, claustrophobic cabin.

Luggage space isn’t far behind the 5-door Cee’d at 340 litres and although there is a sizeable lip when loading items the boot is a good shape. The rear seats fold for carrying larger items extending to 1,210 litres

On the road the Pro_Cee’d is a mixed bag. The engine is a corker with 126bhp and 188lb/ft of torque from just 1900rpm making swift progress easily feeling much quicker than the quoted 10.6 second to 60mph. Power delivery is smooth and the generous mid-range punch makes for an entertaining drive. The only let-down is the course engine note at higher revs that you don’t get in rival cars.

The moment you set off the taut ride is obvious – there is very little body movement which makes it feel very sporty. Unfortunately ride quality as a result is very poor, even the smallest imperfections make themselves known and motorway expansion joints are unbearable. The general feeling is that there is a complete lack of damping and we are certain that the 17” alloy wheels fitted to our car only make things worse.

Show the Pro_Cee’d a corner and the firm suspension starts to pay off, body-roll is well contained unless really pushed and grip is plentiful. The steering is nicely weighted but completely lacking in feel. The same can be said for the 6-speed gearbox which has a nice smooth action but feels woolly.

With an asking price of £18,995 for our top spec “4” you could hardly call it a bargain. However equipment levels are relatively generous – heated seats, a reversing camera and touchscreen sat-nav all come as standard on top of the usual digital air conditioning, cruise control and 17” alloy wheels. Safety kit is also plentiful and if the worst happens the Pro_Cee’d is backed up by a 5 start Euro NCAP crash rating. More affordable models lower down in the range also come well equipped with the same safety features. Running costs are pretty reasonable returning with a combined 62.8 mpg and siting in tax band C.

Words and Photos by Rob McSorley

Technical Data

Price as tested: £18,995

Engine: 1.6 16v 126bhp - 0-62mph: 10.6 secs - Maximum Speed: 122mph -

Economy: 54.3mpg (urban) –67.3mpg (extra-urban), 62.8mpg (combined) - Emissions: 119g/km (Band C) - VED (12 months): £30

Dimensions: Length: 4250mm - Width: 1790mm - Height: 1450mm - Wheelbase: 2650mm

*data from Kia UK

The Verdict 3/5

The Kia Pro_Cee’d is a really interesting car. It’s a very appealing design that manages to look sporty and still very modern despite being on the market since 2007. Inside its comfortable, well designed and has a pleasingly high quality feel. Cabin space in the front is good and the boot is usefully spacious. The 1.6 diesel engine we tested really was the star of the show proving economical and punchy if a little short on refinement. Where this car really falls down is dynamically -ultimately it’s flawed. Despite handling well enough there is very little connection through the controls which doesn’t inspire confidence. The ride is also poorly calibrated with a complete lack of compliancy that’s essential when tackling the UKs poorly surfaced roads. Despite these shortcomings it’s easy to appreciate the effort that Kia has put into this car and it makes the second generation Pro_Cee’d which is coming soon a very exciting prospect.

You will like

Performance

Economy

Styling

You wont like

Poor ride quality

Confined rear cabin

Lack of feel through controls

Special Thanks to; Kia Motors (UK) Limited, 2 The Heights , Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0NY