Pros: Distinctive design, impressive handling, boot space
Cons: Visibility at the rear, limited to 1.4 petrol manual only
What is it?
Well, that is exactly the question everyone asks themselves when they first see the new Kia ProCeed. Is it a hatchback, is it a coupe, or is it an estate? The answer is it's none of these; according to Kia the ProCeed is a ‘Shooting Brake’. A shooting brake combines the excitement and elegance of a coupé with the practical refinement of a sportswagon.
Whatever it is, there’s no denying that it is an impressive looking car and we’ve driven it on Irish roads to see if Kia's newest model lives up to expectations.
What’s it like?
The ProCeed is the third member of the Kia Ceed family, sitting between the regular Ceed and Ceed Sportswagon in terms of size. As well as having a lower ride height, the new ProCeed has a sloped rear-end compared to the more sculpted shape of its siblings. The rear also features a full-width LED brake light that almost resembles that of the new Porsche Panamera at first glance.
At the front, the ProCeed hosts a twin-layered tiger nose grille and wide lower air intake, which seems to be based on the same design as the Kia Stinger. The GT-Line we drove, which is the only specification available currently to the Irish market, features 17-inch alloy wheels, which look okay but another inch or two could greatly improve the overall look of the car. The GT-Line also comes in three colours – Blue Flame, Deluxe White or Infra Red, which was the colour of our test car.
Inside, the ProCeed is equipped with Kia’s GT-Line interior which includes cloth and artificial leather seats, a 3-spoke multifunctional leather sports steering wheel and metal pedals. The infotainment system in the ProCeed which is displayed via an 8-inch touch screen is extremely easy to connect to via Bluetooth and is also compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay via USB. The most impressive feature for me though is the wireless phone charger just below the A/C controls, that allows you to charge your phone by just placing it on the ledge.
At the rear, the ProCeed offers plenty of space for both luggage and passengers. Its 594-litre boot makes it one of the biggest in the segment. The boot is also extremely practical for loading thanks to the low tailgate, keyless entry and 60:40 folding rear seats.
There is only one engine option available currently for the ProCeed in Ireland - the 1.4-litre turbo T-GDi Petrol with a six-speed manual gearbox. This engine offers some pretty good performance when called upon and you can certainly feel and hear the turbo when taking off. But it really is the agile steering that stands out. Because it has such a low ride height and fully independent suspension, the ProCeed is quick to respond when taking corners. As well as this, Electronic Stability Control and Vehicle Stability Management system come as standard, both work to intelligently brake the inside wheels to reduce understeer around corners.
The GT Line has a number of impressive safety features as standard including Driver Attention Alert, High Beam Assist, Cruise Control, Collision Avoidance Assist as well as a high-quality rear-view monitor.
Carzone Verdict 4/5
The exterior design of the new Kia ProCeed makes us look twice, standing out from a typical estate, SUV or hatchback. As well as packing a punch with its turbo engine it offers practicality with a reasonably spacious interior and large boot. If you are looking for something a little bit different than the norm, the Kia ProCeed could be for you.
Car Details:
Model Driven: Kia ProCeed 1.4 T-GDi GT Line
Test Car Price: €28,945
Annual Motor Tax: €280
Engine: 1,353cc
Fuel Type: Petrol
Max Torque (Nm/rpm): 242
Max Speed (km/h): 210
0-100 km/h: 8.8 seconds
Transmission: 6-speed Manual
Body Style: Shooting Break
Boot Space: 594-litres
Rivals:
Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake
SEAT Leon ST
Hyundai i30 Tourer