Kia Pro Ceed review 2019

Model review

When Kia introduced its Ceed in 2007, it was arguably a turning point for this South Korean manufacturer and one that helped to move it into mainstream territory, and today the brand is easily on par with Vauxhall and Ford. 

So, this was a hugely important car for Kia, and its first truly European model. Given its success, it’s not a surprise the firm has expanded the ‘Ceed’ family with crossovers and estates, and also the ProCeed. 

This latter car we’re reviewing here is an interesting one, because it started out in life as the three-door version of the regular Ceed – offering sportier looks and a more involving driving experience. It lasted for two generations as this, but with declining sales for three-door models, Kia decided to axe the model as we knew it in 2018 at the same time as a third-generation Ceed arrived. 

Latest model

It’s strange for a model to completely transform in bodystyle as part of a new generation, but that’s what happened with the latest Kia Proceed – adapting from a three-door hatchback to a stunning five-door shooting brake-esque model. 

It was quite a radical departure from the norm for Kia, and unexpected too for a firm that was always known for its relatively bland-looking cars. Offering a sportier stance than the rest of the Ceed range, this Kia comes with loads of standard kit and impressive practicality despite its sleek look. 

You’re also able to choose it as a hot GT version, which features the same turbocharged petrol engine as the regular Ceed GT hot hatch.

Value for money

Priced next to a conventional estate car, the ProCeed certainly doesn’t look the cheapest option, with basic versions starting from £24,355 new. Compare that to the regular estate version of the Kia Ceed – the Sportswagon – and that’s available for less than £20,000. However, with the ProCeed only available in high specs, a like-for-like version only works out as £1,000 more expensive than the regular estate model. You also get loads of standard kit, such as heated seats, LED rear lights and a large touchscreen. The entry-level version really is all you need, as range-topping versions are quite pricey. 

There are also some big savings to be had on nearly-new models, with one-year-old examples available from just £15,000, which represents a huge chunk of money off the original list price. 

Looks and image

Kia traditionally hasn’t been a manufacturer known for producing stylish cars, but over the last couple of years that’s changed, with the firm adding some extra flair to its range. First with the Stinger fastback and now with this ProCeed. 

Its stylish shooting brake shape and cool full-length LED rear light bar make it look like a seriously upmarket car – almost like a Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo, which is high praise indeed. All versions come in high-spec GT-Line or GT grades, which ensures you get sporty and purposeful looks. It’s really the styling that’ll sway you towards the ProCeed over the somewhat bland-looking Ceed Sportswagon. 

Kia interiors have really stepped up a notch in recent years, and the ProCeed’s cabin is no exception. Buy a pre-2020 car and it will come with an eight-inch media screen, but the latest models benefit from a larger 10.25-inch unit. Both are very easy to use and help to give the cabin a modern feel, while the quality is largely excellent throughout. There’s just a bit too much gloss black plastic in the cabin for our liking, which somewhat cheapens the feel of it. 

Kia has also tweaked the way the ProCeed drives to give it a sportier feel next to the regular Ceed models, though it gets the balance right between comfort and sportiness – having a relatively firm setup, but never feeling uncomfortable. Hot GT versions also offer a warmer feel, though it’s more of a hatchback with plenty of power than a true hot hatchback. 

Space and practicality

It’s a mixture of good and bad with the ProCeed when it comes to practicality. For starters, the boot itself is big even by estate car standards – measuring 594 litres, which is only six less than the Sportswagon model. However, the shape itself is a bit awkward, because of the curved rear, and it leads to quite a shallow boot, especially at the rearmost point of the boot. The sloping shape also leads to especially poor visibility, so it’s a blessing that all ProCeeds feature a reversing camera as standard. 

Rear space, however, is largely unaffected, with plenty of room in the back seats for even taller adults. Top-spec GT-Line S models feature a panoramic sunroof, which while adding plenty of light to the cabin, impacts headroom quite a lot. 

Engines

There’s not a huge amount of engine choice on the ProCeed, with two petrol and one diesel option to choose from. 

The entry-level option is a turbocharged 1.4-litre unit producing 138bhp and 242Nm of torque, which is available with either a six-speed manual gearbox or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It’s a rather good all-rounder, as it’s able to reach 60mph in 8.8 seconds, but be efficient at the same time. 

If you want the most powerful ProCeed, then the GT is the one to go for – featuring a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine producing 201bhp and 265Nm of torque. It’s mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox - can hit 60mph in a respectable 7.2 seconds and go on to a top speed of 140mph. 

If you do a lot of miles, the 134bhp 1.6-litre diesel is the one to go for, which is offered with both manual and automatic gearbox options. It’s not the quickest, with 0-60mph taking 10 seconds, though it is much better on fuel than the other two options. 

Running costs

If you’re keeping an eye on running costs, the 1.6-litre diesel engine is the model to go for, as it’ll return 56.5mpg, with CO2 emissions of 131g/km. That said, the 1.4-litre petrol is still a credible choice – Kia saying it’ll return 45.6mpg with CO2 emissions of 141g/km. The GT could be quite expensive to run, though. Kia claims it’ll do 39.3mpg, with CO2 emissions of 163g/km, but it’s not likely to fare as well if you make the most of its performance. 

While Kia offers plug-in hybrid derivatives of the XCeed and Ceed SW, there doesn’t seem to be any plans to electrify the ProCeed in its current form. 

Things to look out for

The Kia ProCeed is quite a niche model, and therefore there are certain question marks surrounding its reliability – but given the regular Ceed is known to be very dependable there should be few issues with this new Kia. It also comes with a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty, which should provide extra peace and mind. 

Rivals 

The Kia ProCeed is in a very niche sector, and its only real competitor is the Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake, though given prices for that car start from £32,000, it’s not quite in the same league. So really, it’s standard estate cars that are the best rivals for this Kia – such as the Volkswagen Golf Estate, Ford Focus Estate and Renault Megane Sport Tourer. You can also look at premium hatchbacks for the same price, such as the Audi A3 Sportback, BMW 1 Series and Mercedes A-Class, though neither of these are anywhere near as roomy. 

Depreciation

Despite Kia’s push upmarket with the ProCeed, it doesn’t really hold its value better than other regular models from the South Korean manufacturer. Expect savings of up to £8,000 off nearly-new models, which makes this Kia a terrific used buy.