What’s new: The lower medium Proceed GT is Kia’s first real crack at anything resembling a performance model. It’s a warm, rather than hot, hatch with a 204hp 1.6-litre engine promising 0-62mph in 8.0 seconds and 143mph flat out.
Excellent: It’s subjective, but the Proceed GT is really good-looking. The body kit, black wheels and white paintwork of our test car looked the business.
Good: Don’t think of it as a Focus ST killer to drive and the car isn’t half bad. It’s brisk and responsive, but it’s also comfortable and refined – a good all-rounder.
Average: Despite its budget status, the Kia hasn’t quite licked the costs side of things. The P11D is acceptable enough at £19,655, as is the amount of kit you get, but it records 59.1ppm, where a rival Seat Leon SC 180 FR undercuts it at 52.4ppm.
Poor: Even serious hot hatches are more frugal. The Kia musters a paltry 38.2mpg and 171g/km; a manual Golf GTI charts an official 47.1mpg and 139g/km.
