The Herald - The Herald Magazine
First drive Kia Proceed
ESTATE cars are known for their practicality; what they often lack is style. Step forward Kia, which is about to change that ethos with its striking new Proceed – dubbed a ‘shooting brake’ for its curved rear.
Shooting brakes were popular with coachbuilders in the 1950s but are now almost non-existent, other than with Mercedes. They are sleeker-looking estate cars. Proceed used to be the name given to Kia’s three-door Ceed, but with buyers turning their backs on these models, Kia has managed to retain the nameplate and use it on an entirely different breed of car.
While based on the new Ceed hatchback and Sportswagon (estate), the Proceed is longer and lower than the other two body styles, with the clear difference being the swept-back design and long overhang at the rear. Only two exterior design aspects are carried over: the bonnet and front wings.
Proceed is only offered in high-spec trims. This means you get GT-Line, GT-Line S and the sporty GT, each commanding a £2000plus price hike over the standard Ceed.
As Kia has essentially created a niche for itself, it’s not anticipating selling many units – just 1000 a year – but that comes as part of the Proceed being the range-topping Ceed.
Kia offers the Proceed with a choice of three engines. Lovers of diesel will be happy to find the firm’s new 134bhp 1.6-litre unit under the bonnet, but buyers also have the choice of a 138bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine
– tested here – and a powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol unit delivering 201bhp.
The 1.4-litre T-GDi is a smooth engine delivering a relaxed driving experience and bucketloads of refinement, with a 0-60mph time of 9.1 seconds and a top speed of 127mph. You can choose it with a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed DCT automatic gearbox. The latter is smooth and quick-changing, but can be dim-witted at times. It’s perfectly fine in traffic but delivers an annoying pause if you put your toe down.
It’s also not very efficient for a small turbocharged engine, managing just 40mpg in real-world driving, with CO2 emissions of 133g/km. That said, the diesel improves on this – returning up to a claimed 56.5mpg. Buyers wishing for a bit more power should opt for the 201bhp GT variant, which is far more zingy, not much more expensive than the 1.4-litre engine and hardly any less efficient.
For all its rakish sporty styling, the Proceed (not including the GT) is at its best when cruising. The refined petrol engine gave a supple and comfortable ride. The steering is direct, if lacking feel, but it’s easy to place into corners confident you won’t end up in a hedge at the other side, as well as having a decent throttle response and pleasant engine sound.
Ultimately, the Kia Proceed is a model set to be niche and, as a quirky alternative to your average hatchback, it’s a thoroughly recommendable choice.