Kia pro_cee'd review: Honest car with reasonable price tag

Yes, Kia has gone sporty with a new range of cars based on its popular cee'd, and powered by a new and highly efficient range of engines. But it hasn't gone over the top by abandoning its core values of value and keeping ownership costs down.

The new pro_cee'd includes a sharply-styled version, the GT Line, with attractive coupe styling and something extra under the bonnet to attractive new buyers without breaking the bank. While it shares many of the styling and technological features of the 200bhp flagship pro_cee'd GT, it comes with a lower price, insurance, fuel and taxation costs.

The 'standard' cee'd has proven itself as a family-friendly hatchback and a value for money rival to the likes of the Ford Focus. But the car also showed itself to have track day credentials with its regular appearances as the 'reasonably priced car' driven by various stars on BBC's Top Gear series.

The pro_ceed GT Line's sporting good looks and high specification can only add to its street credibility, and its new petrol and diesel engine options are well up to the task.

The 1.0 litre petrol turbo in the test car can only be described as a gem: don't be surprised if it turns up elsewhere in the Kia range before long. It's also the lowest priced version of the GT Line range, at £19,720.

Kia isn't the first car maker to turbocharger a small engine, of course: you get a car capable of more performance when you need it but better economy and lower CO2 emissions in normal driving, particularly around town.

The figures speak for themselves – 0 to 60mph in 10.7 seconds and an official average of 57.6mpg with C02 emissions of 118g/km for the 118bhp version (there's also a lower rated 98bhp option which is slightly more economical).

To put that into context, the higher-rated Kia has around 50 per cent more oomph than a typical, normally-aspirated one litre car, and with 171Nm of torque it has nearly twice the pulling power, too. And, of course, it's bigger, with more passenger and cargo space than such rivals.

This impacts on the way the car drives, too. It has more get up and go at lower engine speeds, with no need to rev hard between gears or find yourself getting bogged down on the exit to corners. It's more relaxed and more satisfying, giving the feel of a bigger petrol or diesel engine while keeping small car economy.

It shares suspension and steering upgrades wtth the rest of the cee'd range and is the same size as the familiar five-door cee'd, but is noticeably lower and the 'B' pillar has been moved back, allowing for significantly wider doors to allow for easier access to the rear seats.

It's a competent car to drive, with well-weighted steering, a slick six-speed gearbox and efficient brakes, A relaxing experience in a comfortable, well-equipped cabin. Aerodynamic and mechanical improvements included in the redesign mean it's quieter, too.

You'll soon spot a pro_cee'd on the road: not only because of its three-door coupe lines but the four 'ice cube' style LED sidelights in their sculpted black housing are particularly distinctive. Daytime running lights, bespoke 17-inch alloys, a twin exhaust and side sill extensions add to the car's sporting flavour, with black trim highlighted by silver stitching plus some high-gloss and chrome finishes.

Air conditioning and a cooled glovebox are standard across the range, with a seven-inch touch screen on the centre console for satnav and traffic messaging system. There is also a new audio and connectivity system, with an iPod/MP3 compatible, six-speaker DAB radio, Bluetooth and, on higher spec models, music streaming. All versions are fitted with safety features such as stability control and hill start assist, six airbags, speed sensitive autolocking, split/fold rear seats, electric front windows and door mirrors.

The new pro_cee'd range also has a new 1.6 litre turbodiesel option with power up from 126 to 134bhp and a wider band of torque. Official fuel average for the manual gearbox version is 74.3mpg with a tax-busting 99g/km of CO2 emissions. This version also comes with the option of a seven-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox, with figures of 67.3mpg and 109g/km.

Other power options include a 1.4, 98bhp petrol engine in the eight-model pro_cee'd line-up.

Kia has won many friends with its reputation for providing the motoring public with honest cars at reasonable prices. The pro_cee'd range is an extension of that: cars offering sporty good looks with new, highly efficient engines offering performance without paying a heavy price in running costs.

The Gt Line 1.0 turbo tested comes with an insurance rating of group 12 and all models come with Kia's seven-year, 100,000 mile warranty.

By John Griffiths