Kia first established itself in the UK as a value-for-money brand, but it has since moved upmarket to compete directly with European rivals. Today, the company’s line-up is stylish and family-friendly, but the Pro_cee’d GT aims to inject a dose of excitement into the mix.
The GT is the flagship of the Pro_cee’d range, and stands out from lesser models with its sporty styling. There are only three exterior colours to choose from (red, white or black), but the deep front bumper with a mesh grille, red detailing and LED daytime running lights all clearly indicate that the GT is special.
Further back, there are deeper side sills, LED tail-lamps, a rear spoiler, diffuser and gloss-black trim. The 18-inch graphite alloy wheels are unique to the GT, too. It all adds up to a car that’s sure to divide opinion – some will like these styling additions, while others will think the Pro_cee’d GT is trying too hard, veering too much towards the ‘boy racer’ look.
The sporty extras continue inside, where the centre console is angled towards the driver and the suede and leather-finished Recaro sports seats get red stitching. There are red GT logos on the seats and steering wheel, but the dashboard’s mix of gloss black, matt and rough black plastic finishes isn’t as cohesive as the SEAT’s cabin trim.
In addition, the button-heavy steering wheel and dashboard can seem tricky to navigate, and although the central TFT screen can switch between an analogue speedometer or digital gauges, it seems like a bit of a gimmick. The interior is well built, though, and while the seats don’t adjust as low as the Leon’s, there’s plenty of variation, so it’s easy to get comfortable.