Kia ProCeed review
The first-generation Kia ProCeed was the Korean manufacturer’s attempt to crack the three-door hatchback market. Kia kept the name and then introduced a refreshed model in five-door and shooting brake forms. What’s all the hype about? We delve in to find out in our road-tested Kia ProCeed review.
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Pros
- Comfortable on long drives
- Affordable to run
- Very reliable
Cons
- Sloped roof compromises rear space
- More expensive than a hatchback
Interior
Our rating: 8/10
From the sporty lines that feature on the outside of the Proceed, you might think the interior would be the same. It’s actually a pretty conventional layout inside – and one that’s easy to settle into.
Tech and features
The Kia's main instruments are big, clear and well laid-out with a driver information screen featuring white symbols on a back background that are easy to see, even when the sun’s shining.
In the middle of the dash, there’s the infotainment eight-inch screen complete Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
The front seats are comfortable enough and pretty sporty in the way they’re contoured.
There is a slight issue that comes from the low roof. Headroom is limited, front and back and, unless you’re careful, there’s a distinct risk of bumping your head as you get in.
The low roof combined with the steeply-raked back window means rear visibility is never that great.
Luckily, rear parking sensors are fitted as standard to save you from that unexpected (and expensive) collision with a bollard.
Given that this is a car that might want to be in the running for purchase alongside more prestigious makes like Mercedes and BMW, the materials used throughout the interior are also just a little less fancy than you might expect.
Performance
Our rating: 7/10
It’s a tough trick the ProCeed is trying to pull off.
This car looks like it should be sporty to drive, but it also needs to be a practical type of estate car too.
Handling and ride comfort
We’ll get onto its practicality in a bit. As for the va-va-voom, it does quite well on for sportiness and handling.
The firm suspension means it corners well, even with its longer-than-average body, and the steering is precise too.
Where it does fall down a little is in failing to cocoon you from the things that go bump in the road, which can send quite a judder through the cabin.
Practicality
Our rating: 6/10
Boot space
The estate element of the car should mean that it has more than enough boot space for most people.
And, thanks to the surface area when the rear seats are folded down, this is true – sort of.
The main issue we found is that the low roofline and relatively shallow tailgate mean it’s not that practical a space if what you’re trying to transport is particularly bulky.
On the plus side, it’s good for very long items and there are also plenty of under-floor storage compartments for those odds and ends that we all carry around with us and which might otherwise be cluttering up the cabin or rolling around on the floor.
Running costs
Our rating: 8/10
Fuel economy
One thing that you definitely can say about the ProCeed is that it’s pretty light on fuel costs.
If you’re going to be proceeding along the motorway network of the UK, then the 1.6-litre diesel engine is the logical choice and will do around 55mpg.
For city and less long-distance driving, petrol makes more sense with the same-capacity engine getting you to within a whisker of 40mpg.
The verdict
Interior
8/10
Performance
7/10
Practicality
6/10
Running costs
8/10
Less expensive than a Mercedes and a lot sportier than a Skoda, the Kia ProCeed bridges the gap while being pretty practical too.
And with Kia's seven-year warranty, it means peace-of-mid motoring as well.
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