Kia ProCeed review - FQ Magazine

The compact estate car’s excellent fuel efficiency is just one of its many positives to shout about.

By motoring journalist Tim Barnes-Clay. Follow on Instagram @tbarnesclay.

“It’s oddly shaped, but I like it.” These words streaked through my mind when I first clapped eyes on the Kia ProCeed. Sure, it’s not the sexiest of names, and it’s not the “Kate Moss” of the automotive catwalk, but it’s got something.

Now, vehicles come in all shapes and sizes, and we love to pigeonhole them. I won’t bore you with “anorak” motoring talk here, so let’s just say this is a compact estate car with a coupe-like roofline.

Come to think of it, the rearward sloping shape is what does it for me in the looks department – that and the rear lighting signature. The taillights are joined by a strip that also illuminates, giving the car a broad, distinctive appearance. What’s more, with 17-inch alloys, a rear spoiler and privacy glass in the back windows, the GT-Line grade, on test here, radiates athleticism.

Fuel sipper

Inside, you get heated faux-leather seats with powered lumbar support for the front occupants. A leather-trimmed, heated steering wheel and an eight-inch infotainment screen are also welcome features.

The cabin is suitable for a family of five. For example, my three children had no troubles sat in the rear seats for a 200-mile trip. Room is generous in the boot, too – you get 594-litres, which is more than enough for everyone’s luggage. There are also numerous handy compartments under the cargo floor. These are good for storing small muddy wellies or for keeping the kids’ electronic equipment hidden.

Behind the wheel, the 1.6-litre diesel, as supplied in my review car, offers ample pulling power. Linked to a seven-speed automatic transmission, the Kia will do 0-60mph in 9.8 seconds. Its maximum speed is 124mph. But perhaps more important is the ProCeed’s excellent fuel efficiency. You can get over 50mpg in this model on an average run; it feels like the car has a tank that keeps on giving. Co2 emissions of 110g/km aren’t bad either, making you wonder why the “demonization” of diesel is the fashionable thing to do.

The car’s steering isn’t the sharpest, and the handling is so-so, but with a reasonable price-tag of £25,785 and stuffed full of goodies, this Kia is a good value family wagon. What’s more, the ProCeed has as much safety kit shoehorned into it as many “premium” cars. In the model I drove you get Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist and Electronic Stability Control. The vehicle also comes fitted with numerous braking aids and twin front, side and curtain airbags.

You can rest assured, then, that the Kia ProCeed will transport you and your loved ones in safety, comfort and left-field style – along with an engine that only wants to sip fuel.