Kia pro_cee’d GT First Drive and Review

As we’ve seen from European reports, anything from Germany or France wearing a ‘GTI’ or ‘ST’ badge should be nervous – this racy Kia is a legitimate rival either on-road or for track day titles. Even more so in Australia thanks to local suspension and steering tune which makes our Kia pro_cee’d GTs tauter than those sold North of the equator.

 

Kia pro_cee’d GT Overview

Kia has brought the pro_cee’d GT three-door hatchback to Australia in two model grades – the entry-level GT priced at $29,990 and the upscale GT Tech at $33,490. Both share the same drivetrain, chassis and styling - but the GT Tech scores handy additions such as Active HID headlights, a panoramic sunroof and keyless entry.

 

The Kia pro_cee’d GT comes from the Korean giant’s plant in Slovakia and is a European market vehicle (Australia is the only significant export market) so, for example -  like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi etc  - the turn indicator stalk is on the left-hand side of the steering column and the fuel flap is the push type.

 

Comparisons with the Hyundai Veloster turbo and the recently launched Kia Koup - which have the same turbocharged 1.6-litre engine - are natural. Kia says the pro_cee’d GT, while not a stripped-out Track Car, is the real bitumen burner hot-hatch while the Koup – and the Veloster we reckon - appeal to a more ‘Grand Touring’ audience. So the pro_cee’d GT runs Recaro sports seats and a much firmer suspension calibration.

 

Kia pro_cee’d GT Engine

Power comes from the now familiar ‘Gamma’ 1.6-litre petrol engine with turbocharging and direct injection. Just like the Koup turbo, maximum power is 150kW at 6000rpm and peak torque of 265Nm is delivered between 1750rpm to 4500rpm.

 

Drive is to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission (like the Ford Fiesta ST and Focus ST  there is no automatic option) with handy ratios and slick operation – just as performance driver’s demand.

 

 As we know, Kia mounts the twin-scroll turbocharged into the exhaust manifold for improved (turbo-lag hardly noticeable) response and this beaut 1.6-litre pulls strongly all the way past 7000rpm. Zero to 100km/h is rated at 7.7 seconds (just one-tenth slower than the Toyota 86 GTS manual).

 

For combined-cycle fuel consumption, you can chalk-up 7.4l/100kms.

 

Kia pro_cee’d GT The Interior

German Peter Schreyer – now leading the styling for both Kia and Hyundai – could be the world’s best automotive stylist of the current generation. His work in revitalizing Kia’s looks has been nothing short of remarkable and, this time, the focus has been a sporty edge for the pro_cee’d GT which oozes European style and quality wherever you look.

 

That’s obvious right off the bat with the excellent Recaro front seats and lots of red contrast stitching. Power adjustment for the front seats and rake/reach adjustment for the sporty three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel combine for a great driving position (aided by sporty stainless steel pedals).

 

The driver scores some impressive instrumentation – in fact we’d say Kia pro_cee’d GT’s combination of digital and analogue instruments all housed in a simple binnacle is one the slickest layouts we’ve seen in a long time. It’s a TFT LCD multi-function display and a ‘GT’ button on the steering wheel allows the driver to switch screens (the GT set-up includes readouts for engine torque and turbocharger boost).

 

Audio is a six-speaker system with the usual connectivity but there is currently no satellite navigation – as a European model the nav. needs both hardware and software changes for Australia and these will be ready mid-year.

 

Access to the rear seat is straight-forward and once there, the Kia pro_cee’d GT affords a surprising amount of space and leg-room. The seat split-folds 60:40 and luggage space just about mirrors the Cerato with 380-litres when the rear seat is in-place or 1225-litres when folded – and that’s impressive for a three-door hatchback.

 

Kia pro_cee’d GT Exterior & Styling

Looks outside are a knock-out and are highlighted by the front-end with the four ‘ice-cube’ LED DRLs and fog-lights either side of the large cool-air inlet with its sporty red trim. Lots of high-gloss black mesh – including in the hallmark Kia ‘tiger-nose’ grille – and graphite-chrome give the Kia pro_cee’d GT a genuine sporty look which is unlike any other Kia model sold in Australia.

 

The side view shows the sporty nature of the Kia pro_cee’d GT with side skirts and handsome graphite grey 18-inch alloy wheels (with Michelin Pilot Sport 3 rubber) and visible red brake calipers.

 

At the rear, those very sophisticated ‘wrap-around’ LED combination lights (with ‘signature’ effect lighting at night) add width and combine with the steeply-raked tailgate glass for a very effective look. Dual exhaust outlets, a diffuser section for the lower bumper, high-gloss black number plate surround and vertical reversing light are all part of a very impressive styling package.

 

Kia pro_cee’d GT On The Road

We were in Tasmania to drive the all-new Kia pro_cee’d GT on a mixture of Targa Tasmania roads, some fast laps around the historic Baskerville race circuit outside Hobart and of course some city and suburban roads in between. Your Car Showroom correspondent is a fan of hot hatches and has driven them all…so this was one to savour.

 

Baskerville race circuit has seen the greats of Touring Car racing from the halcyon days – Beechey, Geoghegan, Jane and the rest – and is soon to be resurfaced. But in the meantime, the bumps and uneven surfaces proved ideal to exploit the limits of the all-new Kia pro_cee’d GT.

 

As usual Kia Australia developed a unique local calibration for the pro_cee’d GT’s MacPherson strut front/multi-link rear suspension and motor-driven power steering systems – with a target of more directness - tested in Australia mostly, but also in Korea. Obviously we don’t have the (softer) European set-up as a comparison, but the Aussie version was ideal for the Tassie circuit – firm without being too harsh, precise, flat, pointy and grippy (aided by Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres).

 

Kia’s 1.6-litre turbo loves to work, pulling hard all the way up to the redline and maximizing the use of its 1.5-bar of boost.

 

Away from the race circuit, we felt the all-new Kia pro_cee’d GT matched the best of the hot hatches – impressing with its zippy acceleration (nicely free of torque steer even when pressed), refinement and isolation over potholes. 

 

Kia pro_cee’d GT Challenges

As we’ve heard from our European colleagues, Kia has well and truly nailed the European hot hatch concept with the pro_cee’d GT and it’s hard to fault…just the lack of an automatic transmission would seem to limit sales potential (although it must be said the Ford Fiesta ST and Focus ST are the same – these are performance hatch-backs after-all).

 

Kia pro_cee’d GT Verdict

Both Kia Australia’s Alan Crouch and Jeff Shafer nailed it when they frankly admitted early Kia models were big on practicality, small on emotional appeal. Over time, that view has changed and the process certainly accelerated with the arrival of star German designer Peter Schreyer…we’re thinking Sorento, Sportage and Cerato just for starters.

 

Schreyer’s arrival brought a focus on European design which handily complimented a massive thrust by Kia for European sales. In recent times the Kia cee’d has received broad appeal from the finicky European media so you know it must be good.

 

Now the Kia pro_cee’d GT is on-sale in Australia and we can see what the fuss has been about. Seriously fast, dynamic to drive, nicely styled and oozing quality, this thing challenges those GTI-badged vehicles from Germany and France in every facet of the game.

 

 

 

Kia pro_cee’d GT The Competition

Volkswagen Golf is around the same size as the Kia pro_cee’d GT but is exclusively five-door (GTI priced from $41,490). The three-door Polo GTI appears to be short on interior space compared to the pro_cee’d GT and is also short on grunt (132kW/250Nm for Volkswagen’s twin-charge 1.4-litre). Polo GTI is priced at $27,790 and $29,190.

 

Renault Clio RS200 is a Car Showroom Favourite Euro three-door hot hatch. Priced from $28,790, the Clio RS200 is a cracker in every department although, tellingly, with 147kW/240Nm from its turbocharged 1.4-litre is actually marginally shaded in the grunt department by the Kia pro_cee’d GT.

 

Our other Car Showroom Favourites in this league are the Ford duo - Fiesta ST ($25,990) and the Focus ST ($38,290). Clearly the Fiesta is the most direct rival for the Kia pro_cee’d GT and – like the Volkswagen Polo GTI – is likely to be a bit short on rear seat space. And with 134kW/240Nm, for Fiesta ST’s turbocharged 1.6-litre is a bit shy of the Kia. 

 

Thumbs-up: Great looks inside and out; sharp and sporty driving dynamics

Thumbs-down:  No optional automatic transmission

BRAD LEACH