Kia steps up to plate with new pro_cee'd

We've seen some cars down the years that were vaguely sporting in tone, if not in ability.

Cars like the Hyundai Coupe offered a glimpse of what was potentially available but there was never the corporate will to really press on, despite high-profile rallying campaigns with no sports products to sell off the back of them.

Kia seemed reticent to step up to this particular plate, preferring instead to major on meek and mild.

That changed to a degree with the introduction of the pro_ceed model in 2008. Here was a three-door Kia cee'd that looked good, had a willing chassis but just needed a bit more engine than the 138bhp turbodiesel that was the flagship motor. We got an improved pro_cee'd model in 2011, but here the most powerful engine was a 126bhp turbodiesel. Not promising for sports fans. They had to wait until the unveiling at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show of the pro_cee'd GT. With 201bhp, it was the first performance hatch that Kia had ever built.

Buyers of humbler pro_cee'd models always knew that there was the kernel of a really good car in there. The steering's fairly meaty by modern standards, there's a reassuring amount of front end grip, the ride/handling compromise is well judged and there's a nice consistency of control weights. All the sorts of stuff that keen drivers look for in other words, but there just was never enough engine. That changes with the introduction of the pro_cee'd GT. Here customers get a 201bhp turbocharged four-cylinder 1.6-litre petrol engine that also develops a hefty 265Nm of torque. Yes, it's right out of 'Build A Hot Hatch 101' but it's clearly a formula that works and works well.

This results in acceleration to 62mph in 7.4 seconds which sounds a little pessimistic for such a punchy car. By contrast, a heavier MINI Cooper S with a mere 184bhp will get to 62mph almost half a second quicker, although this may well be down to an issue of gearing. The GT's not heavy, weighing in at around 1280kg. Kia is quick to play down expectations, advising us that it's a warm rather than a hot hatch and you can see where they're coming from, with many of the top hot hatch players now boasting up to 300bhp. Still, over 200bhp is nothing to be sniffed at, especially as Kia can bring all sorts of other qualities to the party.

The pro_cee'd is a handsome, wedge-shaped three-door hatch, designed by Europeans for Europeans. Built in Slovenia under the auspices of the Frankfurt-based Kia Motors Europe design team, it features a longer and lower profile than the five-door car, resulting in an edgy, coupe-like shape. The front end now features Kia's 'tiger nose' grille to lend it a bit more attitude.

The GT builds on this solid foundation, upping the aggression levels a few degrees. Plus there's decent practicality too, with a 60-40 split rear seat folding flat without having to remove the headrests.

Priced at around £20,000, the GT looks good value against other similarly styled and powered compact coupes like Volkswagen's Scirocco and Peugeot's RCZ.

There are two trim levels - 'GT' and 'GT Tech'. Both feature air-conditioning with cooled glovebox, heated and electrically-adjustable door mirrors, remote central locking and an MP3-compatible CD stereo with USB and auxiliary inputs. There's also a leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio controls, cruise control and electrically-operated folding door mirrors.

As for the really sporty stuff, well customers get distinctive LED daytime running lights, dual-exhaust pipes, 18-inch alloy wheels and eye-catching red brake calipers. Jump inside and you'll spot Recaro sports seats and a cleanly styled, well-built interior. Also designed in is the option for a fully integrated satellite navigation system complete with European mapping and a seven inch colour touch screen. Plus Kia offers a Bluetooth hands-free system and a rear-view parking camera.

Kia's normally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engine does extremely well at the pumps and in this turbocharged guise it returns 38.2mpg on the combined cycle and puts out a competitive 171g/km of CO2.

By Sharon Walters