Kia Pro_cee'd GT 2014 Review

Let's get something straight. This is not just the Kia equivalent of Hyundai's quirky Veloster hatch... you know, the one with two doors one side and a single door on the other. Apart from the odd name there's a bit more to it than that.

The Pro-cee'd GT might run the same engine and transmission, but it's geared differently and the rear suspension setup is also different. Together with countless hours of road-side tuning it has produced an impressive car that deserves to wear the 'hot hatch' tag.

Having said that, buyers will inevitably shop the two cars against each other and some just won't care the GT offers higher levels of performance. For others, the lure will be irresistible.

VALUE

There are two models: the GT priced from $29,990 and the GT Tech priced from $33,490. The latter adds a sunroof, tinted windows, push button start, a luggage net and active, HID headlights with washer function. And, before you ask, no you can't get the sunroof separately. There are four colours: white, black, red and silver  but any colour other than red will set you back another $595.

Standard equipment includes body kit, 18in alloys, red brake calipers, twin exhaust outlets, dual climate air, leather trim, auto lights and wipers, cruise control with speed limiter, Recaro sports seats with electric lumbar adjustment, plus a speedometer that changes from analogue to digital at the push of a button. Bluetooth, tyre pressure monitor and six-speaker audio are also standard. Missing is satnav which is expected to be offered later in the year when it becomes available.

ENGINE / TRANSMISSION

Both models get the same engine and transmission, with the same wheel and brake package and offer exactly the same level of performance. There is no auto.

The 1.6-litre turbocharged four cylinder petrol engine produces 150kW of power and 265Nm of torque, the latter from a low 1750 revs  with flat torque curve through to 4500 revs. Paired with a 6-speed manual only, this torque is readily accessible even in higher gears making it an easy car to drive in most circumstances.

DESIGN

The GT is built in Slovakia and was intended originally for sale only in Europe and as such comes with left hand blinker operation. But Kia says it fought hard to get the car and has lavished quite a bit of time tuning the suspension for Australian conditions, trying to find the perfect compromise between comfort and handling.

The GT is certainly an eye-catching car, especially with its lighthouse bright "ice cube" cluster of daytime LEDs at the front  but we'd draw the line at actually calling it pretty. It's not quite as powerful nor as quick off the mark as some more fancied rivals, but we'd defy any of them to lose the GT on a twisty section of road  it's that good.

SAFETY

Gets a five-star Euro NCAP rating, but hasn't been tested here yet.  It's likely the Australian NCAP organisation will give it the same rating but you never can tell. Comes with six airbags, reverse camera, reverse parking sensors, electronic traction and stability control and a host of other driver assistance systems as standard.

DRIVING

It's sharper with a firmer ride than the Koup. The front suspension is Mac strut, but the rear setup is muli-link, unlike the Koup and Veloster which both have torsion beam rear suspension. Multi-link promises a better ride and the facility to extract greater levels of grip from the rear end and Michelin rubber. As part of the suspension tune stiffer springs and bushes have been fitted along with a larger rear anti-roll bar.

Driving the car, changing gears early and changing often produces the most satisfying results. The gearing is the same as the Koup, but slightly different to the Veloster Turbo. The GT is good for 7.7 seconds from 0-100km/h (Koup does it in 8.9 and the Veloster in 7.8).

Fuel consumption is a claimed 7.4 litres/100km and it takes standard unleaded (we got 9.9 on the launch in Tassie). We had a good crack at this car, both on the road and at a race track where we could really explore its potential. It's a rewarding car to drive, one that's guaranteed to leave a smile on your dial, with a sweet change, lots of lovely, low down torque and no turbo lag that we could find.

As we mentioned it's not particularly quick off the mark, but mid-range performance is strong and it remains amazingly compliant even when by rights you should be in a lower gear. Turn-in is enthusiastic, with terrific balance, composure and high levels of mid corner grip.

Get on the gas early in tight corners and there is no need to change down.  In longer sweeping bends you can continue to pour on the power without any negative impact. In fact, it's difficult to get this car to step out full stop, either understeer or oversteer  even when pushed to extremes.

VERDICT

It will be interesting to see how this one plays out. The GT is a car that deserves respect and one that is going to be an attention getter for the brand. The lack of an auto will cost them sales, but in terms of performance it has what it takes to go head to head with more fancied offerings  dare we say the GTI?

Kia Pro_cee’d GT

Price: from $29,990
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder
Power: 150kW and 265Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Economy: 7.4L/100km
L/W/H/WB (mm): 4310/1780/1430/2650
Servicing: 15,000km or 12 months, capped pricing
Warranty: Five years unlimited kilometres
Spare tyre: Space saver