Review: Kia Proceed GT Packs A 204 HP 1,6L T-GDI Engine

Kia has made its first foray into the performance hatch sector with the new Procee’d GT.

The sporty 3-door hatchback is an ambitious offering that is built in the company’s plant in Slovakia.

Kia has already built a solid reputation for delivering dependable models, whilst building their brand in the process. This release is the next logical step in their exciting business model.

The all new Kia pro_ceed GT comes complete with a turbocharged version of the “Gamma” 1,6L direct-injection GDI engine.

There is also an aspirated version of this engine found in the standard Kia Pro_cee’d 3-door hatchback, but with a twin scroll turbocharger added, you get quite an impressive a increase in power and torque output.

The turbo adds up to 204 horsepower at 6000rpm, and 265 Nm of torque between 1750rpm and 4500rpm.

There have also been changes made to the steering, brakes, suspension, and gearbox, all with the goal of giving the vehicle a sportier feel.

That is taken one step further with the sporty additions of color, chrome, and the red stitching on the leather.

Limited Edition GT Model Launched

To celebrate Kia’s first entry into the performance hatchback segment, the company has come up with a launch model known as the GT 1st Edition (limited to 500 units only).

The Kia Procee’d GT certainly looks the part, with an exterior that is both sleek and sporty. It displays a definite air of masculinity, but not at the expense of the clean lines seen in the base car.

The interior has a lot to offer, starting with the supportive Recaro sports seats, which is something of a surprise find in a Kia. That is just one small sign of how far the brand has come in the past decade.

The seats are just the beginning of the stylish interior, which is exactly what you would imagine a sporty hatch should look like.

There are touches of upgraded materials like leather and suede, as well as steel pedals and the aforementioned red stitching.

Pro_cee’d GT Performance

As far as performance goes, the Kia Procee’d GT is just a little off the pace of its top competitors. The GT goes from 0-62 mph in 7.4 seconds, putting it a full second slower than the Volkswagen Golf GTI, one of its main rivals.

That said, there is a lot to like about the turbocharged engine which delivers a steady surge of power, even at low revs.

The engine noise is very well insulated in the cabin, which may disappoint those that like to hear the growl of a sporty engine. Those on the outside will definitely get the benefit of that sound.

The car never really feels that it is going to break any speed records, but its overall performance is a perfect balance between control and power.

The GT suspension is a retuned version of the one that appears on the standard Procee’d. It comes with increased damper rebound and compression rates, stiffer springs and bushes and a larger rear anti-roll bar.

The Pro_cee’d GT is easy to handle when cornering, whilst also displaying a high level of body control when called upon to change direction. It’s a fun ride that allows you to take to the road with complete confidence.