Kia pro_cee'd 1.6 3

Jul 4 2009 Enda Mullen

KIA's pro_cee'd might have been in progress before former Audi design guru Peter Shreyer was drafted in to take the Korean brand on to new heights but there's no denying this svelte three-door hatch bears more than a passing resemblance to an Audi A3.

I thought so when the car was launched last year but this time around the resemblance seemed even stronger.

The fact it does is no coincidence. Kia has had European sensibilities in its sights for quite some time and the five-door cee'd and its three-door version the pro_cee'd are the first vehicles to really hit the mark.

Be it styling, build quality or driving manners, these two hatches really deliver.

Just as the Japanese went from making inferior imitations of European and American vehicles before equalling and in many cases surpassing then, the Koreans and Kia in particular seem to be following a similar career trajectory.

The pro_cee'd' is the better looking of the two, though the more functional cee'd is no ugly duckling by any means.

Both have been blessed with slightly peculiar names characterised by odd punctuation - presumably in attempt to attract attention - but there's nothing lacking with either.

In three-door or five-door guise they combine quality, value for money and style in impressive packages.

The cee'd was arguably the first Kia that managed to reach European levels of refinement and quality and though in essence the pro_cee'd is the three-door version in some respects it's an 'all new' car - with a new set of body panels. Only the bonnet and wings are transferable between five-door and the three-door models.

Fit and finish are excellent, as is build quality, and the cabin is characterised by quality switchgear and lots of soft touch plastics, though it falls short of being stylish and inspiring.

Like its five-door counterpart the pro_cee'd is good to drive. It feels even stiffer and sharper and - given it is lighter and lower with upgraded suspension - more sporty too.

A range of engines are available, mostly petrol, with a 2.0-litre diesel offering the sort of performance that fits with its sporting looks.

This car was a 1.6-litre petrol automatic. It offered a decent drive and was certainly quick out of the blocks from a standing start, though it did run out of puff a little between 20 and 30mph.

From a practical point of view it boasts a decent amount of legroom for passengers in the rear, even if headroom is compromised slightly (the price you pay for that sleek wedge-shaped design). The carrying capacity of the boot is a commendable 340 cubic litres - or 1,130 with the seats folded.

Following in the footsteps of the cee'd, the pro_cee'd also comes with a seven-year warranty.

All in all a tempting option and evidence - if it were needed - that the Koreans are coming and they mean business.

FAST FACTS

Kia pro_cee'd 1.6 3 auto

Price: £14,745

Mechanical: 124bhp, 1,591cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 4-speed automatic gearbox

Max speed: 116mph

0-62mph: 11.2 seconds

Combined mpg: 40.4

Insurance group: 6

C02 emissions: 166g/km

BiK rating: 17%

Warranty: 7yrs/ 100,000 miles