Kia Proceed GT review - All-round appeal for a competitive price - Living with a Kia Proceed GT

evo has run two examples of the Kia Proceed GT in recent years and both have proved trouble-free as far as the mundanities of running a car goes. Neither have had reliability issues, as you'd expect from a modern car, and while we've had to repair punctures and replace tyres they've otherwise been light on consumables too, despite living the relatively hard life of a magazine test car.

Servicing has been painless too. Our second Proceed GT didn't cover quite as many miles in 12 months as our first example (though still managed over 17,000 miles) but its first service cost a modest £128 and we received friendly, professional dealer service from our local outlet in Bedford.

In general terms the Proceed GT is easy to live with too. Its ride quality is fairly pliant by modern hot hatchback standards, and its cabin respectably quiet at a cruise. Details that seem useful on first acquaintance, including the easy-to-use infotainment system and niceties such as the heated seats and steering wheel, remain useful over the course of ownership.

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If there's one criticism we've had of each car, it's that while offering a broad range of talents, it doesn't really grab you emotionally. There's not the pride of ownership you get from driving a car with an illustrious heritage - as Kia doesn't really have an illustrious heritage just yet - and it fails to really get under your skin as a drivers' car either. It's undoubtedly competent, but lacks the layers of ability and ability to step up its game as you ask more of its engine and chassis.

If you're looking for a quick, stylish hot hatch with a well-constructed cabin and don't feel like picking one of the usual suspects though, there's still plenty to recommend. It'd make a reasonable first trackday car too, offering enough power and grip to have fun with but not so much to overwhelm less experienced drivers.