It's impossible not to start this test without referring to the design and style of the Kia Proceed , definitely your calling card. It's one of those heads-spinning models, for good reason, as I was able to see while I was custodian of these two units — the red 1.0 T-GDI and the white 1.6 T-GDI.
Sorry, but I'm not going to call it a “shooting brake”, since no matter how much style it has, Proceed isn't one — the industry's abuse of the term “coupé” is enough. However, as can be seen, there are clear differences for the Ceed Sportswagon, the other van in the range.
Comparing them, the Proceed is 43mm shorter, the windshield has a 1.5º more inclination and the rear window appears with a steep inclination, almost looking like a fastback.
Kia Proceed GT
Add a superior volume outlined by what looks like a perfect unbroken arc and Kia Proceed projects a dynamic look that its very “horizontal” and even conservative brothers only dream of. Perhaps it is no coincidence that the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo is associated with the rear.
Style comes at a price.
History is common, "pulls" by style, lost in functionality — Proceed is no different. Visibility is the first to be sacrificed on the altar of style. The steeper A-pillars affect visibility in some maneuvers and when approaching crossings and crossings; and rear visibility is greatly reduced due to the low-height side windows and the tiny rear window — as I've mentioned in more cases, the rear camera has become a necessity.
Sitting at his command, despite the familiarity (the interior is the same as the rest of the Ceeds), there's something that doesn't feel right. Even with the (great) seat in the lowest position, our head is too close to the ceiling, creating the impression that we are not really fitted inside the Proceed.
Confidence is what we feel at the controls of Proceed, thanks to the very good communication channels that are its chassis and steering.
It remains to be found out who is responsible for this… If the 43mm less in height from the Kia Proceed that did not have a direct match to the height the bank is at; if the optional panoramic roof (950 euros) present in the two tested units, which robs precious centimeters of the available space in terms of height; or a combination of the two.
Comfortable seats with very good support, both in this GT and in the GT Line.
Accessibility to the interior, especially to the second row of seats, is also hampered, once again, due to the “fault” of the aesthetic choices made. The arch that defines the top of the glazed area can generate an immediate encounter between the passengers' heads and the bodywork. And finally, the strong inclination of the rear volume, together with the reduction in height, means that the trunk has a somewhat reduced usable height, despite accusing 594 l of capacity, excellent value without a doubt.
There seem to be a lot of criticisms, but in general, they don't compromise that much the enjoyment of Proceed. What's more, the Ceed Sportswagon is the true family van in the range — the Proceed has another raison d’être.
Full LED headlamps on all Proceed.
It is a proposal with a much more emotional character, whether due to its fluid lines or even its refined dynamics. It takes the place of the previous three-door bodywork, and believe me, the space and accessibility offered by the extra pair of doors beat any three doors.
A great chassis…
Is there substance beyond style? Without a doubt, Kia Proceed does not disappoint. But I already knew what I was going to do… The Biermann effect had already been noticed in Ceed during his international presentation, where I was present, and Proceed is not far behind.
The brand says that Proceed received firmer springs and shock absorbers, but thinner stabilizer bars compared to the other Ceeds; nothing that alters its dynamic personality and even comfort does not seem to be affected.
The steering is the highlight, precise and with the right weight — the good grip of the steering wheel in perforated leather also helps — accompanied by a willful and precise front axle that faithfully follows the ordered instructions, never being nervous, always changing direction. decisively.
We increase the pace and the behavior is always precise and neutral, resisting understeer very well; there is practically no rolling of the body with its movements always very well controlled. Despite being effective and precise, Proceed is not one-dimensional like some proposals in the segment; on the contrary, it is interactive and captivating and satisfies at more engaged rhythms.
Kia Proceed GT
Even with all the aids turned off — something unnecessary, given the ESP's very good calibration, not proving intrusive — Proceed doesn't disappoint, far from it, leading us to discover a very cooperative and interactive rear axle. Don't expect exuberant rear drifts, dropping the accelerator mid-corner or in support braking, but it's always able to intervene, keeping the front axle always in the right direction with a corrective and progressive rear wheel, enriching the entire driving experience .
Confidence is what we feel at the controls of Proceed, thanks to the very good communication channels that are its chassis and steering.
… looking for a great engine
Regardless of whether they are behind the wheel of the Proceed 1.0 T-GDI or the 1.6 T-GDI, dynamically there is no difference, apart from just the drier tread of the 1.6 T-GDI, perhaps justified by the larger wheels.
With a chassis of this caliber, our attention turns to the engines. If the 120 hp 1.0 T-GDI proves to be something short for both chassis, the Kia Proceed GT, with 204 hp, already demonstrates adequate “firepower” to accompany it. Even so, an engine above this one is missing to take advantage of its full potential. i30 N engine maybe?
Mini diffuser and dual exhausts on the Proceed GT somewhat hidden by the stylish exit, but…
However, the quality of the chassis contrasts with that of the engines — they are the weakest link in the Proceed —, gearboxes and even the feel of the pedals.
THE 1.0 T-GDI it lacks lungs, especially in casualties, which makes its use in cities rather unpleasant. Its strong point is the medium revs, it doesn't do much good to visit the higher engine speeds, not feeling at ease there. The soundtrack also turns out to be more industrial than musical.
This engine lacks refinement, at least when compared to similar proposals in competition such as Ford's 1.0 EcoBoost or Volkswagen Group's 1.0 TSI. Consumption is not nice either — it was difficult to go down from eight liters, and in cities, with a lot of stop-and-go, nine was the norm.
THE 1.6 T-GDI it is superior in all aspects — response, usage range and sound —, offering quite decent performances, but even so it is characterized by being more effective than inspiring.
Part of the responsibility can perhaps be attributed to the 7DCT gearbox, with dual clutch and seven speeds. If at moderate paces, there is little or nothing to point to its functioning, when driving more committed and left to its tasks, its logic left something to be desired. Sometimes it reduced unnecessarily, when already exiting the curves; or he stayed longer at higher rotations, not changing the relationship, when there was no more juice to express.
The Proceed GT was equipped with the 7DCT. Overall, a good companion, but somewhat indecisive when driving more committed.
The Sport mode, only present in versions equipped with the 7DCT, ends up exacerbating, at times, these characteristics. What's more, when activated, it also digitally “enriches” the engine sound, easily noticing bits and bytes — I ended up riding longer with Sport mode off.
It would be interesting to try a Proceed GT with manual gearbox to compare... Also because the 7DCT's manual mode is also quickly put aside, with the gearbox changing the same ratio when you think it should change, like when we approach the limit maximum engine rpm; and the sideburns are too small.
Interestingly, the consumption of the 1.6 T-GDI, does not differ that much from those achieved by the 1.0 T-GDI, although higher, at around nine liters.
Having already had the opportunity to test all the engines in the Ceed range, all of them shared with Proceed, curiously the engine that left the best memory was the Diesel 1.6 CRDi, being the most refined and progressive of the entire range. The 1.4 T-GDI with 140 hp resembles the 1.6 T-GDI in character, so I would recommend it as an alternative to the 1.0 T-GDI, if you can make the leap.
A final note to the feel of the accelerator and brake pedals on both Proceeds which, unlike the steering, seem to have been denied the same finesse of calibration.
The accelerator seems immune to a more subtle pressing, forcing a more decisive step, complicating its modulation. The brakes do not deserve criticism — powerful and apparently indefatigable — but the same cannot be said of the brake pedal, where there seems to be no action on the brakes in their first stages of action, forcing you to always load more than what you need to do. at first glance it would be necessary.
Is the car right for me?
It's hard not to recommend Proceed, even as a proposition for families. There's no need to buy an SUV, Proceed delivers sharp styling without compromising too much on its usability. An excellent alternative for those who can no longer see a crossover or SUV ahead.
Available only in the highest level GT Line or GT (exclusive to the 1.6 T-GDI), the equipment level is extremely complete — whether in terms of comfort, safety or driving assistants — with very few options available.
It partly justifies its price, which is higher than we would expect. The 1.0 T-GDI starts at €30,890, with the unit tested reaching a somewhat high €33,588 — has as options the metallic paint (430 euros), the panoramic roof (950 euros), the JBL sound system (500 euros), and the ADAS package, for driving assistance (800 euros).
The Proceed GT starts at €40 590, with our unit running at €42 thousand — a price difficult to justify. If you don't need the space, there are hot hatches with powers around 270-280 hp cheaper. If we need the space with more performance than the 204 hp Proceed GT, the Skoda Octavia Break RS with the 245 hp 2.0 TSI has a lower base price, although it doesn't match the Proceed in style — priorities…
Note: In the technical sheet, we placed the values corresponding to the Proceed 1.0 T-GDI GT Line in parentheses.