Kia Proceed review

Those who remember the first Kia Proceed might recall it having a great deal more punctuation and two fewer doors than the car you can see here.

As if to underline that SUVs and crossovers aren’t the only solution for stylish, practical family motoring, Kia has introduced this sleek five-door wagon to join the five-door Ceed hatch and Sportswagon estate. With svelte lines the goal, the Proceed is actually 5mm longer than the Sportswagon and its roofline is 43mm lower. Its belly also sits 5mm closer to the ground for extra sporty intent.

In the family car arena, only Mercedes-Benz does something similar with the A-Class based CLA Shooting Brake – and Kia’s offering is an awful lot cheaper on a like-for-like basis.

Imitation is known to flatter, and mainstream Kia is aiming to pull off the same trick as ‘premium’ Mercedes. It’s no secret that the CLA Shooting Brake is pricier than other CLA and A-Class models, and the Proceed is pitched upmarket of the rest of the Ceed line-up. There are just three higher specification trim levels offered: GT-Line, GT-Line S and a performance-focused GT. Three engines are available, ranging from 138bhp to 201bhp.

The question is, as the Proceed costs a bit more than the more practical Ceed estate and markedly more than the hatchback, does it offer more than added visual allure to justify the extra expense?

Remember, if you want to buy the Proceed, Ceed, Ceed Sportswagon, or any other new car, click here to head to our New Car Buying section, and see how much money you could save without the bother of haggling.