What is that?
A hunting station wagon in the Kia range would have been quite surprising a few years ago. Yet now such a model, in this case the Kia Proceed, which may have grabbed the brand’s headlines in desirability issues may even take fourth or fifth billing in the lineup of the. company behind the likes of the Kia Stinger GT, Kia EV6, and – yes – even the new Kia Sorento.
The Proceed has now had a mid-life refresh that mostly focuses on cosmetic changes, and it’s coming to our hands as a base petrol model, one of two options in the petrol-only lineup.
This 1.5-liter turbocharged unit comes with a six-speed manual transmission tested here or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The range is rounded off by a 1.6-liter 201 hp turbo engine shared with the Hyundai i20 N and available only with an automatic gearbox.
What does it look like?
Temper any idea of sportiness when you drive this version of the Proceed, as racy as it may appear in profile. It is a family-friendly form of car transportation, designed to be as easy to drive and easy to navigate as it is on the eye.
Quite a pleasant car to drive too. A comfortable riding position is easy to find, and visibility and an overall feeling of lightness aren’t compromised as much as you might think by such a slim greenhouse and tapered rear. All major controls are well weighted and arranged in a logical and judicious manner.
All of this isn’t really a trick that sets your pants on fire, but it’s important to make a car free so you can just keep driving it. And there is fun to drive it, especially thanks to its agility.
It feels like it’s floating, and the willingness to change direction and respond positively to a driver’s inputs doesn’t come at the expense of overly firm driving. Indeed, the Proceed manages to blend a comfortable, refined ride with alert handling in a way almost perfect for a family car. It looks like a Volkswagen Golf in this regard.
The praise is less effusive for the engine, however. Had to recheck specs after driving it as 157 hp and 187 lb-ft of torque should feel like enough in a car of this size and weight and with a manual gearbox. However, he just feels jerk enough and a little flat in his power.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-12-13 14:01:24
