Launched last year and already a bestseller in the Kia family. The Ceed is the Korean answer to the still unbeatable in the compact class VW Golf, is built in Europe and attracts reasonably priced with quite good facilities. Now comes a GT version.
Kia crowns his golf rival Ceed with a sports version. Although the "GT" five-door compact sedan with its 150 kW / 204 PS does not match the performance of similar models as the VW Golf GTI or Peugeot 308 GTI, but offers a lot of driving pleasure for around 30.000 Euro. The designers of the new top-of-the-line model of the Ceed family renounced any form of rakish optics. The exterior features of the GT are pleasingly discreet, limited to a sporty front apron with red bar under the middle air intake. In addition, side skirts, a rear spoiler roof cover and a kind of diffuser between the tailpipes. In addition, this Ceed crouches an inch lower on the asphalt than its weaker counterparts and always rolls on 18-inch wheels in a special design.
Hour of Truth on a small circuit named Parcmotor Castelloni, 40 minutes northwest of Barcelona. Although hardly any of the future buyers will ever drive on one of these rare, closed off playgrounds, the Kia-Knaller should prove its abilities here. Where he travels at least on paper compared to other sports versions of known compact sedans. Because the current VW Golf GTI comes with 180 kW / 245 PS therefore, the Peugeot 308 GTI even with 193 kW / 263 PS. Advantage of the Korean performance modesty: With an entry-level price of 28.590 Euro, the Kia is cheaper to have than the powerhouse with a different logo.
The interior is still full of real sportsmanship. Molded seats with embroidered "GT" emblem, perforated pedals, flattened steering wheel or red contrasting seams also in the front door panels. A pitch-black headliner harmonizes with the covering of the instrument panel. If you order the dual-clutch gearbox for 2.000 Euro more, you can also use the gearshift paddles behind the steering wheel to pedal through the seven gears. Then just wake up the four-cylinder turbo by pressing a button and activate the sport mode. The provides for a powerful sound from the engine compartment ago, however, are as elsewhere also long common acoustic fake news. Because the 1,6-liter turbo would sound just fine without artificial sounds. In the curve dance on the 4,1 kilometer-long piste milled into the mountains, a new ceed feeling can be experienced. Thanks to a tight steering, the Kia can easily be moved around the hairpin. Thanks to a well-tuned electronics program, it can not be brought to equilibrium in quick left-right changes and does not get the rear flutter even in long full throttle curves. On the long straight falls the Tempo 200 limit, the subsequent full braking conveys stable security.
Logically, all this is a fun trip that has nothing in common with the reality on our roads. But the detour to the concrete proves that the GT can be a Playmobil, which also contributes to the joy under consideration of the rules in everyday life. Of course the stronger rivals can do better if you only look at the lap times. However, since the stopwatch plays no role in real life, a sporty-minded Ceed driver is still well served.
Especially since he gets a lot for his money. The standard equipment is surprisingly complete, includes LED headlights, reversing camera, a sophisticated hi-fi system, or an 7-inch touchscreen monitor. Various assistance systems are always on board, various equipment packages at fair prices always under 1.000 Euro bookable. All this will contribute to the fact that every tenth Ceed buyer will now opt for the sports version, expects Kia boss Steffen Cost. Even if more and more the meaningfulness of such aufgepeppter versions of otherwise civilian sedans is questioned, a proud GT owner can look forward to a lot of driving pleasure on the weekend as well as about an all-day car suitable for the daily trip to the office.
Kia Ceed GT - Technical Specifications:
Five-door compact sedan with five seats. Length: 4,33 meters, width (with mirrors): 2,06 meters, height: 1,44 meters. Wheelbase: 2,65 meter, trunk volume: 395 - 1.291 liter, front wheel drive.
Drive: four-cylinder gasoline engine with turbo and direct injection 1,591 ccm, 150 kW / 204 hp, max. Torque: 265 Nm at 1.500 - 4.500 rpm, six-speed manual transmission, Vmax: 225 km / h, 0-100 km / h in 7,5 sec.Standard consumption: 6,8 l / 100 km, CO2 emissions: 155 g / km, EU 6d temp. Efficiency class D,
Price: from 28.590 Euro (dual clutch automatic plus 2.000 Euro)
In brief
Why: GTI feeling in Korean
Why not: Who needs so much power for everyday life
What else: VW Golf GTI, Peugeot 308 GTI, Hyundai i30 Fastback N