Kia Proceed

Kia Proceed

How much?	£12,295
On sale in the UK:	Now
Engine:	1991cc 4-cyl 16v turbodiesel, 138bhp @ 4000rpm, 225lb/ft @ 1800-2500rpm
Transmission:	Five- or six-speed manual, front-wheel drive (four-speed auto also available)
Performance:	10.1sec 0-62mph, 127mph, 50.4mpg, 149 g/m CO2
How heavy / made of?	1499 kg/steel
How big (length/width/height in mm)?	4250/1790/1450

Stupid names for cars aren’t new. We’re had the Nissan Gloria, the Ford Probe and the Mazda Bongo Brawny van after all. But in the long roll call of daft designations, the Kia pro_cee’d (note the lower case ‘p’, the underscore and apostrophe) takes top prize. The pro_cee’d is the three-door sportier version of the cee’d, the new European-built Kia five-door hatch.

The cee’d name, should you be wondering, comes from the car’s French designer (Gregory Guillaume) who – mindful that this is a European designed and built car – decided on calling it after the French for EEC: CEE. Then he added ED (for European Design). Because ceeed would have been an even stupider name, the enterprising Guillaume apostrophised it to cee’d. And the ‘pro’ bit for the new three-door variant? Well that just sounded good, or so someone thought. So to what is probably the least desirable car brand in Britain – Kia – add probably the daftest model name. Brilliant.

OK but is it any good?

Yes it is. Forget about all those horrible old Kias of a few years ago (and even the new Korean-built ones have price as their main virtue). The cee’d hatch and this new model, the three-door pro_cee’d, are European standard cars in all but name. Designed by Kia in Germany, built by Kia in a high-tech factory in Slovakia.

The Proceed (can we forget about all the crazy punctuation please?) looks good in a slightly Euro-derivative way (think three-door Astra but with a bit less jewellery). It’s lower and longer than a cee’d; only the bonnet and front wings are borrowed. Proportions are excellent, stance is good. Build quality is also first rate. And the cabin is minimalist mix of nicely tactile plastics and alloy trim. It’s one of the nicest interiors in the Golf-sized hatch class. A first for a Korean car.

What are the engines?

Carry over (from the cee’d) 1.6 petrol and 1.6 turbodiesel and, new for the Proceed, a 2.0-litre turbodiesel (borrowed from the Sportage 4x4, also built in Slovakia). Both 1.6 units are sweet revving and gutsy. Avoid the sportiest engine, the 2.0D. It’s loud and crude.

The 1.6 diesel is the newest engine and the pick. But if your budget can just stretch to the entry level 1.6 pro_cee’d2 (more crazy punctuation!) – a bargain at £12,295 – then smile. The cheapest Proceed is a sweet little thing, willing and smooth riding. (An even cheaper 1.4 Proceed is coming soon, at £11,795.)

But can a cheap hatchback Kia be fun to drive?

It’s no Focus. But it’s not too far behind. The electric power steering is a bit lifeless and you won’t be throwing this car around the twisties for the fun of it (like you might a Focus). But it is extremely capable and the ride is good if a little firm. It’s a perfectly pleasant and appealing car.

So is this a first? A Korean car that you’re recommending?

Yes, the Proceed is a really capable car, good looking, decent to drive, well equipped (air-con and iPod jack are standard) and well made. It’s not just the best Korean car on sale today, it’s also one of the most pleasant small hatches available in Britain. And, most appealing of all, it undercuts similar-spec similar-standard hatches by £2000-£4000 and has a seven-year warranty.

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Kia Sportage FCEV

Kia Sportage FCEV

On sale in the UK:	2012 (estimate)
Engine:	Three electric motors, 107bhp total
Transmission:	Five-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Performance:	10.0secs 0-60mph (est), 88mph
How heavy / made of?	na/steel
How big (length/width/height in mm)?	4350/1840/1730

What is a FCEV?

It stands for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle, and this Sportage SUV is Kia’s latest attempt at a hydrogen-powered car. This technology has been the talk of the industry for the last decade as the ultimate in eco-friendly motoring.

Most experts thought production cars were another ten to 15 years away, as sky-high development costs and a lack of accessible filling stations were the stumbling blocks. However, Honda recently announced it would sell a £50,000 fuel cell saloon from next year in America and Japan, so all car makers are now re-assessing their plans.

Why is a small player like Kia making a hydrogen car?
Kia is still a relatively young auto company, having made its first ever car as recently as 1974. But after it joined forces with Hyundai a decade ago growth has been phenomenal, and it has recently announced ambitious plans. Compared with 2006, it wants a 90 percent increase in global sales by 2010.

The UK dealer network is to grow from the current 140 outlets to 170 by the same year. The first hybrid car will be launched in Korea in 2009 and in Europe by 2012. Fuel cells, as the ultimate in 'green' driving, are the logical next step.

How does the Sportage FCEV work?

Hydrogen isn’t just about making big bombs. On the Sportage FCEV, the gas is stored at 700-bar pressure in twin 76-litre tanks. It’s then piped into a fuel cell stack, which is about the size of a big shoebox, where it combines with oxygen to make electricity.

This electricity is then stored in a battery and used to drive three electric motors developing 107bhp in total. All that comes out of the exhaust is water vapour. You fill the car at a special H-pump, but it’s just like topping up with regular fuel.

How is this Sportage different to today’s model?

If you ignore the stickers down the car’s flanks, visually there’s no difference at all. You’ll only notice anything unusual when you drive it. Shift the automatic gear selector into Drive, press the throttle and… there’s virtually no noise.

The one thing you can hear is a whining sound as you speed up. It’s because the system puts about fifty percent more hydrogen into the fuel cell stack than is actually needed, to make sure there’s enough to flood every corner of it. The whine is the pump, which collects the excess and recycles it.

What about under the bonnet?

As it’s not your standard internal combustion engine, there are big differences when you pop the hood. Visually the engine bay is just a collection of aluminium-topped boxes, one of which features a small digital counter.

Its role is to measure the number of starts-ups because this is the main cause of degradation of the fuel cell. Engineers say they reckon this issue will be fixed before the public can buy this car, so it will only be a feature of this prototype.

Is the FCEV quick?

The FCEV’s performance figures aren’t staggering, but they’re not bad either. The car will hit 60mph in around ten seconds – at least as quick as a standard Sportage – and go on to 88mph.

The range between fill-ups is a respectable 240 miles. It doesn’t sound much, but it’s a major improvement on previous attempts. Hyundai-Kia’s first fuel cell car was a Santa Fe SUV, which had a range of just 100 miles. Its successor – which debuted in 2004 and was based on a Hyundai Tucson – could manage 212 miles.

Verdict

Kia’s efforts to create a viable fuel cell car are at least as impressive as those of some other, much larger, auto companies. But the big question is when will a FCEV hit the showrooms? Bosses say their next hydrogen vehicle, due in 2012, will be 'ready for commercialisation'. Power and range will rise to 134bhp and 375 miles respectively, they say.

But will it go on sale? The answer is they’ve not yet decided. It depends on the state of the hydrogen infrastructure at that time; the argument is if there’s no pumps for drivers to fill up from, there’s no sense in having the car on sale. And it’s a fair point.

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Kia Picanto 1.1 Ice

Kia Picanto 1.1 Ice

How much?	£6,995
On sale in the UK:	Now (all other trims in January)
Engine:	1086cc 4-cyl, 64bhp @ 5500rpm, 72lb/ft @ 2800rpm
Transmission:	Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Performance:	15.1sec 0-62mph, 96mph, 53.3mpg, 126g/km
How heavy / made of?	1012kg/steel
How big (length/width/height in mm)?	3535/1595/1480

Hmm. It looks a bit better than the old car

It does, doesn’t it? Out goes the old cat’s arse grille, to be replaced with something altogether neater. There are new bumpers front and rear, a new bonnet, front wings and light units. The intention was to give the Picanto a family resemblance to its big brother, the Ceed hatchback. Not sure about those bug-eyed headlights, though.

Tidied up styling isn’t the only change to the face-lifted Picanto. The cabin has had a refresh, too, with a new fascia, better plastics, and a proper integrated stereo instead of a fiddly aftermarket unit. Even the indicator stalk is now on the left-hand side, so no more indicating with the windscreen wipers.

Yes, but is it any better to drive?

Er, no. The chassis has been left alone, so there’s still the same choppy ride and bags of lean through corners. There’s little feedback through the wheel. If you want a city car that’s enjoyable to drive the Fiat 500 is a much better bet.

The Picanto is more at home in town than on a favourite back road. The ride is still poor, but the half-pint dimensions, 4.6-metre turning circle and light steering combine to make parking a doddle.

What about the engines?

As before, there’s just the two to choose from: a 61bhp 1.0-litre and a 64bhp 1.1-litre petrol.

While there might not be much between them in power, the 1.1-litre has a lot more torque. It’s the one to go for unless you want the paperboy on his pushbike to beat you away from the lights.

Even with the 1.1, performance is leisurely, reaching 62mph in 15.1 seconds. Keep your foot on the floor and it will max out at 96mph, but don’t hold your breath, and be prepared for lots of engine and road noise on the way.

Cheap to fuel, though, I suppose?

That’s the big compensation for accepting such lacklustre performance. The 1.0-litre promises 57.6mpg on the combined cycle. The 1.1 should achieve 53.3mpg, and even the 1.1 auto manages a respectable 47.1mpg.

There is a 1.1 diesel Picanto in some markets, but there are no plans to bring it to the UK. Kia says UK fuel pricing and the Benefit-in-Kind tax penalty for diesels mean demand would not be high enough, especially when the petrol models are so economical.

It looks tiny. Can’t be much room inside

Space is very tight. The narrow cabin means you’ll bump elbows with the front seat passenger every time you change gear, and tall drivers will run out of rear-seat travel long before they find a comfortable driving position. At least there’s now height adjustment for the driver’s seat on all but the entry-level car.

This basic model makes do with two seatbelts in the back, although the rest of the range can seat five – in theory. In practice, three across the back is realistic for short trips only.

On the other hand this is a city car, so it’s churlish to be too critical of limited space, and the finish is a step up in quality over the pre-face-lift car. But rivals like the Daihatsu Charade and Fiat Panda both have more practical cabins.

I think I’ll pass, thanks. Or is there something I’m missing?

Two words. ‘Price’ and ‘value’.

The most basic Picanto 1.0-litre costs just £5995. That’s £1000 less than a boggo spec Panda and nearly £1500 less than the cheapest Daihatsu Sirion.

The Picanto 2 1.1-litre starts at £6795, so still undercuts these two rivals. Leather trim for the steering wheel and gearknob, a height-adjustable steering wheel, driver’s seat height adjustment and remote central locking are standard. Another £200 buys the Ice model, and adds air-conditioning to the list of standard kit.

Kia describes the Picanto 3 as the sports-luxury model (and somehow keeps a straight face). Heated door mirrors, 15-inch alloys, front fog lamps and alloy pedals are added to the list of goodies, with a price tag of £7995.

What’s more, it’s rumoured that the warranty might soon be extended from three to five years’ cover.

Verdict

The Picanto is not a very ‘Car’ car. It’s not quick, it’s not fun, it’s not innovative or particularly stylish.

But judged on its own terms, it’s a better car than you might credit. Prices are low and running costs are rock bottom. So long as you avoid the entry-level models, equipment levels are reasonable, too. Anyone on a tight budget but determined to own a new car could do worse.

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Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDi XE

Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDi XE

How much?	£16,195
On sale in the UK:	Now
Engine:	1991cc 4-cyl, 138bhp @ 4000rpm, 225lb ft @ 1800-2500rpm
Transmission:	Six-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Performance:	12.0sec 0-62mph, 110mph, 39.8mpg, 187g/km
How heavy / made of?	1842kg/steel
How big (length/width/height in mm)?	4350/1840/1730

The Sportage is new, is it? Doesn’t look it...

It’s a facelift rather than an all-new car, and we’re talking nip and tuck rather than major surgery. Park the old and new models next to each other, and the changes are more obvious. There’s a new grille, black bezel headlamps and 16-inch alloy wheels. The bumpers are now body coloured, too. It’s enough to freshen up the slightly frumpy looks of the old car. But no, we can’t see fashion-conscious Land Rover owners queuing up to trade in their Freelander.

The price is more likely to grab attention than the looks. You’ll pay just £13,995 for one of the new two-wheel drive versions.

What’s the point of a two-wheel drive 4x4?

Well, if you want an SUV but can’t stand the thought of getting it muddy, a two-wheel drive will reduce fuel consumption and emissions. A bit. The 2WD 2.0-litre petrol manages 35.3mpg and 190g/km. The 4WD goes 0.9 miles less on a gallon and puts out 4g/km more carbon – not exactly a night and day difference. So while you can tell the other school run mums and dads you’ve done it for the kids, the real reason is likely to be the price, which saves £1000 over the otherwise identical 4WD model.

It’s much harder to argue a case for the 2WD diesel. It’s only available with an automatic transmission, so its fuel consumption and emissions figures are actually worse than for the 4WD. It swaps gears smoothly enough, but the manual makes better use of the engine’s torque and is a £1000 cheaper.

And under the bonnet?

The engine line-up is unchanged. So there’s the same choice of 2.0-litre petrol, 2.0-litre diesel or 2.7-litre V6. Most buyers go for the diesel, but the petrol shouldn’t be ignored. Just 136lb ft of torque isn’t very much in a car which weighs over 1600kg, but as long as you work the engine hard you can make decent progress. It’s £1200 cheaper than the equivalent diesel and only 4.5mpg less economical.

So you’re saying the petrol is the pick of the range?

Not if you’re a high-mileage driver, or need to shift around a lot of people and their clobber. In that case, the extra torque of the diesel engine – 225lb ft compared with 136lb ft – really tells. It’s not the quietest engine, with a thrummy note that never really disappears, but if you want to tow a boat or a horsebox it’s the only sensible choice.

The 2.7-litre V6 has the muscle for load hauling, but a thirst for unleaded to match. It’s available with an automatic gearbox only, so it’s no quicker than the 2.0-litre manual. Resale values are poor, too. Unless you set fire to used £20s for kicks, it’s best avoided.

It doesn’t sound much fun?

Head off road and the Sportage can raise a smile. There’s no low-ratio gearbox and you need to push a button on the dash to lock the car in four-wheel drive, but it’s surprisingly capable in the rough stuff. Approach and departure angles are good, the diesel has enough pull for the steepest slopes and the suspension does a good job of keeping all four wheels in touch with the ground. Revisions to the steering and suspension are intended to make the Sportage more engaging on Tarmac. Even so, the steering is numb and the ride is disappointingly lumpy.

So, cheap but not too cheerful, then?

The Land Rover Freelander and Nissan X-Trail are streets ahead. But then with price tags starting close to the £20,000 mark, so they should be. Compared with other budget 4x4s, like the Jeep Patriot and Hyundai Tucson, the Sportage is right up there. Build quality is a notch above what you’d expect, and the cabin is surprisingly spacious. There’s lots of room for adults to get comfortable in the back and the boot is huge.

Kia hasn’t skimped on kit, either. Even the most basic models have air-conditioning, all-round electric windows, front fog lamps, alloys and six airbags. The warranty package is hard to argue with, too. Since production has been switched from Korea to Kia’s high-tech factory in Slovakia, the Sportage now comes with the same seven-year, 100,000-mile package offered on all Kia’s Slovak-built cars.

Verdict

There are better compact 4x4s than the Sportage. Much better. But then it’s not priced to compete with the class leaders. If you can accept the iffy refinement and unsettled ride this is a lot of SUV for the money. It’s spacious, well equipped, and surprisingly strong off-road. And if you plan to hang on to the car for a while, that seven-year warranty is pretty compelling.

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