Kia Proceed: Elegantly On Course To Stuttgart

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 05:39

As an importer, you can be confident for once. So Kia's gaze with the Proceed is directed to Stuttgart. There they want to compete with the Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake.

Shooting Brake? Ever heard If you are not familiar with old English carriages, you have to pass this quiz question. The historical term for a horse-drawn cart, half open at the side, out of which the fine Victorian society hunted game like in a rolling stand, was revived and carried over into the car world. For example, on the Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake, the sporty station wagon of the A-Class family. Kia has now selected him as a rival.

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Figuratively speaking, the Koreans are now shooting sharply out of such a shooting brake in the direction of Stuttgart, so far the compact Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake was pretty much alone in the far hall.

Kia Proceed with high attention value

Typical features of this type of car: Strikingly narrow side windows with a straight bottom edge that is covered at the top by a crescent-shaped frame. At the same time, the roof slopes gently but firmly towards the rear. The crowning glory is a plump, rounded rear end with a high level of attention. Exactly these identifying marks can be found in the Kia Proceed.

No more abruptly chopped off station wagon bottoms, but sweeping elegance as a good ending to a 4.60 meter long car. Logically, because of the incline, not as much can be packed into the cargo space as in the classic station wagon from the same family. But with 594 it is only 30 liters less that can be easily handled. The Stuttgart Shooting Brake, which is four centimeters longer, packs 99 liters less between the rear seat and the rear window.

Base price at 27,700 euros

While users of a combination classic tend to be more practical and often let a larger family and odds and ends get on board for the weekend excursion, the size of the luggage compartment is certainly important for the needs of the Proceed customers, but not decisive. On the other hand, you enjoy both form and function.

Even the basic price of the Proceed is around 27,700 euros above the usual Kia rate. The basic version is packed with extras: Electronic monitors for impending front collisions, leaving the lane or for monitoring the blind spot are on board as well as DAB radio, distance radar, LED headlights, reversing camera and much more. Even with the navigation package, which for 890 euros includes traffic sign recognition and a sound system in addition to the electronic map, the 30,000 euros mark has not been reached.

More powerful gasoline engine for sporty people

The basic model of the Proceed also proves itself in practice on the first trip around Barcelona. The 1.4-liter four-cylinder with its 140 hp does not have to hide from the entry-level counterpart at Mercedes (122 hp). The small gasoline engine has no problems with the almost 1.4-tonne Kia, shows its pulling power even at a very low engine speed, but requires the next higher gear quite early when accelerating. Steering, brakes and tuning of the chassis are not disappointing, but those who keep it sporty according to the rapid optics should rather choose the more powerful petrol engine (204 PS); the GT is 3500 euros more expensive.

The basic procedure, which most customers choose, swims smoothly and calmly in traffic and, if desired, cracks the 210 km / h limit on the autobahn. The space available on the back seat, the flawless workmanship and the materials used correspond to the decent standard that Kia fans appreciate about their brand.

Lane keeping system is annoying

In this respect, the cheapest variant of the station wagon coupe is well served. Only the lane keeping system is constantly annoying with beeping, although it also automatically steers back to your own lane, and the display of the 8-inch navigation system is not entirely convincing.

Of course, despite the successful appearance of the new rival and despite a base price several thousand euros higher, Mercedes does not necessarily have to dress warmly.

The radiance of the brand with the star and the technical pioneering role can keep the Korean in check. The Proceed is an interesting new option for design-oriented combination customers. Those interested in a Kia Ceed will each choose 25 percent for the Proceed or the normal station wagon, calculates the German Kia boss Steffen Cost. The other half of the Ceed sales are for the five-door hatchback sedan. (SP-X)