The new Kia pro_cee'd is a three door sporty hatch and the third addition to the cee'd model line up. The cee'd five door was first to arrive in December 2006 followed by the station wagon in October last.

The new Kia pro_cee'd is the latest incarnation of the cee'd family in the shape of a sports tourer. Prices start at ?19,195 before delivery charges.

All three cee'd models were designed in Kia's European design centre and built at the company's first European factory in Zilina, Slovakia. They boast an industry leading, seven year/150,000 kilometre warranty.

Longer, lower and lighter than the c'eed model, the new pro_cee'd has a 10mm extended nose, a shallower front grille, new-style black bezzle headlamps, a wider bumper with a prominent lip spoiler, a deeper central air intake and larger fog lights set in elliptical depressions. The windscreen is much shallower and the vehicle height is reduced by 30mm.

The doors are 276mm longer than the five door cee'd model. They have a unique design that highlights the sporty character of this model.

The side window, C-Pillar and tailgate spoiler are all new and, although the rear screen is steeply raked, rear headroom remains good. Unlike other cee'd models, the exhaust tailpipe on the pro_cee'd in boldly displayed.

Inside, the Pro_cee'd comes with air conditioning, speed sensing power steering, trip computer and a fully integrated CD player with AM/FM/RDS radio with full MP3 player and iPod connectivity.

Despite its lowered, sportier appearance, pro_cee'd is claimed to provide generous legroom front and rear. The luggage capacity is a class-leading 340 litres, with the rear seats upright.

The larger pro_cee'd doors, with their extra-wide 70 degree openings, are designed to give good access to the rear seats. To boost practicality, Kia's designers re-styled the rear seat cushion, which is now fixed, and re-engineered the 60/40 split backrest so that it is easy to release and simply folds down onto the cushion with no need to remove the head restraints.

The Kia pro_cee'd is available with either a 1.4 petrol or 1.6 diesel engine, from the 5 door cee'd model. The 1.4 litre engine offers 109bhp at 6200rpm and 137Nm of torque at 5,000 rpm. Combined fuel consumption is 6.1 l/100km and CO2 emissions are 145g/km.

The 1.6 diesel unit offers 115bhp at 4000rpm and 255Nm of torque between 1900 and 2750bhp. Combined fuel consumption is 4.7 l/100km (4.8 l/100km with 17" alloys) and CO2 emissions are 125 g/km (126 g/km with 17" alloys).

The pro_cee'd is offered with two levels, the LX and the EX Plus. The LX specification is the same as the LX version of the five door hatch and the cee'd SW.

The LX standard specification includes body coloured door handles and bumpers, front fog lamps, rear spoiler, CD audio with USB / AUX input, steering wheel audio remote, keyless entry, ABS with EBD, twin front, side and curtain airbags, air conditioning, front active headrests, electric front safety windows, black bezzle headlights.

Moving up to the EX specification adds 16" alloy wheels (17" alloys on diesel model), privacy glass, leather steering wheel and gear knob, half leather upholstery, electric folding mirrors.

Kia pro_cee'd price list:

• pro_cee'd 1.4 LX: €19,195
• pro_cee'd 1.4 EX: €20,995
• pro_cee'd 1.6 dsl LX: €21,595
• pro_cee'd 1.6 dsl EX: €23,395

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