The article was originally produced on April 6, 2019, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

The latest addition to Kia's model range is the new ProCeed. Cars Collection spent a day in Barcelona to experience this stylish shooting break from Korea.

Kia's advance goes like a train and new models appear all the time. From the beginning, probably more people than I felt that Kia was a Korean budget brand, but that is an opinion that you may have to change now. Kia has really shown that it builds more than simple budget models and nowadays you get a full-fledged car with steering wheel heating and all the functions you normally find on expensive German premium cars.

But it is not only on the equipment level that Kia impresses, because it has also released some fun car models. Take the Kia Stinger for example, a rear-wheel-drive coupe-sedan with a 370 horsepower V6 engine. A direct competitor to the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé but with a price tag well below the BMW. And that it is good for Kia, the sales are proof that it is now one of the best-selling brands in Sweden, with only Volvo and Volkswagen.

It's about daring to let go and drive a cool Korean, or continue to drive an expensive and tight German

The new ProCeed is of so-called "shooting-brake" design. Shooting-brake originates from 19th-century England and was then a horse-drawn carriage (brake) that was used to ferry a hunting team out hunting. As cars became more common in the early 20th century, some of them were fitted with these special bodies. The name shooting-brake then fell into oblivion and people talked instead about station wagons or mansion cars, but now the original name is back. On the ProCeed, the shape is really good and the car feels both sober but sporty at the same time. A really nice detail is the small backwards-facing shark fin in aluminium that is located in the rear edge of the c-pillar.

As already mentioned, Kia is generous with the equipment in its models and the ProCeed is of course no exception. If you choose the GT version, you get comfortable seats in alcantara and a sporty steering wheel that is bevelled at the bottom. On the infotainment screen, you can easily mirror your mobile via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The sound system comes from JBL and delivers enough sound to satisfy even the pickiest. Thanks to a technology called Clari-Fi, the quality of the mp3 format improves and provides a better sound image. If I can tell, it's hard to say, but it sounds good anyway.

The security systems are also well-measured and the list can be made long. Among the systems that stand out are lane keeping assistance, lane keeping system, automatic braking, rear sensors that detect incoming traffic, self-marking assistant, automatic high beams and fatigue warning.

The engine in the ProCeed is a frugal 1.6 litre petrol engine with a turbo of 204 horses. It does its job exactly as expected and becomes very pleasant in combination with the 7-speed dual clutch box. Of course, it's not a sports car we're talking about, but with a figure of 7.5 seconds for 0-100 and a top speed of 225 km/h combined with a mixed consumption of around 0.62 litres per mile, you should probably still be satisfied.

The amount of equipment you get and the looks of a ProCeed should attract many customers. With a price that starts at just under 300,000, this can be seen as a very attractive option. Compared to German premium brands, you wouldn't get far for that sum. So in the end it just comes down to whether you can imagine letting go and driving a cool Korean or continue to drive an expensive and tight German.

Kia ProCeed

Basic price	From SEK 295,500
Engine	1.6-litre transverse four with turbo, 204 hp. Torque 265 Nm
Transmission	Front engine 7-speed automatic, double clutch, front wheel drive
Acceleration	0-100 in 7.5 seconds
Top speed	225 km/h
Fuel consumption mixed driving according to the manufacturer	0.62 l/mile
Weight	1,363 kg
Guarantees	New car 7 years, carriage damage 3 years, rust 12 years
Web	www.kia.se