Skip advert
Advertisement

Kia Cee’d GT 2014 review

The five-door version of Kia's Cee'd hot hatch is more practical but just as much fun

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your next car here
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

With zero penalty over the Pro_cee’d GT in terms of weight, performance, handling or economy, the five-door Cee’d GT makes a strong case for itself. It looks almost as good and makes life easier for rear passengers, too. So while the GT isn’t as ‘hot’ as some of its hot hatch rivals, it’s an excellent all-round package.

Advertisement - Article continues below

We're already familiar with the three- door Pro_cee’d GT, but now there’s a more practical five-door version to go with it. And although it costs £505 more there’s no sacrifice in terms of weight, performance or fuel economy.

The Cee’d GT is powered by the same 201bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, hits 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds and returns claimed economy figures of 38.2mpg and 171g/km of CO2. All those numbers lag behind the facelifted 247bhp, 41.5mpg Ford Focus ST, but Kia’s intention was always to build an affordable ‘warm’ hatch, and in that respect the GT is a roaring success.

The engine starts to pull hard from as little as 1,750rpm and keeps going all the way to 7,000rpm. At no point does the GT feel particularly fast, but it means you can use all of the throttle travel more often and have fun without necessarily breaking the law. Where the Cee'd GT falls short of the Focus ST and VW Golf GTI is in steering feel, which is a touch artificial and lacks feedback.

Best hot hatches to buy now

However, with stiffer springs and dampers, bigger brakes, a thicker anti-roll bar and stickier tyres it handles very neatly indeed – the trade-off is a jittery ride at low speeds, although things smooth out as you up the pace.

Considering the £20,500 starting price (£6,485 less than the cheapest five-door Golf) interior quality is impressive, and a sign of how far Kia has come, with plenty of soft-touch surfaces and gloss black trim. There’s loads of space in the back, while the rear doors improve access and make it a lot less gloomy than the three-door. And while the Pro_cee’d has the edge when it comes to styling, the five-door looks fantastic with its ‘ice-cube’ LEDs, GTI-style pinstripes and 18-inch wheels. 

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £18,185Avg. savings £4,364 off RRP*Used from £9,900
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £2,321 off RRP*Used from £12,220
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,200Avg. savings £4,537 off RRP*Used from £15,045
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £5,075 off RRP*Used from £14,895
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Not bothered by MoT advisories? That may be about to change
Protyre area manager Simon Hall inspecting a Vauxhall Corsa's tyre

Not bothered by MoT advisories? That may be about to change

The number of MoT failures caused by worn tyres is on the rise, and experts are calling for mandatory follow-ups on advisories
News
12 May 2025
Confirmed: New VW Golf GTI will be electric – and it’s a “monster”
VW Golf GTI badge

Confirmed: New VW Golf GTI will be electric – and it’s a “monster”

VW is taking the iconic hot hatchback brand into the electric era with the new Golf GTI EV already in development…
News
13 May 2025
Mazda MX-5 goes electric: the iconic roadster's radical future
Mazda MX-5 EV exclusive image - front

Mazda MX-5 goes electric: the iconic roadster's radical future

The next Mazda MX-5 roadster is set to be offered as a pure EV, and our exclusive images preview how it could look
News
10 May 2025