KIA has added a striking, athletic GT Line model to its cee'd Sportswagon line-up and the range-topper is certainly dressed to thrill.
With a GT Line exterior styling pack that introduces the likes of a graphite chrome grille surround with black high gloss mesh, a black lower grille, twin exhaust pipes, black high gloss LED light housing, number plate surround and fog light housings, plus fabulous ice-cube LED daytime running lights that set the car off a treat.
In addition, there is a rear spoiler, privacy glass, 17-inch alloys, automatic headlight control, cornering lights and plenty more besides.
Move inside and the car features an interior pack again special to the GT Line models which adds black headlining, black cross-stitch upholstery with silver stitching and this also features on the steering wheel, gear lever, door trim and seats.
Creature comforts are plentiful and include a six-speaker sound system with DAB radio and full media connectivity capabilities, a seven-inch touchscreen navigation system, a reversing camera with parking sensors, ambient lighting and a cooled glovebox.
This car was priced at £21,220 and was powered by a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder 118bhp petrol engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. It could reach 60mph from a standing start in 11.0 seconds, maxed out at 116mph, can deliver combined fuel economy of 54.3mpg with carbon emissions of 120g/km.
The interior of the cee'd Sportswagon is deceptively spacious with ample room for four adults to stretch out in comfort with plenty of leg, shoulder and head space in the rear. There is room for a third back seat passenger if necessary, but it's a little bit of a squeeze.
One of the major plus-points of the car is how beautifully simple it is to drive. The three-cylinder engine delivers all the power you could wish for and the acceleration through the gears is smooth and responsive. It's a car that's very easy to live with - all the technology is easy to operate and the instrumentation is clear and simple to absorb in the very driver-focused cockpit.
In traffic the cee'd Sportswagon ambled along nicely and the all-round visibility is good. On faster roads and country lanes, it burst into life.
The road-holding was assured and the steering nice and precise. There is a little engine and road surface noise if pushed particularly hard, but it's not too bad at all.
The car also has all the practicality bases covered with a boot capacity of 528 litres, which can be increased to 1,660 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. This capacity is reduced slightly if the car is supplied with a temporary spare wheel.
The vehicle also features a comprehensive range of safety equipment, including anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability control, emergency stop signalling, hill-start assist, intelligent Stop & Go, numerous airbags and lots more.