Seven-year warranties. Cool styling. Admirable levels of equipment. As if we didn’t have enough reasons to admire Kia, now they’ve added a good sports model to their list of excellence.

This Korean manufacturer has made steady progress in recent years and now their cars sell on merit rather than simply being cheap and cheerful.

But the sports car market has eluded them a little, but maybe the Kia Proceed is the car to break through this particular barrier.

At £20,000 for the test version, it’s hard to consider it cheap until you examine the competition. Volkswagen Golf GTI is now approaching £26,000 so suddenly the Proceed looks invitingly affordable. What’s more the range starts at £17,495.

The seven-year warranty is a fine endorsement designed to add reassurance to people who still find the concept of buying a Korean car with little real heritage a leap into the unknown. But in truth the Proceed is a good enough car in its own right. On the outside, it looks a little like a new Vauxhall Astra, which is no bad thing, while the cabin is logical, smart and solid in almost a Volkswagen manner.

It is certainly the best-looking Kia I’ve ever seen and it doesn’t disappoint on the road, offering a sensible amount of sportiness while still being economical.

No wonder spirits are high at Kia. The company sold 6,027 cars in the UK in July, a record, and has delivered 43,205 so far this year, another record.

Sportage leads the way with 1,707 sales in July, but Proceed is doing its bit, helping Kia to a 3.72 per cent share of the new car market. So much for Kia being small fry.

Proceed is more than just a new car. It marks the start of a new era where Kia can really compete alongside longer established manufacturers.

It fits the bill rather well. It is not a proper GTi or hot hatch. In fact, its 0 to 60mph time is positively slow compared to quick Fords and Peugeots launched recently.

But it looks the part and has sensible insurance and fantastic economy It’s definitely quick enough, though. It pulls harder the closer you are to 6,000rpm, but with a meaty midrange that, given the Proceed's near-1,400kg kerb weight, does a brilliant job of hustling the sleek three-door shape along.

If you want real performance, try a GT version, but even in this relatively modest format it attacks corners with poise and stability.

It feels as good as it looks and has excellent ride and handling.

The steering, a new variable-assistance setup that replaces Kia’s ‘Flex-Steer’ arrangement and gives a greater sense of weight, transmits a degree of textural feel from the road for even more reassurance and control.

Although at times turn-in feels just a little slower than you’d like, the overall ability to cope with your demands is thoroughly impressive.

It feels like a perfectly matched package.

The gearbox is a fine six-speed manual and the ratios are fine and sporty.

It’s designed to reduce the need to change down to first through particularly slow corners, which keen drivers will know can cause problems.

The end result here is that the third cog is perfect for most country roads, with second on hand for tighter bends like hairpins. The closely-set pedals even encourage a little heel-and-toe playtime.

The Proceed is genuinely great fun to drive, and it doesn’t matter that it’s not as sharp at the front end as a Focus ST or as raucous as an Astra VXR.

What counts is that its every facet works to make the driving experience better than the sum of its parts.

For out and out power, though, the Proceed GT would have to be your choice. It costs from £19,995 and went on sale on July 1.

Kia said it was their most eagerly anticipated new model in their history and was their first high-performance car.

But while it is developed for an enthusiastic driving experience it remains practical, affordable and comfortable for everyday use. The Proceed GT will be followed in early 2014 by a GT version of the five-door Cee’d.

Powered by a turbocharged version of Kia’s 1.6-litre direct-injection petrol engine, the Proceed GT offers 0 to 60mph in 7.4 seconds and has a top speed of 143mph.

It has a re-tuned suspension to make the car more than capable of handling its impressive power and torque outputs.

 

Kia Proceed 1.6 CRDI SE

PRICE: £20,595. Proceed starts at £17,495
ENGINE: A 1,582cc, four cylinder unit generating 126bhp via six-speed transmission
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 122mph, 0 to 60mph in 10.5 seconds
COSTS: town 55,4mpg; country 74.3mpg; combined 65.7mpg
EMISSIONS: 112g/km
INSURANCE: Group 13
WARRANTY: Seven years, 100,000 miles guarantee