Tuesday 11th September 2018

Kia Cee'd GT: Spotted

Can't wait for the new Ceed GT to fix your Korean hot hatch itch? Here's a sub-£10k example of its predecessor

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Korean hot hatches have quickly become the talk of the town at PH HQ, what with the arrival of a Hyundai i30N on the PH Fleet and the debut of the next Kia Ceed GT being just over the horizon. As you’ll know, these are cars known for going head-to-head with more established European rivals – Golf GTI, we’re looking at you – offering a mix of performance and usability as well as plenty of kit for your money.

The first Korean car to seriously bring these traits to the ring was, of course, the previous Ceed GT, which came in both three- and five-door (formally called Pro_Ceed GT) forms. Remember when the first one landed in 2013? We were suddenly presented with an all-new hot hatch that looked the business and came with a respectable list of statistics. Little wonder it grabbed the attention of enthusiasts and was welcomed with predictions of stealing the Golf GTI’s thunder.

Using a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine, the front-driven Ceed GT was good for 204hp and a 7.3 second 0-60mph sprint time. It was also claimed to be capable of 38.2mpg and emitted 171g/km, which, if you haven’t nodded off yet, were important numbers because it meant this hottest Ceed could offer running costs comparable with the class’s best.

Except it couldn’t, because anyone running a Ceed GT for a lengthy period of time would have noticed that these are undoubtedly thirstier than rivals while also being rather less sprightly off the line. To offer its best, the GT's engine has to be wrung for every horsepower on offer, while the car has to be hustled through corners to maintain momentum and keep that blown engine on the boil.

The good news is that Kia’s first proper hot hatch has a fine chassis, one that PH decided was actually in the same sort of ballpark as the Peugeot 308 GTI, Leon Cupra and Focus ST back in 2016. Even now the Ceed GT stands out as a playful hatch, responding with a cocked inside rear wheel to a flick of the steering and offering good feedback levels, too.

Find a high-spec GT Tech trim like the 2014 car advertised here and you’ll surely be onto a winner. This car has 38,000 miles on the clock but it still has three years left of Kia’s seven-year manufacturer warranty. Plus, it was only purchased from a main dealer three months ago (its latest owner said a company car is forcing the sale), so, unless it's been involved in a summertime shunt, this car should be in as tip-top condition underneath as it looks in the pictures.

Included in this five-door model are Recaro sports seats, a heated steering wheel and parking sensors, as well as a seven-inch infotainment screen and automatic headlights and wipers. It’s finished in a racy red colour and sits on two-tone 18-inch wheels, making for a package that's as attractive as it is generouly equipped.

Thankfully for us, this doesn't reflect in the price, because the private seller is asking for less than £10k. Someone go and snap their hand off!

SPECIFICATION - KIA CEED GT

Engine: 1,591cc, four-cylinder turbo

Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive

Power (hp): 204@6,000rpm

Torque (lb ft): 195@1,500-4,500rpm

MPG: 38.2

CO2: 171g/km

First registered: 2014

Recorded mileage: 38,000

Price new: £23,615

Yours for: £9,750

See the original advert here.

[anonymous-user]

The standard kit list looks like the opening titles on the first Star Wars movie - goes on forever!
For a daily runner, this would be a bargain - nearly as cheap as a lease over 3 years, with a warranty, and should manage a good few years reliable use thereafter. Tempting.