Other than a slightly different finish to the faux metal painted plastic, the dash is identical to that of the five-door. Which is no bad thing.
The finish in some areas is as good as anything else in the class. Though the Pro_cee’d may not quite match the interior ambience of the Golf or recently fettled Focus, it is certainly good enough to warrant consideration, and especially given the generous equipment tally.
Despite the inherited dash structure, the Pro_cee’d’s revised roofline does give the cabin a more focused and slightly sporting feel. With both reach and rake movement in the steering, and height adjustment for the driver’s seat, the helm should cater for most shapes.
Although the rear accommodation is adequately spacious, access is not. The problem is not the aperture, but the front seats. On the passenger’s side we could not get the shoulder-mounted lever to slide the front seat forward, and while this did work on the driver’s side, the memory function did not.
It’s some consolation, then, that Kia has revised the Pro_cee’d’s rear seat squab so that it no longer needs to be tilted forward before the rear seat backs fold flat. Luggage space below the parcel shelf and with the rear seats up matches that of the five-door: a credible 340 litres. Maximum capacity dips to 1130 litres.
The Pro_cee’d’s spec 3 is almost identical to the five-door’s LS trim, for the same £14,295 price, so unlike most rivals there is no discount to be had for losing two doors. Bravely, Kia thinks the three-door’s style means buyers will pay the same as they would for its more practical five-door sister, and there’s no denying that the Pro_cee’d is still a well priced and equipped car.
Similarly powered competitors from Ford and Vauxhall can cost an extra £2000 and still don't come so well equipped. Plus, there is considerable appeal to Kia’s excellent seven-year warranty, while other running costs should prove competitive.