Hot hatches are big business in Europe, but not everybody wants the stiffer ride, or the higher associated fuel bills, which is why Kia has made the Ceed GT-Line which it revealed at the Paris motor show.

What makes the Kia Ceed GT-Line special

Looking at a Ceed GT-Line, its design is very similar to the GT warm hatch model, with its new and more aggressive front and rear bumpers, a different grille with a matte chrome effect surround, as well as larger wheels only available for this trim - they range in size from 17- to 19-inch.

The interior has also been given a GT-Line makeover, with a sportier black headliner, sportier seats than the regular Ceed and metallic sill plates.

Engine options are the same as for any non-performance Ceed, starting with a 1.0-liter three-cylinder T-GDi engine with 120 metric horsepower, or a larger 1.4-liter four-cylinder (both turbocharged) T-GDi that puts out 140 metric horsepower.

All engines get a standard six-speed gearbox, but the larger gasoline unit and both versions of the diesel can be equipped with a dual-clutch seven-speed transmission.

The GT-Line kit is available on the five-door hatch and Sportwagon models as an option, but it is the standard trim for the ProCeed shooting brake model. According to Kia, GT-Line has been engineered exclusively for European road conditions and promises to maximize agility and comfort.

There’s also a JBL Premium sound system, a wireless phone charger, a heated windscreen, high beam assist, lane keeping assist and forward collision avoidance assist; optional heated and cooled seats are available, as is smart cruise control with stop and go functionality (on automatic models), as well as rear cross-traffic alert and blind spot monitoring among others.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2019 Kia Ceed GT.

Read our full speculative review on the 2019 Kia ProCeed.

Read our full review on the 2017 Kia Proceed Concept.

Read our full review on the 2018 Kia Ceed.