The new Kia ProCeed blends eye-catching looks with good levels of space.

What’s more, this range-topping GT version even adds a bit of driving fun to the mix.

With a so-called ‘shooting brake’ silhouette by design, its athletic looks are a strong hint of the sporty driving dynamics on offer.

The combination of firmer shock absorbers and springs, but softer anti-roll bars, help the car feel composed over uneven surfaces, feeling firm while not jeopardising the comfort of passengers.

Under the bonnet, there’s over 200bhp at the driver’s disposal from the 1.6-litre four cylinder turbocharged petrol engine.

It means the sprint from 0-60mph can be achieved in just over seven seconds, which feels pretty swift.

When driven in a spirited manner, the front wheels scrabble for grip in the lower gears as the car tries to put the considerable power down on the road.

And the DCT auto gearbox can be a little slow to respond to inputs but, once you’re on the move, the car pulls nicely and handles superbly in the corners, feeling beautifully balanced.

Meanwhile, the steering feels accurate and weighty, inspiring confidence.

A drive mode select system on DCT versions enables owners to tailor their driving experience, with Normal and Sport modes. Drivers can use Drive Mode Select to alter the level of effort required to steer the car, while each mode subtly changes the character of the engine. Normal mode maximises the potential for greater fuel efficiency and offers more relaxed steering inputs.

Ad you’d expect, Sport mode enhances throttle response enabling faster acceleration – from a standstill and at speed – and adapts the steering to offer additional weight and more decisive responses to driver inputs.

Fuel economy didn’t seem too good during my week in the car’s company, as I achieved an average of 30.2mpg during my commute to and from Bradford - mostly driving on normal mode with the exception of the odd overtaking manoeuvre.

That’s set against official figures of 39.3mpg (combined), 45.6mpg (high) and 28.2mpg (low).

In terms of looks, it’s the car’s distinctive raked-back outline that immediately catches the eye.

The ProCeed bodywork shares nothing apart from the front wings and bonnet with other Ceed variants. It is lower and longer than both the Ceed five-door hatchback and the estate.

The shooting brake silhouette has been brought about by a windscreen angle that’s 1.5 degrees more steeply sloped than that of its sister models, while the roofline is 43mm lower, making for a sleek appearance.

It all adds up to a vehicle that’s comfortably the best looking model in the Ceed line-up.

Once you get inside, the interior is also of a high standard.

The GT model adds red stitching to the black leather interior, with an overall feeling that decent-quality materials have been used.

Indeed, the seats, door cards and steering wheel all feature red contrasting stitching to deliver a sporting ambience.

The cabin features a wide range of new technologies to enhance comfort and convenience. The ‘floating’ infotainment system is an 8.0-inch touchscreen navigation system, with navigation and Kia Connected Services powered by TomTom.

The system enables full smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

One other noteworthy development is the fact the name has been simplified from the grammatically-challenging pro_cee’d to the more readable ProCeed.

In conclusion, there’s no doubt that Kia has successfully delivered a shooting brake for the masses with the ProCeed GT’s combination of good looks, reasonable affordability, sharp driving dynamics, and adequate space and practicality.

Kia Proceed GT T-GDi

PRICE: £28,140 on the road

ENGINE: 1.6-litre petrol, four cylinder, 201bhp

TRANSMISSION: Seven-speed auto DCT

ECONOMY: 39.8mpg combined and emissions of 142g/km

PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph in 7.2 seconds and top speed of 140mph