Kia Ceed GT performance is good if you don’t consider it to be a hot hatch. If you do then you will be disappointed.

There is only one engine available, a turbocharged version of Kia’s 1.6-litre direct-injection petrol engine.

The Ceed GT certainly looks the part with a sporty profile, aggressive stance and twin exhausts. On paper it doesn’t look to shabby either with 201bhp available enabling the car to sprint from 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds with a top speed of 143mph.

On the road, however, performance is a little lacklustre. The engine noise is minimal too which is disappointing for a car supposedly best-suited to those who want a little extra performance.

Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, the Kia Ceed GT doesn’t feel slow on the road – far from it. It climbs to speed confidently and you will have no issues pulling out of junctions or gaining speed on a slip road. But it is far from the sizzling performance you would get from a Golf GTI or Focus ST.

The Ceed GT’s handling is pretty good thanks to a set of suspension and steering tweaks over the regular Ceed hatchback. The suspension is a little firm but the steering is well-weighted and there is no body roll in the corners.

It’s versatile too, producing a smooth ride on the motorways while providing enough grip to make country roads fun too.

Although this is not really pitched as a hot hatch, it is certainly billed as a performance model and you would expect the Ceed GT to be a little more agile on the roads with more responsiveness through the steering.

It’s safe, stable and compliant to drive and although this could be seen as a positive, if you’re in the market for a performance car you’ll want a little bit of character and flair which the Ceed GT is missing.