Gt Line T-GDI turbo

Very impressive

The turbo version: I’ve only had it a week, but there isn’t much on the web about it, so I thought I would post first impressions.

I thought it would be similar to the previous GT line, but a bit faster. It is not, it is way more than that, way better. You get the sense that Kia have listened to all the feedback from the initial release, and made changes accordingly, and it is a vastly better car for it.

It gets a new steering wheel, and a new gearstick, one with a proper collar that you have to lift to get into reverse. And they have got rid of the dreadful, cheap and tacky radio, and replaced it with a (larger) touch screen DAB radio, with mobile phone connectivity. Additionally, there is a reversing camera which displays on the screen, which is actually very helpful, as the rear tinted windows have quite a strong tint, so not the easiest to see out of. So the centre screen looks better, does more, and works better. And the speakers are pretty decent – it gives a nice sound.

Again, you get the sense that the cockpit is a really nice place to be, and not a city car. There is a real sense of quality and class to it, more so than before.

I think they have tweaked the suspension, which I would now call supple rather than firm, there is no sense of being shaken around even with quite a long drive on poor roads. You can feel the bumps, but the suspension soaks up any jolts. The seats are good, with good support: this might even be a car that can do long journeys.

The steering is direct and agile as ever, without being twitchy. All very in balance and under control; point and go. The brakes are four discs, and so have huge stopping power, even quite aggressively. It still has the anti collision automatic braking.

But the real surprise is the engine: because it has a good slug of torque from about 1500, it is very easy to make progress without using revs, which makes for a very relaxing drive. It just kind of wafts along in an unflustered, effortless way. And given how well the suspension takes the edge off bumps, on a good road you think you are in a car designed for comfort and long runs. Not what I was expecting: I was expecting something much more aggressive. Total contrast to the non turbo engine, which had to be revved hard to get it to go, and had very sluggish performance at low revs, which didn’t make for a relaxing drive, and was fun only if you had your foot firmly down.

But when put your foot down in the turbo– even though the engine is still very tight - and it gives a delightful snarl, and surges away.

I think Kia have produced a real winner.

Report as offensive