Kia gets rid of Pro Cee’d 3-door hatchback but shooting brake and SUV variants will launch next year

In a bid to get its share of spotlight in the ever-expanding SUV arena, Kia is finally sending its Pro Cee’d out the door by welcoming four new SUV models on stage. These four new SUV variants will be focused towards its European market, including a performance oriented shooting brake that is likely to be launched early next year.

While the Pro Cee’d has been discontinued, Kia is replacing the three-door hatch with exciting new models comprising of a crossover-type SUV, a sport –style wagon, a shooting brake and a long roof variant. The timing is perfect now that the Korean car maker is pushing its products more globally especially in Europe. In the previous year, Kia has sold over 89,000 vehicles in the UK where most of the sales are accounted for its SUVs --- earning the brand a larger market share versus Mini, Mazda, Land Rover, Fiat and Citroen.

With design references coming mostly from the brand’s current SUVs as well as from its popular Euro-spec Cee’d hatchback, Kia’s upcoming compact SUV line will be positioned just below its existing Stonic and Sportage models but otherwise on the same level as the Seat Ateca and Nissan Qashqai SUVs in the highly competitive ground.

The new Cee’d hatchback looks very much like the Cee’d shooting brake if you have to compare it to the very stunning Pro Cee’d Concept that debuted earlier this year. The five door swept-back design is basically Kia’s version of the Mercedes-Benz CLA but then opting for a Kia will save you tons of money compared to buying a brand new Mercedes.

The current Cee’d range is backed by either a 1.6 litre turbocharged diesel engine or a turbocharged three cylinder gasoline. As we already know, Kia is looking to expand its market base, and so adding the smallest three-cylinder engine into the mix will definitely count as one of the brand’s ultimate selling points.

Aside from the shooting brake, other body styles are set to arrive next year --- one of which will be in the shape of a sports wagon. This will be followed by the launch of Cee’d’s crossover version afterwards.

Since Kia is still at the testing phase, there aren’t as many details to share about the Cee’d’s high-riding models. Instead, you may also check out the spy shots all over the Internet to catch a glimpse of the Cee’d’s sleek new headlights and more aggressive front grille.

Adding new variants to the Cee’d range and axing the small three door hatch didn’t come along as a shocker given that the Cee’d outperforms the Pro Cee’d by a large number in terms of sales. As more and more people are now betting on SUVs than any other segment models, this decision should be considered a smart move instead of a downer.