Sector: Lower medium Price: £19,995–£23,995  Fuel: 38.2mpg CO2: 171g/km

Hot hatches may have become increasingly stylish in recent years, but the Kia pro_cee’d GT is one of the best looking. There, I said it.

Seven years ago, the original cee’d gave Kia a fighting chance in the cut-throat lower medium segment, and now its successor has become the carmaker’s first hot hatch – proof that the badge really isn’t a barrier any more.

Neither is the styling. The already pretty pro_cee’d looks great with the GT’s deeper, aggressive bodykit and it perches purposefully over a set of large, part-polished alloy wheels. Inside, the familiar soft touch dashboard gains a digital display showing turbo pressure and torque output, a pair of comfortable Recaro sport seats and plenty of red stitching. It’s a real head-turner.

Helping it deliver performance to match the visual improvements is the same 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol found in the Veloster Turbo, but tuned to 201bhp. With a wide spread of torque from 2,500rpm upwards and impressive cornering stability, it adds up to a very entertaining, if not particularly quick, hot hatch.

The only chink in its armour is the electronic power steering, which is quick to respond and nicely weighted but lacking in feedback. Making progress means guessing the remaining mechanical grip offered by the chassis, of which there is plenty.

Its biggest barrier is CO2. The range includes a well-equipped entry-level model with a Tech version on top, but its high value doesn’t translate well for company car drivers. CO2 emissions of 171g/km put it up with the more powerful and barely pricier Focus ST, but residuals are looking promising.

So while Kia’s first step into the hot hatch arena is respectable, arguably what the GT really needed to be was a quick diesel. Any sacrifice in dynamics would be worth it to augment its otherwise broad appeal.