DOWNSIZING engines is fast becoming a trend and Kia is the latest to join the club with a new 1.0-litre three cylinder turbo making its debut in the latest cee'd range.

Developed in-house the new engine is both lean and mean and is coming on stream as Kia refreshes the entire line up of hatchbacks, the three door pro_cee'd and Sportswagon estates.

There is a new GT Line trim level with added body kit, ‘ice cube' daytime running lamp clusters, 17-inch alloys and dual exhausts giving every version of the cee'd a sporty presence.

Changes have also been made to the suspension and all round the new cee'd feels sharper and more composed than before with noise levels inside significantly reduced.

With the three-pot engine there is a delightful rasp under acceleration and performance is nice and lively.

We tried the combination of the new 1.0-litre engine and GT Line trim in the latest pro_cee'd priced at £19,720.

In the hatches the engine is available in two stages of boost - 98 or 118bhp - and this was the more powerful version which is also used in the new Sportswagon.

There is plenty of mid-range pull and it feels quicker than its official 10.7 second 0 to 60 time.

Top speed is a claimed 118mph and Kia rates the car at 57.6mpg with emissions of 115g/km and on the road we achieved 45 to the gallon without any trouble.

The engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and the paring works well allowing for high speed motorway cruising with ease as well as good low rev performance.

Like all other versions of the cee'd it is fitted with a variable mode steering system that can be altered from its normal weighting to a stiff sports mode or a more gentle comfort setting.

On the new models the cockpit has been spruced up considerably and now comes with better quality trim and, on the GT Line, a nice matt finish around the sat nav display.

There is also a distinctive upholstery pattern and overall it feels a sporty little number - something Kia has been very deliberate about in the new range where it is also introducing a semi-hot GT model as the range topper, priced from £23,605.

Not only is the GT with body decals to give it added street cred but it also comes with body-hugging Recaro sports seats and a sound generator to enhance the exhaust note if wanted.

The GT ‘noise button' is mounted on the steering wheel and its operation also engages a digital instrument display which incorporates a turbo boost gauge and a torque meter as well as a giving the speed readout in numbers.

The GT uses a 1.6-litre turbo engine boosted to a lively 201bhp which results in a respectable 0 to 60 time of 7.3 seconds and a maximum of 143mph.

Emissions are 170g/km and official fuel economy 38.2mpg and even after some high speed track runs it was showing a creditable 32mpg.

This version moves the cee'd up a notch and broadens its appeal considerably as does Kia's other technological innovation on the latest models - a seven-speed dual clutch transmission.

It replaces the previous auto box and is noticeably more fuel efficient being fitted with stop/start as well as paddle shifters to give manual control if required.

The DCT system is arriving on the 1.6-litre diesel models which have 134bhp and are rated at 67.3mpg with a CO2 figure of 109g/km.

Real world driving sees the box shifting smoothly through the gears and the drive is much more dynamic than from the previous automatic. Everyday use is likely to see fuel figures in the mid-50s.

The new gearbox is available on all but the basic trim levels and comes in at £20,330 for the five-door hatch, 19,830 for the pro_cee'd and £21,330 for the estate - an increase of a few hundred pounds over the previous models.

The cee'd has been around now since 2006 and as Kia's model for Europe it has matured into a very credible model and a keen competitor to the likes of the Ford Focus or the VW Golf.

The latest revisions add to its credentials in no uncertain terms and with the GT models the cee'd now has appeal to a much younger audience.