Kia Cee'd review

Kia’s new 1.0 three-cylinder turbo engine adds efficiency and cuts emissions in the facelifted Cee’d. It’s been a long time coming, but the downsized unit is worth the wait, delivering adequate performance and lower running costs.

On top of this there’s also a new seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox available in conjunction with the higher-powered 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine.

Kia’s also improved the quality and styling inside and out with a few minimal changes and a new sporty-looking trim level – as well as updates to the GT warm hatch – putting the Cee’d back in the running in the family hatch sector.

Kia Cee’d 5dr 1.0 ecoTurbo

The Kia Cee'd is not an exciting or innovative car - it doesn't need to be. By sticking with the tried-and-tested conventional family hatchback formula, Kia is hitting the European market in its heartland, and competing with much-loved bestsellers like the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astra.

The first-generation Cee'd sold well, and buyers even accepted the curious name as part of the package. Those who could see past the unloved Kia badge found a car that was very practical, economical to run, great value, and backed up by an industry-leading seven-year warranty. 

The current car offers more of the same, but it's priced closer in line to established European rivals. To make up for it, though, the Cee'd is now better-looking and crucially, better to drive. It offers a range of bodystyles, with the standard five-door hatch joined by a three door Pro_Cee'd and five-door Cee'd Sportswagon estate.

• Best hatchbacks 

As you’d expect from a car appealing to business users and families, there’s an extensive range of engines to choose from, too. All are now EU6 emissions compliant, and at the bottom of the range is the 99bhp 1.4-litre petrol. Above this there’s a 133bhp 1.6 petrol. However, if you don’t want a diesel engine then we’d recommend the new 1.0-litre three-cylinder ecoTurbo petrol – available in 99bhp and 118bhp versions. 

On the other side of things, there are a strong range of diesels in the Cee’d range, including an 89bhp 1.4-litre CRDi and two versions of the Korean brands 1.6-litre turbodiesel pushing out either 108bhp or 134bhp – the higher-power model is also available with Kia’s new seven-speed DCT gearbox, but it’s the only engine that gets the choice at the moment.

Trim levels begin simply, with 1, 2, 3 and 4 levels offering progressively more equipment. On top of this is 4 Tech. Standalone SR7 trim sounds like a sporty offering, but it actually adds desirable kit like parking sensors, while above this, the GT and GT Tech models are standalone trim levels that come well equipped with lots of desirable kit. The new GT Line spec is great too, bringing the looks of the range-topping Cee'd GT hatch to add a sporty flavour to the car and bringing a great balance between versatility, sporty looks and low running costs.

Choice certainly isn't lacking in the Kia Cee'd lineup, then, but it has some really talented rivals to compete with. Other value-minded options include the Hyundai i30 and Fiat Tipo, while lurking on the sidelines are the likes of the Nissan Pulsar, Skoda Octavia and SEAT Leon. Kia has a fight on its hands.

Engines, performance and drive

3.8

New 1.0T engine adds all-important low CO2 petrol to range, while cleaner diesels help broaden appeal, along with new DCT gearbox

The highlight here is Kia’s new three-cylinder 1.0-litre turbo petrol, which was lacking from the old line-up. Coming in 99bhp and 118bhp versions, it offers smooth torque with strong refinement. The higher-powered version is quicker, taking 11.1 seconds to accelerate from 0-62mph, which feels adequate on the road. 

The six-speed manual is light and easy to use, aiding the impressive refinement and zippy performance on the road given the small engine and the size of the Cee’d.

There is still a pair of naturally aspirated petrols, but their emissions and performance can’t match the 1.0-litre ecoTurbo, even if the three-cylinder engine will be more expensive when full range pricing is confirmed.

• Kia Cee'd 1.0 Turbo driven

When it comes to the diesels, it’s the 1.6 CRDI that’s the one to go for. The 1.4 is acceptable, but the refinement from the larger capacity oil burner is better – plus there’s more performance on offer. 

Like the 1.0 turbo, it comes with two power outputs, and if you go for the more potent 134bhp version there’s lots of smooth torque that delivers acceleration on a par with its rivals. The 0-62mph sprint takes 10.2 seconds if you go for the six-speed manual and 10.6 if you opt for the new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Unlike some DCT gearboxes fitted to performance cars, however, this transmission focuses on smoothness and refinement, shuffling cogs with little fuss but a noticeable delay. The steering wheel shift paddles aren’t really necessary, and we’d advise leaving the gearbox in auto mode for most of the time.

Here it helps when you want a burst of acceleration, as despite the delay the seven-speed unit kicks down smoothly. The engine revs sweetly and is relatively quiet for a diesel, as Kia has worked harder on improving refinement in this facelifted car with even more sound deadening. 

However, one area where the Cee’d isn’t any better is the steering. The wheel is devoid of any feedback, and although it’s light making the car easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces, on more open roads it feels lifeless and gives the car a lethargic feel. 

The ride is improved over its predecessor, with a little more compliance over bumps and a more settled gait at high speeds. However, there’s still a firm edge to the suspension’s damping, which is highlighted on bumpier country roads.

Engines

Kia offers a fashionable 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine with two power outputs in the Cee'd, and CO2 emissions are now down to 115g/km in the higher-power variant of this engine. It’s refined, relatively torquey and a good first effort from Kia at a turbocharged triple.

However, if you’re thinking of test driving this engine, make sure you sample both power outputs to see if the 99bhp version is adequate for you. Despite the same 171Nm of torque, it is 1.7 seconds slower from 0-62mph than the 118bhp version.

Elsewhere, a range of petrol and diesel options are available. The highest-powered 1.6-litre diesel is the only engine to come with Kia's dual-clutch DCT transmission, though - the other engines get an old-fashioned torque converter, which saps power and increases fuel consumption.

MPG, CO2 and running costs

4

New EU6 compliant engines – lead by 1.0 ecoTurbo – makes the Cee’d even more attractive thanks to lower running costs and a credible rival to cars like

Kia’s new turbo engine has opened the Cee’d range up to a group of new buyers who were after the practical, affordable and well-equipped car with a low CO2 petrol. Emissions are now down to 109g/km for the low power model and 115g/km for the more powerful version. This works out at 60.1 and 57.6mpg respectively.

As a result road tax is affordable at £20 and £30 each for the year, helped by Kia’s ISG intelligent stop and go system.

The most economical diesel version is the actually the 1.6, which returns 78.5mpg according to Kia’s figures with a best of 94g/km CO2, making it road tax free.

Other engines in the range offer competitive efficiency, even though they aren’t class leading. However, the Cee’d GT’s 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine is still the one of the dirtiest in its class, returning a quoted 38.2mpg and 170g/km CO2.

Insurance groups

Insurance groups for the new Cee’d range from group seven for the entry-level 1.4 petrol in ‘1’ trim, while the high performance GT model comes in at group 26. These ratings are about average for the class.

Spec the Cee’d up with more tech and equipment and insurance costs will rise in line with rivals, so it shouldn’t cost that much more to cover than any of its major competitors.

Depreciation 

Our experts haven’t yet predicted residual values for the new Cee’d, but with more tech and increased efficiency, we’d expect the residual values of the new car to be stronger than its predecessor.

The old entry-level 1.4 ‘1’ petrol will hold onto a relatively strong 42.1 per cent of its value. However, it was the old VR7 estate model that commands the strongest RVs, retaining 47.1 per cent, so expect a similar performance from the new car. 

Residual values of the pre-facelift 1.6 diesel Cee’d hovered around 36 to 44 per cent – extra equipment as standard should haul second hand prices up across the range, while the attractive 1.0 turbo will help used values, too.

Interior, design and technology

4

More tech inside the Kia’s cabin helps bring it even more upmarket. There’s lots of comfort, but some cheap plastics let the air of quality down.

The biggest update to the interior of the Cee’d is the new connected services system powered by Tom Tom. This includes live traffic updates for the sat-nav, as well as speed camera alerts, local search functionality and weather data. It’s all controlled by the same touchscreen as before, which is responsive and intuitive to use.

Apart from a few more chrome effect pieces of trim, the interior is identical to the old Cee’d, which is no bad thing. The swooping dash design still looks fresh and the ergonomics are good, with a decent amount of space and storage in the front.

However, while material quality is good on the whole, there are a few areas of cheap, hard plastic that jar with the soft-touch high-quality materials on the dashboard. It unfortunately lets the quality image down when compared with rivals like the Volkswagen Golf.

With a new Brown Pack adding an extra element of customisation to the interior alongside the other colour packs on offer, there’s a little more scope for personalising the Cee’d, especially if you go for the GT Line trim. Apart from this, the standard range of paint colours suits the car. 

On the whole, it’s a definite improvement on the outgoing car, with more tech and a few more options to add extra style inside and out. However, lower quality materials in prominent places inside mean you can easily see where Kia has saved some cash.

By adding the GT Line specification to the Cee’d range, buyers can now go for the sporty looks of the Cee’d GT without that car’s firmer suspension and more focused setup. 

It adds a deeper front and rear bumper, with the GT’s ‘ice-cube’ LED running lights, side skirts and larger alloy wheels.

The regular Cee’d is a sharp looking car, so these sportier modifications mean there’s even more style on offer, as the Kia integrates its rear doors more subtly than some other vehicles like the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra. 

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment 

As above, the new infotainment system boasts some clever connected services that’ll be available to Cee’d owners for seven years as part of the purchase price, but apart from that, there’s not much new. Which is no great shame, as the large, bright, 7.0-inch touchscreen is easy to use, controlling the audio and navigation systems. It’s fairly easy to pair your mobile to, while USB connectivity means you can charge it on the move, too.

Practicality, comfort and boot space

4

Competitive boot space easy access and an estate version mean the facelifted Kia Cee’d can easily cope with the rigours of family life

Three body styles are available, meaning you can tailor what shape and size Cee’d you want depending on the level of practicality you need. 

There’s plenty of space to stow items such as mobile phones inside the cabin, as the Cee’d boasts a roomy glovebox and door bins. There are two cupholders behind the gear lever and a large storage area in front.

Despite the rakish styling for a family hatch, visibility is good – but even if you find it difficult to manoeuvre, there’s a reversing camera available to help when parking and turning round. 

The driving position is good, with lots of adjustment in the seats and steering wheel so you can get just right behind the wheel. 

Size 

At 4.3 metres long, 1.8 metres wide and 1.5 metres tall, the Cee’d is smack bang in the middle of the family hatch class. For reference, Volkswagen's Golf is 4.3 metres long, 1.8 metres wide and 1.5 metres tall…

This means it’s simple to park and drive, helped by the strong visibility.

Leg room, head room & passenger space

The three-door is obviously sportier, but the five-door Cee’d strikes a nice balance between ease of use and looks. Access to the rear is good thanks to a fairly large opening, and once you’re back there, there’s an adequate amount of legroom. The relatively high roofline means even taller adults won’t be rubbing their heads on the roof in the back.

Boot space 

At 380 litres boot space is unchanged and is on a par with rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf and SEAT Leon. A wide hatch and a good opening means it’s easy to load, too. Fold the rear seats down and there’s a maximum of 1,318 litres on offer in the five-door model, while the Sportswagon estate offers 528 litres and 1,642 litres respectively.

Reliability and Safety

4.2

Extra safety tech means updated Cee’d is safer and more secure

As part of the tech updates for the new Cee’d, Kia has also added a traffic sign recognition camera, which will display the speed limit of the road to the driver in the car’s instrument panel. There’s also blind spot warning and rear cross traffic alert which will warn you of an approaching car if you’re backing out of a parking space. 

There’s a Smart Parking Assist System that means the Cee’d will manoeuvre itself into a space or bay, while it’ll also steer itself out of kerbside spaces to reduce the likelihood of parking dings and dents.

Underneath the skin of the Cee’d the car’s structure hasn’t changed, which means it retains the full five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating.

Warranty 

This is where the Cee’d comes into its own. All Kias come with a seven-year warranty, which highlights just how much confidence the Korean manufacturer has in its products. 

The warranty package covers you up to 100,000 miles, but for the first three years it’s an unlimited deal. There’s also one year’s roadside assistance cover with all new cars. Combined, this makes Kia’s warranty package the best in the industry.

Servicing

Kia offers two different servicing packages on the Cee’d – Care-3 and Care-3 Plus. These last for three or five years depending on customer choice and cost £329 and £609 respectively for the shorter period. It’s slightly more than packages offered by rivals like Skoda, but the costs are still acceptable.