2019 Kia Ceed
The days of buying a Kia and being laughed at by other motorists are long gone. These days Kia is an extremely well-respected brand and the Ceed has long been one of the best cars to come from South Korea. It’s so good that it’s actually managed to convince Europeans out of their Fords, Vauxhalls and Volkswagens. After years of almost being as good as the competition can this car finally be considered best of the breed?
The new Ceed is wider, longer, more spacious and also lower to the ground than the old car. It’s simply an all-round better made car. Better still, Kia have decided to ditch the rather silly apostrophe in its name. When you take a look around the Ceed you can’t but help notice the new styling. It’s actually a pretty good looking car. It looks particularly good from the front end and can look a touch aggressive too depending on what trim level you opt for. However, as you move down the side things tone down to the point of being a little bit dull especially by the time you get to the rear end. It just hasn’t got the crisp lines of the SEAT Leon but although it does look a lot less busy than the Ford Focus. In many way this car reminds us of a VW Golf in that it looks both restrained and refined at the same time.
When you step inside the Ceed it continues to remind us of the VW Golf and for two very good reasons. Firstly, the design is all very straight forward and logically laid out. You get your touchscreen where you’d expect it in nice easy reach but there’s also a row of physical controls. It really does put the Honda Civic and Renault Megane to shame. The other reason why the inside of this car reminds us of a Golf is simply down to the build quality. Apart for the rather awful fake stitched soft touch plastic sitting across the dash everything else has a really nice feel to it. There’s an abundance of nice quality plastics and leather in here and the knobs and buttons have all got a tight quality to them. Everything in here just feels well put together and gives you that feeling that it will all last. There’s no doubt that the South Koreans have been taking a close look at the Germans as the whole things just looks, feels and works really nicely. Visibility out of the front is pretty good but not quite as good out of the back thanks to the slitty rear window. However, higher up the model range you go you do get parking cameras and all sorts of park assist systems which should all help to alleviate this problem.
It’s not just upfront that impresses, it’s also gives a decent impression in the rear too. The great build quality is extended right through to the back which doesn’t always happen in these types of cars. There’s also quite a lot of space back here and you’ll find plenty of knee room while the head room is not too bad either. You can fit three people along the back seats helped in part to the almost flat floor. One thing we really like that will impress family buyers is that there’s adequate IsoFix points and it’s all just really well thought out. Although you do get plenty of space at the back if you’re looking for even more space then you’re probably going to have to take a look at the Skoda Octavia or a Honda Civic. Out of its nearest rivals, so we’re talking about the Ford Focus, VW Golf and Vauxhall Astra, the Ceed is probably the best for overall rear seat space.
It’s good news around at the boot too because the Ceed has a larger boot than the Ford Focus or VW Golf. If you lift up the boot floor there’s a space saver spare wheel which is very good. However, you’ll noticed that there is quite a drop down into the boot floor. This can be remedied as the boot floor is a moveable one so you can slot it into its higher position. Once you’ve done that then it’s much easier to load your items. It also means that when you fold down the rear seats it makes it easier to slide your suitcases far forward. If you require more boot space then something like a Skoda Octavia or Honda Civic may be better for you.
As time of typing the Ceed range kicks off with the 2 model. A cheaper 1 model is expected and goes up through the Blue Edition, the 3, various GT Line models, a lukewarm GT and finally the flagship First edition. The First Edition, which is the car we’re reviewing for this article, has electric leather seats, heated rear seats and a sunroof which you could argue are a little unnecessary. Therefore, we’d recommend the 3 model as you get a wider engine range, 17-inch alloys and LED headlights. If you can’t afford the 3 then the 2 model is well equipped too with a whole range of safety kit that some other car manufacturers charge you for. For example, you get lane keep assist, autonomous city braking, cruise control and high-beam assist.
If you don’t want diesel power then there are a few other alternatives. There’s a 1.0 litre turbo petrol engine, a 1.4 turbo petrol engine and finally a 1.6 litre turbo petrol. The 1.0 litre 3-cylnder engine is pretty urgent. However, it hasn’t got the best performance out of the line-up. If you’re looking for a bit more zing then you’re going to have to opt for the 1.4 litre engine. We’re certainly not talking about sparkling performance here but it’s pretty decent. You can be going along at 50 miles per hour (mph) stamp on the throttle and you’ll find yourself getting to 60 mph in good enough time. It’s also a quite quiet and refine engine too. With the 1.4 engine you can opt for a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The car we’re testing has the 7-speed dual-clutch and we have to say that it’s not all that crisp and the changes aren’t as fast as you get with VW DSG. However, at low speeds the Ceed’s gearbox feels a little bit less hesitant than it does in the VW. One thing that we did find a little bit odd is that there are no paddles behind the steering wheel so you can’t take manual control from the steering wheel. The 6-speed manual is quite a good gearbox and there’s a nice change action to it. In fact it’s so good that we would suggest the manual over the automatic.
Handling-wise, we have to say that the Kia Ceed is pretty darn good. Ok, it’s not as sharp or as crisp as a Ford Focus or a SEAT Leon and it’s not quite as good as a VW Golf either. However, we’d say the Ceed is a lot better than the Vauxhall Astra and Hyundai i30. You get a really good driving position in the Ceed as you feel nice and low. Due to the fact there’s plenty of adjustment in the steering wheel it means that this is a very comfortable car to drive. The steering is accurate enough and although it doesn’t give you the last word in driver involvement it’s to be expected in this day of power assisted steering. The Ford Focus has a slightly crisper feeling whereas the Ceed gives you a slight rubberyness to the way the car turns at low speeds. Saying this, once you are up to higher speeds then you get a nice weighting to it and genuinely feels absolutely fine. With regards to the ride you’re really going to have to opt for the 2 model if you want a really nice, comfortable and quiet drive. This is because the First Edition model and with the 3 you get larger 17-inch wheels. Ok, the wheels don’t thump into potholes but you can really feel the difference in size and the larger alloys also kick up more road noise.
Overall, the Kia Ceed is pretty impressive. It’s both well-built and spacious and quietly gets on with the job you needs it to. Ok, a few rival cars are a bit better to drive but there’s no doubting that this Kia is great value for money. Factor in the 7-year warranty and this car really is a class act. If this is a car that might suit your needs then head on down to the DesperateSeller.co.uk website where we have plenty of used Kia Ceed cars for sale at your fingertips!
