Sowing the cee’ds of change

Kia’s effort in the family hatchback sector is worthy of consideration by most buyers.

The cee’d has been improved in a number of key areas in its latest facelifted guise and a package that was almost there before is that bit closer to the class leaders. Sharper looks, enhanced dynamics and better economy are not to be sniffed at.

Conspicuously lacking the higher performance options offered by its rivals, the cee’d concentrates on keeping costs manageable with a choice of 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol engines along with a 1.6-litre CRDi diesel.

The petrol units are badged CVVT, which stands for Continuously-Variable Valve Timing and means that they can adapt their combustion cycles to optimise performance or economy as required.

The 1.4-litre unit manages 89bhp and a 11.2s 0-60mph time, while the 1.6 has 124bhp getting it to 60mph in 10.4s. The diesel is the best cee’d engine with its common-rail injection system and is available in 89bhp or 113bhp guises. The higher powered model benefits from a variable geometry turbocharger and can cover the 0-60mph increment in 11.1s.

Today’s cee’d is a bolder proposition visually thanks to a facelifted front end featuring Kia’s wide chrome-ringed grille and sharp creases running down the bonnet to the angular light clusters. The tail end has LED lights and a subtle tweaked bumper design. The car still plays it safe in terms of its overall look but the extra character will not go amiss in marking it out from the crowd.

Although it was indisputably a massive step in the right direction for Kia, the original cee’d interior still lagged a little way behind the family hatch sector’s finest. The latest cars attempt to address this and while you’ll never mistakenly think you’ve climbed aboard a Volkswagen Golf, most of the materials and detailing work to pleasingly upmarket effect.

There’s plenty of space inside the cee’d with ample accommodation for four adults (the fifth might be a little squashed) and a monster of a boot.

There’s capacity to carry 340 litres in the rear and up to 1,300 litres with both sections of the 60:40 split rear bench folded down.

No need for a crash course in Kia trim level nomenclature.

The manufacturer has thoughtfully kept things simple by presenting buyers with a choice of cee’d 1, cee’d 2 and cee’d 3 models. Aside from that, there’s the cee’d 2 EcoDynamics, which incorporates a variety of features designed to improve efficiency.

The cee’d comes as a five-door hatchback or an SW estate. If you want a sporty three-door, there’s the even more elaborately punctuated pro_cee’d. Crucially, and as any Kia dealer will be at pains to remind you, all cee’ds come with Kia’s excellent seven-year/100,000-mile warranty.

To find out more contact West Sussex Kia, London road, Washington, West Sussex, RH20 4AJ, on 01903 893535.