VW Golf, Ford Focus Watch Out
New Korean Small Family Car An Even Bigger Threat
**** out of 5
“raised build and interior quality to almost premium levels, and retained the same industry-leading guarantees”
For – handsome, high quality, drives well, unbeatable guarantee
Against – name still doesn’t resonate in residual values
The Koreans built their bridgehead in Europe with value for money, visually-challenged cars with rock solid guarantees.
Now they are moving inland with all the old basic attributes but they have improved the looks, raised build and interior quality to almost premium levels, and retained the same industry-leading guarantees.
The first Cee’d didn’t trouble the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus too much, its main competitors in the small family car sector, but the second generation version may prove a much bigger threat.
This new one looks the business, has all the comfort, safety, and packaging features of its main competitors, and is designed and built in Europe. Prices start at £14,395 for the Cee’d 1 1.4 99 bhp with six-speed manual gearbox and tops out at £23,795 for the 4 Tech 1.6 litre 133 bhp direct injection petrol engine version and automatic gearbox. Interior quality is the most noticeable improvement, with a beautiful dashboard and upmarket materials everywhere.
Now that the Cee’d is undoubtedly at least the equal of the competition, doubters might well be easily pushed into making a deal when they consider Kia’s seven-year, 100,000-mile transferable warranty – a feature now standard on every model in the range. Kia says the Cee’d is one of only a handful of compact hatchbacks to have independent rear suspension, with advantages for ride and handling – both of which have been honed even further for the new car.
Kia says it has left no stone unturned in its quest to win over Europeans.
“Every detail of the previous model came under scrutiny. If something needed to be changed, it was. One seemingly insignificant detail is the fuel-filler flap. In the Far East and America buyers like a separate release lever inside the car, while Europeans prefer it to be linked to the central locking system so that it can be opened with just a push – so that’s what you will find in the new Cee’d,” says Kia.
Good thing Kia mentioned that because few motoring journalists will every likely to actually get involved in that process as they cruise the streets on manufacturers’ fuel.
Usual fuel brag
Kia makes the familiar brag about fuel economy made by European manufacturers, claiming average fuel consumption reductions of four per cent and adding the annoying and tautologous claims about CO2 as though that is something different. Four engines are available – 1.4 litre 89 bhp and 1.6-litre 126 bhp diesel, and a 1.4 99 bhp and 1.6 litre 136 bhp petrol.
The more powerful 1.6-litre petrol engine is available with the new double-clutch gearbox automatic gearbox. All 1.6-litre manual versions of the Cee’d are equipped with Stop-Go. The engine shuts down when the car comes to rest and the driver puts the gearlever into neutral and releases the clutch. The engine restarts as soon as the clutch is pressed.
The 1.6-litre diesel with Stop-Go has a potential fuel economy of more than 76mpg, says Kia. “Potential” means if you take the engine out, run it on a test bed with a simulated journey excluding hills, cold or hot weather, and eschew any overtaking. And make sure there are no fat people on board. Otherwise, take about one third of the claim off, and you will have a very impressive level of fuel efficiency.
While only a little longer than the previous model, the new Cee’d has different proportions which give it a sportier stance and a more upmarket appearance. There are LED daytime running lights on the majority of models. Very fancy. It is narrower and lower, and sits closer to the ground, while the cabin has been shifted forward to allow a more rakish roofline without impinging on the original car’s passenger or luggage space. Boot capacity is up by 40 litres to 380 litres.
Emergency flash
The extensive standard and passive safety equipment of the previous Cee’d – including Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) and six airbags – has been supplemented by Emergency Stop Signalling (ESS) which makes the rear brake lamps flash in an emergency stop to alert following drivers. Depending on model, you can add a colour reversing camera, a Parallel Parking Assist System which automatically steers the car into kerbside spaces, and a Lane Departure Warning System.
An electronic parking brake, a heated steering wheel, automatic lights and wipers, larger vents to deliver more air to the rear footwells, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, 10-way adjustable driver’s memory seat and electric lumbar support are all features new to the Cee’d range. Very upmarket.
The new Cee’d is available in four trim grades – ‘1’, ‘2’, ‘3’ and ‘4’, with the option of a ‘4 Tech’ version of Cee’d ‘4’. Standard equipment includes electrically adjustable heated door mirrors, air conditioning, front electric windows, daytime running lights, remote central locking, a cooled glove box, an iPod-compatible audio system with radio and CD player, USB port and Bluetooth connectivity, Hill-start Assist Control, six airbags and speed-sensitive auto door locking.
Panoramic sunroof
Cee’d ‘2’ adds bigger wheels, LED daytime running lights, electrically folding and heated door mirrors, all-round electric windows, cruise control with speed limiter, and reversing sensors.
Cee’d ‘3’ has privacy glass, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone automatic air conditioning and satellite navigation.
Cee’d ‘4’ has even bigger wheels, black leather front seats, a heated steering wheel and electronic parking brake, an engine stop/start button with smart entry system, while the Cee’d ‘4 Tech’ has a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable driver’s seat , parallel parking, lane departure warning System and Xenon adaptive lighting system. The ‘4 Tech’ with six-speed auto box tops the range at £23,795.
It’s always nice to be able to throw in a few negative factors to try and balance out the claims of the manufacturer but I’m hard pressed in this case. Perhaps the only major drawback is the lack of power in the brand name, which promises weaker second hand values than say VW and Ford. But that isn’t likely to last when potential punters take a look at the car and the masses of standard equipment, clock the quality, and see the extensive and transferable guarantee.
(Kia provided flights/hotels)
Neil Winton – June 1, 2012
| Kia Cee’d 2 1.6 CRDi |
|
|---|---|
| Engine: | 1.6 litre four-cylinder diesel |
| Power: | 126 bhp @ 4,000 rpm |
| Torque: | 260 Nm @ 1,900-2,750 |
| Gearbox: | six speed manual |
| Drive: | front wheels |
| Acceleration: | 0-60 mph-100 km/h 11.5 seconds |
| Top Speed: | 122 mph/196 km/h |
| Fuel Consumption: | claimed combined – 76.3 mpg-3.7 l/km |
| CO2: | 97 g/km |
| Emissions class: | Euro V |
| Length: | 4,310 mm |
| Width: | 1,780 |
| Height: | 1,470 |
| Weight: | 1,375 kg |
| Wheel-base: | 2,650 |
| Suspension: | MacPherson/multi-link |
| Warranty: | 7-years, 100,000 miles transferable |
| Boot capacity: | 380/1,319 litres |
| Competition: | VW Golf, Hyundai i30, Kia C’eed, Mazda3, Audi A3, BMW 1 Series, Vauxhall/Opel Astra, Proton GEN-2, Peugeot 308, Renault Megane, Toyota Auris, Honda Civic, Nissan Note, Nissan Qashqai, Citroen C4, Fiat Brava, Skoda Octavia, Mitsubishi Lancer, SEAT Leon, Ford Focus, Mercedes A class. |
| Would I buy one? | Needs one more star |
| Rating: | **** |
| Price: | £18,295 |
| For: | handsome, high quality, drives well, unbeatable guarantee |
| Against: | name still doesn’t resonate in residual values |
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