Kia cee’d 2 1.6 CRDi 6-speed manual ISG business car test review
Car review: Sue Baker
What is it?
Step past the stupid punctuation and the latest cee’d is the new standard-bearer for South Korean automotive ambition.
Kia’s new-generation cee’d is now a much more convincing Focus and Golf-chaser than its predecessor. All-round better, it moves much closer to the top of the class than the original cee’d launched back in 2006.
This second-generation Kia cee’d has acquired a wedgier shape and a significant upgrade in quality and driveability.
The cee’d’s cabin has shifted forward for a more rakish roofline and sportier stance. There are two petrol engines, two turbodiesels and two six-speed transmissions, including Kia’s first twin-clutch automated manual in the new cee’d line up.
Prices for the range start from £14,395 for a 1.4 litre manual and rise to a rather lofty £23,795 for a top-spec 1.6 CRDi with the new ISG manual transmission.
What’s hot?
- Longer, narrower and lower than its predecessor, the cee’d is now more wedge-shaped for a sportier and more upmarket look
- Better aerodynamics with a drag coefficient of 0.30 Cd, honed in 100 hours of wind tunnel work
- Much improved driving dynamics, close up there with the class leaders
- Range of models from 1.4 petrol with manual transmission to 1.6 turbodiesel with a dual-clutch automated manual box
- Six versions in the range with 13 per cent company car tax BIK, four on 15 per cent
- Lowest CO2 figure in the range is an impressive 97 g/km, in the 1.6 CRDi ‘1’ version with the automated manual transmission. It has standard stop-start, a 122 mph top speed and 11.5 seconds 0-62 acceleration time
- Combined fuel economy figures range from 46.3 to 76.3 mpg
- New state-of-the-art direct injection petrol engine
- Power outputs from 89 to 133 bhp, torque from 137 to 260 Nm
- Five trim grades: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 4 Tech
- Across-the-range standard kit includes two-way steering wheel adjustment, height adjustable driving seat, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors
- That long Kia warranty – seven years or 100,000 miles
- Range topping cee’d 4 Tech has a panoramic sunroof, 10-way adjustable driving seat with memory, parallel park assist, parking sensors, lane departure warning and Xenon adaptive front lighting
- Designed and built in Europe
- Styling directed by design chief Peter Schreyer, who also has Audi and Volkswagen on his CV
What’s not?
- The silly name with a lower case initial and a comma
- Kia pricing is climbing along with the quality ascent of its products
- The styling may be a bit too much of a wedge for some tastes
- The CRDi engine needs to be quieter
- Only available as a five-door hatchback for now