Kia updated their Cee’d during the last quarter of 2015. The exterior received some very subtle changes and it would take the eagle eyed of you to choose the new from the old if they were both put in front of you. The front of the updated model has become slightly bulkier and wider, and some chrome trimmings now adorn parts of the vehicle. New engine choices also means that the 2016 cee’d is slightly more environmentally friendly.
The Cee’d has received two new engine choices. The first new engine is a three cylinder 1.0 litre T-GDI petrol which has been built by Kia themselves. This little engine offers a nice amount of poke and it competes well with Ford’s 1.0 litre EcoBoost range. The power output is 120 PS and it has a top speed of 185 km/h. It also offers maximum torque of 172Nm between 1,500 and 4,000rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. The other new engine is a 1.6 litre CRDi diesel. This is a complete upgrade of an old engine. A new high-pressure injection system and a continuously-controlled variable oil pump has been added to reduce friction loss within the engine. This engine is available with a new seven-speed dual clutch transmission and offers a top speed of 190 km/h. Also on offer to the Irish market is a 1.4 litre MPI petrol engine that offers 100 PS and a top speed of 183km/h. There is a slightly more powerful petrol offering 135 PS and a top speed of 195 km/h – this is also available with a six-speed automatic dual clutch transmission.
The suspension of the Cee’d is firm but it still soaks up bumps without too much effort. The ride is comfortable but sadly the sporty body is about as sporty as this machine gets. It looks great but it would be great if the drive was a little bit more exciting. To be honest the Cee’d ticks many of the right boxes when it comes to handling. It corners well and the grip is tight. It doesn’t suffer from body roll either.
Both the diesel and petrol models tend to make some noise while you’re trying to get to a comfortable cruising speed on the motorway. The petrol engine calms down once you get to a steady 100 km/h but the diesel maintains its grumblings. Road and wind noise is not terrible, but it’s still noticeable.
The interior of the Cee’d has seen a few minor improvements. The quality of the materials used has been improved but being honest they weren’t terrible to begin with. The interior of most Kia cars are made of good quality materials. Entry level models will not be jam packed with high end touch screens, etc., but the systems are very easy to use.
In 2012 Kia received a full five stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests. The Cee’d scored 89% for adult occupancy, 88% for child occupancy and 61% for pedestrian safety. Apart from a myriad of safety systems, the Cee’d also comes with 6 airbags as standard.
The Cee’d is available as a five-door, a three-door (Pro-Cee’d), or as a sportswagen. All offer plenty of room to the front. The rear in all models is ample for at least two adults. The boot space of the Cee’d is generous too, offering 380 litres which would be more than the Ford Focus.
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