Kia Ceed (2012-2018) Review
Written by Andrew Brady
Quick overview
Pros
- Commendable reliability, with support from a seven-year warranty
- Efficient range of engine choices to suit all needs
- Generous level of equipment means value for money
Cons
- Other rivals offer more excitement for drivers
- Badge lacks premium edge for some buyers
- Certain engines become rowdy when worked hard
Overall verdict on the Kia Ceed
"In this Kia Ceed review we are looking at yet another contender in the crowded compact hatchback segment. This second generation Kia Ceed improved on its predecessor, adding a more distinctive design and better quality to what was already a practical, good value and reliable car."
The family hatchback arena is an intensely competitive one, with car companies having to work hard to stand out from the crowd. Kia had established a reputation for its reliable, if not particularly exciting, range of cars. But the Kia Ceed, first launched in 2012, helped alter that image.
The slick styling of the five-door Kia Ceed was designed with European customers in mind. The car also introduced new technology and a host of efficient engines. Kia retained its famous seven-year warranty as part of the package, too.
It meant those in the market for a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus had a practical yet stylish alternative from the Korean manufacturer. It can do all the things the more familiar choices offer, but has the added bonus of that lengthy warranty. For those who depend on their car every single day, that can be very reassuring. And the warranty carries over from one owner to the next, so many second-hand Kia Ceeds of this generation are still covered.
Compared with other hatchbacks, the Kia Ceed majors on interior space. Its 380 litres of boot space is on par with the Volkswagen Golf, and the Kia offers more room than the German car with the rear seats folded down. Space for passengers is more than sufficient, with decent legroom in the rear meaning both adults and children will feel comfortable.
Being a family-orientated hatchback means the Kia Ceed is comfortable and refined, rather than overtly sporty. This helps maintain the feeling of stability that defines the Kia Ceed driving experience, although certain models do inject a small dose of fun. The Kia Ceed GT adds more performance for those seeking a hotter hatch.
Rather than carving up country roads, most Kia Ceed owners will be interested in the daily commute or school run. Here the Kia Ceed just works, slotting into spaces and navigating tight gaps with the ease. Its stylish ‘Tiger Nose’ front grille may even earn you some admiring glances in the office car park or outside the school gates.
Being designed and engineered for Europe means this second-generation Kia Ceed comes with a range of engines suited to our roads. These include 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol engines, along with a choice of similarly sized diesels. A 1.6 turbo petrol engine is used in the Kia Ceed GT.
An update for 2015 added the option of a three-cylinder 1.0 petrol engine, available in two different power levels. This facelift also saw the introduction of a seven-speed DCT automatic gearbox for some models, joining the existing six-speed options.
Offered with a range of trim levels, even the cheapest Kia Ceed 1 model comes with air conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity, six airbags and electric front windows. Moving up the various grades adds tech such as satellite navigation and parking sensors.
With a combination of affordability, space, and generous levels of equipment, the Kia Ceed makes a strong pitch for family transport. Throw in the handsome looks, stylish interior and benefit of a seven-year warranty, and it becomes a tempting alternative to the default options.
If you're looking for the newer version, you need our Kia Ceed (2022) review.
Is the Kia Ceed right for you?
Not everybody wants to follow the same route when it comes to motoring choices. The Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astra may be familiar faces, but the Kia Ceed is a valid alternative.
Being keenly priced, and with the backup of that seven-year warranty, the Kia Ceed makes a case for itself among those who want their budget to stretch as far as possible. A choice of frugal engines, generous equipment levels and an overall air of dependability are the core strengths of the Kia Ceed.
Distinctive looks and a well-made cabin add to the car’s appeal. The practical interior of the Kia Ceed is also a major bonus, making it a prime choice for young families.
What’s the best Kia Ceed model/engine to choose?
For everyday motoring, it’s hard to ignore the three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine introduced as part of the 2015 update. Offered in a choice of two outputs (100PS and 120PS), it blends useful performance with decent fuel economy. Both versions can achieve more than 58 mpg.
A diesel engine might suit those who regularly make longer journeys. Here, the 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine is the best choice. It can achieve up to 72mpg, and is also available with the six-speed DCT auto gearbox.
We would skip the entry level 1 specification, and jump straight to 2 trim instead. Standard equipment here includes alloy wheels, parking sensors, cruise control and front fog lights. If you can stretch the budget further, 3 trim adds satellite navigation.
What other cars are similar to the Kia Ceed?
Many buyers will be familiar with the Volkswagen Golf, affordable Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra. All of them are well-established choices in the family hatchback segment.
The Toyota Corolla, enjoyable to drive Honda Civic and Peugeot 308 are other popular options.
The Kia Ceed shares a platform with the Hyundai i30, and offers a similar choice of engines. What helps the Kia Ceed stand apart is its impressive standard warranty. Offered for seven years or 100,000 miles, the cover is comprehensive and – as mentioned above – can be transferred to future owners.
Comfort and design: Kia Ceed interior
"Kia made notable steps forward for the second-generation Kia Ceed, increasing the size of the car’s interior. In particular, legroom and headroom for those in the front was enhanced, while those in the rear benefitted from the long wheelbase."
Kia made notable steps forward for the second-generation Kia Ceed, increasing the size of the car’s interior. In particular, legroom and headroom for those in the front was enhanced, while those in the rear benefitted from the long wheelbase.
The standard seats in the Kia Ceed offer decent comfort, meaning hours behind the wheel shouldn’t result in aches and pains. Lateral support from the front seats can be limited when cornering though, and only models from Kia Ceed 3 specification upwards gain electric lumbar adjustment.
However, the steering wheel does adjust for both reach and rake on all versions. The driver’s seat also adjusts for height, meaning most should be able to get comfortable behind the wheel. Those in the rear are also well catered for, with the Kia Ceed providing genuine space for up to three adults.
The dashboard in the Kia Ceed is practical and attractive to look at. A slight tilt towards the driver means it is easier to adjust settings while on the move. The controls for the standard air conditioning are mounted slightly lower down, but not enough to cause a problem should they need adjusting.
Controls for the multimedia system can be found on the steering wheel, allowing drivers to access many functions with both hands on the wheel.
Quality and finish
The second-generation Kia Ceed was intended to bring new customers to the brand, and it feels genuinely well made.
Quality materials have been used throughout the interior. Everything has a reassuring solidness, helping the impression that the Kia Ceed is with you for the long haul. The soft-touch plastics remind us of a Volkswagen Golf, making it clear which customers Kia is trying to attract.
All cars above the entry-level 1 grade have a leather-wrapped steering wheel, along with leather coverings for the handbrake and gear knob. It means the most frequent touchpoints in the Kia Ceed’s cabin have a quality feel. Choosing a high-level Kia Ceed 4 adds leather seats to the mix, with three-stage heating for cold mornings.
Higher-grade versions of the Kia Ceed benefit from quality upgrades on the outside, too. Privacy glass is a feature on all cars upwards from 2 specification upwards, including the special edition SR7 version. Top models also benefit from high-gloss black trim for the dashboard and centre console, which looks smart.
Infotainment: Touchscreen, USB, nav and stereo in the Kia Ceed
All Kia Ceeds have an LCD screen mounted high on the dashboard. Lower models use a 4.3-inch unit, used to display radio and multimedia settings.
Bluetooth connectivity for mobile phones is a standard feature from 2012 onwards. This includes voice recognition and the ability to stream music. The multimedia system includes a radio, combined with a single CD player with MP3 capabilities. USB and aux ports are also there to connect other devices.
Move to 3 grade or above and the Kia Ceed comes fitted with a 7.0-inch touchscreen. This controls the same multimedia features as before, but brings standard satellite navigation to the party. The mapping data is provided by TomTom and covers UK and European destinations. Models fitted with the reversing camera also make use of this screen for the rear-view display.
It is worth noting that earlier Kia Ceed GT models did not come with the 7.0-inch touchscreen as standard. Instead, customers would need to upgrade to the GT Tech model, although the mid-life facelift saw it fitted to all GTs.
High-spec versions also feature a colour screen between the dashboard dials. This can display the Kia Ceed’s speed, along with multiple other settings and information.
Space and practicality: Kia Ceed boot space
Interior space for passengers and their luggage was high on the list of priorities when the Kia Ceed was being designed. It meant a focus on maximising room, and making sure all would be comfortable inside.
Between the front-seat passengers is an armrest, whilst high-end 4 models gain a ‘premium centre console’ with a sliding cover for the cupholders. These cars also offer ventilation for those in the rear.
The rear bench will accommodate three adults, but on longer trips the Kia Ceed is better suited to being a four-seater. All the doors featured decent-sized storage bins, allowing plenty of space for bottles and other items. Cars above 2 specification have a folding armrest for rear-seat passengers. Standard on the Kia Ceed are ISOFIX child car seat anchors for the rear bench. These are supplemented by top tether fitments.
With the rear seats in place, a total of 380 litres of luggage fits in the boot. This marked an increase of 40 litres compared to the original Kia Ceed, and puts the car in contention with the Volkswagen Golf. The back seats split 60/40 and fold forward. With the seats down, the Kia Ceed can swallow an impressive 1,318 litres of whatever you need to carry. This puts it some 200 litres ahead of the comparable Ford Focus.
Those in need of even greater luggage space can investigate the Kia Ceed SW estate, which ups the storage potential to 1,642 litres with the rear seats folded down. Models above 2 trim also benefit from a luggage net, storage hooks and a cubby box in the boot. Beneath the boot floor is a space-saver spare wheel.
Handling and ride quality: What is the Kia Ceed like to drive?
"Intended as reliable family transport, the Kia Ceed is focused on delivering comfort and stability. For most models, the driving experience is one of general calmness and compliance. "
Intended as reliable family transport, the Kia Ceed is focused on delivering comfort and stability. For most models, the driving experience is one of general calmness and compliance. All models grip the road well, giving confidence to the driver. The steering itself is light to the touch, without a great deal of feedback.
Models in 2 specification and above have Kia’s Flex Steer system. This allows the driver to switch between Comfort, Normal and Sport modes for the steering. Sport mode does add additional weight, but the keenest drivers will still be happier behind the wheel of a Ford Focus.
The Kia Ceed GT hot hatch is another matter, with much better weight to the steering from the get-go. Kia also tuned the suspension of the GT separately to other models, resulting in much sportier handling, while still preserving a decent level of ride comfort.
Other models in the Kia Ceed range also offer a respectable ride on smaller wheels, but those with the larger 17-inch rims and above are less pliant on rough surfaces. It never makes the Kia Ceed uncomfortable, but look out for cars with 16-inch wheels if you want to maximise comfort.
Around town, the Kia Ceed is more than sprightly enough to fit through small gaps, aided by impressive all-round visibility. Parking sensors do help squeezing into the tiniest spaces, and make the reversing camera almost superfluous. Out on the motorway, the Kia Ceed is more than capable of holding its own. The relatively long wheelbase helps it feel stable at speed, whilst the improved aerodynamics over its predecessor will also be a bonus.
What engines and gearboxes are available in the Kia Ceed?
Kia launched the Kia Ceed to the UK market in 2012 with a choice of two petrol and two diesel engines. Petrol choices were the 1.4-litre GDi four-cylinder with 98PS, along with the 1.6-litre GDi four-cylinder unit producing 133PS. The 1.4-litre petrol is relatively underpowered for the size of the Ceed, and makes for rather slow but steady progress. Opting for the 1.6 ups the ante a little, and is likely to be preferred by those who drive outside urban areas.
The 1.4-litre petrol was initially only offered with a six-speed manual gearbox. By contrast, the 1.6 petrol could be had with a six-speed manual or six-speed DCT dual-clutch auto gearbox.
Early diesel engines were limited to the 1.4-litre CRDi four-cylinder with 89PS, and a 1.6-litre CRDi four-cylinder with an output of 126PS. Again, the smaller engine is notably relaxed in terms of performance, with the larger 1.6 the overall better choice. A traditional six-speed automatic ’box was offered for the 1.6 diesel only.
The 2015 facelift saw the introduction of the 1.0-litre T-GDI four-cylinder turbocharged engine to the range. This was offered with 100PS or a higher-power version with 120PS. With updates across the Kia Ceed range, 2015 saw the introduction of a new 110PS version of the 1.6-litre diesel. Kia also released a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, but solely for the high-output version of the 1.6 diesel, now with 133PS.
Separate to the main Kia Ceed range, the GT model was launched in 2014. This uses a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine making 204PS. Revisions would see the addition of a new turbocharger, making the GT accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.2 seconds.
Refinement and noise levels
Making the Kia Ceed refined was another priority for Kia, with a host of improvements made for this second-generation model. The company changed the way the front windscreen was installed to reduce wind noise, with thicker glass used for the other windows. Even the door seals themselves were redesigned to reduce noise from entering the cabin.
Overall these measures have worked, with the Kia Ceed generally able to keep road and tyre noise to an acceptable minimum. However, this means that wind noise becomes more noticeable, although hardly to a degree that would make regular use a pain.
Refinement from the engine range is also more than acceptable, although some of the petrol units can become uncouth when pushed hard. The 1.6-litre petrol suffers from this the most, sounding unrefined when taken to maximum revs. In addition, the 100PS version of the 1.0-litre turbo petrol can produce some vibrations in the cabin.
Notably, the Kia Ceed GT features a special ‘GT Mode’ that generates additional engine sound in the cabin. None of these factors is significant enough to be a deal-breaker when it comes to the Kia Ceed. If anything, they simply highlight how refined the rest of the car is.
Safety equipment: How safe is the Kia Ceed?
Kia said the second-generation Kia Ceed benefitted from a stiffer body shell that used 57 percent more high-tensile steel than the car it replaced. Extra strengthening was added throughout the car, too.
All of these clearly worked, with the Kia Ceed awarded the maximum of five stars by Euro NCAP in crash tests. Contributing to this performance is standard equipment that includes six airbags: front, side, and full-length curtain items. Other standard safety equipment for all Kia Ceeds includes electronic stability control and hill-start assist. The latter keeps the car held still when pulling away on slopes, avoiding the need to awkwardly balance the throttle and brake pedals.
Front fog lights are fitted to almost all Kia Ceed models, along with standard daytime running lights. Emergency stop signalling was included, flashing the hazard-warning lights if the driver needs to perform a sudden stop.
Rear parking sensors are standard equipment on all Kia Ceed models from 2 specification upwards, including the VR7/SR7 special editions. Kia Ceed 3 trim and beyond brings a reversing camera.
The range-topping Kia Ceed 4 Tech models go further with safety equipment, including xenon headlights, a parallel park assist system with front and rear parking sensors, plus an automatic lane departure warning system. Kia does also fit a space-saver spare wheel to the Kia Ceed hatchback.
MPG and fuel costs: How much does a Kia Ceed cost to run?
"Many buyers of the Kia Ceed will be looking to keep things on a tight budget, making fuel economy an important consideration when picking an engine and transmission."
Top of the charts for petrol fuel economy are the 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder units. Both versions can achieve combined fuel economy of 57.6 mpg, making them top choices for those who want to save on petrol costs.
By contrast, the Kia Ceed GT with its 1.6 turbocharged petrol engine achieves a low official combined rating of just 38mpg. Bigger is better when it comes to diesel engines. The 1.6-litre CRDi can achieve up to 74.3 mpg with a manual gearbox, aided by a standard start-stop system. It beats the smaller 1.4 diesel, which can achieve 67.3mpg.
How reliable is a Kia Ceed?
The Kia Ceed scored a respectable 9.22 out of 10 in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Survey, which remarkably is actually one of the lower scores achieved by the Kia range.
As a brand Kia did even better, placing fourth overall behind sister brand Hyundai, Lexus and Dacia. So as long as you make sure you get a good example, you should find that the Kia Ceed is a reliable companion.
Insurance groups and costs
Being a slightly larger family hatchback means a Kia Ceed may not be the default choice for young drivers. Yet there may be some whowish to get behind the wheel early in their motoring life.
To keep insurance costs down, the Kia Ceed with the lowest insurance group rating is the 1.4-litre diesel in VR7 trim. This comes with a group 6 rating, in part due to a lowly 89PS output.
Opting for the 1.4-litre petrol sees this increase slightly to group seven for Kia Ceeds with the lowest trim levels. Cars with the 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine start at group 10 insurance for the 98PS model.
VED Road Tax: What is the annual road tax on a Kia Ceed?
Due to the date of its introduction, the second-generation Kia Ceed falls across multiple different schemes for VED (road tax). The model with the lowest CO2 emissions of all is the 1.6-litre CRDi diesel, which emits just 94g/km in 134PS specification. This brings it into Band A on the pre-2017 rules for VED, making it eligible for free tax.
Other models span the range of up to Band E for the pre-2017 rules, although the Kia Ceed GT is an outlier in Band H. That would bring a VED charge of £265. For cars sold after 1st April 2017, all Kia Ceeds fall inside the bracket of paying £165 per year for car tax.
How much should you be paying for a used Kia Ceed?
"Relative popularity in the UK means dealership forecourts should have a reasonable supply and choice of used Kia Ceed models. Be prepared to shop around, and seek out the best model you can get for your money."
A budget of no more than £16,000 will be sufficient to grab the youngest cars, complete with low miles on the clock. These will typically be 1.0-litre petrol versions, with Kia Ceed 2 specification cars making up a large percentage of those on sale.
Higher-specifications like the Kia Ceed 4 or 4 Tech are harder to come by. You may need to be prepared to travel further afield. The performance-oriented Kia Ceed GT is also a rare car, with limited numbers on the market.
Trim levels and standard equipment
Given the relative price of second-generation Kia Ceeds now available, most buyers should look beyond 1 specification as a starting point. While standard equipment may include air conditioning and electric windows, the price of higher-grade cars makes it a false economy.
The Kia Ceed 2 offers the best value for money overall, and also the widest choice of engine options. Standard equipment includes cruise control, LED daytime running lights, leather interior details and rear parking sensors.
Stretching your budget to accomodate a Kia Ceed 3 depends on just how much you value the integrated satellite navigation, reversing camera and dual-zone climate control. We would, however, avoid paying more just to bag a Ceed 4 or 4 Tech.
Later Kia Ceed GT-Line cars can also provide good value, combining the looks of the sportier Kia Ceed GT with a choice of engines that are cheaper to run.
Ask the heycar experts: common questions
Is the Kia Ceed a reliable car?
What problems do Kia Ceeds have?
Is the Kia Ceed a family car?
Get our latest advice, news and offers
Keep me updated by email with the latest advice, news and offers from heycar.
By submitting you agree to our privacy policy
