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This improved version of Kia's third-generation Ceed has further sharpened its proposition in the Focus-class family hatchback segment, with smarter looks, extra technology and stronger standards of safety equipment. As before, value continues as a strong suit and there's an industry-leading warranty. Potentially then, there's a lot to like here.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00​​​​ Introduction
00:34 Background
03:52 Driving Experience
11:35 Design & Build
25:42 Market & Model Range
39:40 Cost of Ownership
44:17 Summary

Background

If you want to better appreciate just why Kia is one of the world's fastest growing automotive brands, you've only to look at this car, the Ceed family hatchback. The Slovakian factory that builds it only opened its doors in 2006 yet already, way over a million Ceed models have been built.

Automotive historians will look back at the original version of this car (then badged 'cee'd') as a landmark design, the first to take on the European and Japanese market leaders on their own terms in the volume Focus and Golf-dominated Family Hatchback sector. Built in the heart of Europe, it was targeted at the heart of the European motor industry, hence the unusual name, a combination of the French abbreviation for European Community (CE) and this car's project title (ED). It shamed the established players by matching their quality while massively undercutting their prices and offering an astonishingly long 7-year warranty. But times change - and so do market segments. So in 2018, Kia re-designed this MK3 'CD'-series model with a more athletic look and added more efficient engines and extra technology. Then enhanced the whole package three years on, creating the car we're going to look at here.

Driving Experience

A few things are new beneath the bonnet. For the petrol line-up, the previous 1.4 T-GDi unit is replaced by a cleaner 1.5 T-GDi engine offering a bit more power (158bhp) and paired to either 6-speed manual transmission or a '7DCT' dual-clutch auto. The 1.6-litre CRDi diesel got Kia's 48V mild hybrid tech towards the end of the pre-facelift MK3 model's production run and now Kia has paired this 134bhp unit with their latest 'iMT' manual transmission. This 'clutch-by-wire' system contributes to the MHEV system's enhanced fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions while retaining the driver engagement of a conventional manual gearbox. A '7DCT' auto is again optional. As before, most sales will be of the 1.0-litre T-GDi petrol three cylinder powerplant, with its manual gearbox and 118bhp output.

Not too much has changed dynamically, but not too much needed to, Kia having benchmarked the family hatch class leaders when this MK3 Ceed was first introduced back in 2018. As before, its fully-independent suspension system is much more sophisticated than the cruder torsion beam arrangement you get on cheaper Golf and Focus models and aims to provide drivers with more agile and immediate handling responses, complemented by carefully chosen spring and damper rates and quite a fast steering rack. The ride has been developed on Europe's wide variety of road surfaces, remaining comfortable while giving drivers the confidence of tighter body control under cornering and stability at higher speeds. Some of this tuning happened in the UK to ensure the Ceed performs well on our unique roads.

Design and Build
As before, there's a choice of five-door hatchback, Sportswagon estate and ProCeed shooting brake body styles. Facelifts are usually about a bit of a nip and tuck, but this one sees a completely redesigned front end, with smarter headlamps flanking a 'tiger nose' front grille upgraded to a black gloss finish with satin chrome highlights. Even more overt are the two large side air intakes shooting through the front bumper, creating a sportier look. At the rear, the surface between the LED combi lamps has been smoothed out to accommodate the company's latest brand emblem. And a glossy black diffuser has been added to the sportier rear bumper.

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