New Kia cee´d SW review

The Kia cee’d hatchback has been on my own personal list of Cars of the Year, ever since it was launched.

The size, packaging, quality, specification, driveability, warranty and finally price made it the certain winner of my ‘value for money’ Car of the Year. The launch of the SW, and now with reduced diesel engine prices for the remainder of this year, further strengthens it claim.

Whilst I have concerns of Kia’s latest move to tactically reduce prices for the SW diesel models just a month after launch, I see their argument about competing for sales in a market driven by discounting. But does it do the Kia brand name any good in the longer term?

For now the customers are the winners so retail or business users wanting a new medium sized estate would be silly not to get themselves to a Kia dealer, to consider at least, snapping up a diesel engined SW whilst the launch promotion is still running.

So what is the Kia cee’d SW all about?

Well apart from borrowing the SW name from Peugeot who brand their estates as SWs, as well as mirroring the Peugeot SW rear end styling with twin triangle shaped side windows for the load area, the newcomer has the same 2,650mm wheelbase as the cee’d five-door hatchback. However the body has been stretched 235mm behind the rear axle line for more load space, and it is 10mm taller.

The smart rear end styling includes an integrated tailgate where the top hinges are moved forwards extending the tailgate into the roofline.

This means the upswing and outswing of the tailgate are both reduced so owners can stand closer to the rear of the car when using the tailgate and it can opened in restricted parking spaces or garages.

Interior

The cee’d hatchback is one of the roomiest cars in its sector so it follows the new SW is very competitive in this area as well. Capacity up to the rear window line is 534 litres with the 60-40 spilt rear seats in place, 200 litres more than the cee’d hatchback. There is 55 litres of extra space in trays beneath the load areas floor. With the rear seats folded there is 1,664 litres of load space, 300-litres more than the hatchback.

It is all very clever and beautifully executed, nicely styled, good quality fixtures and fittings, it really works very well and sets the standard for medium sized estate cars.

The neat under floor trays, the side storage boxes in the load area, luggage net and a load area12 volt power socket are typical of the attention to detail the Kia designers now give to their new European vehicles.

Another point to show Kia is learning, and in response to customer requests, is the move of the indicator stalk to the traditional left hand side of the steering column for the cee’d SW. All other models will follow this change in due course. The cee´d SW is offered with only the two upper trim levels, GS and LS – in line with market demands. Both trim levels with SW are equipped with all the features found on the equivalent hatchback, plus a number of supplementary items in the load area.

The standard specification includes air conditioning with cooled glovebox, 16-inch alloy wheels, a fully-integrated RDS radio-CD player that is compatible with MP3 players or iPods, rake and reach steering adjustment and a driver´s seat that has height adjustment, active headrests on both front seats, front electric windows, remote central locking with deadlocks and alarm.

Also standard are six airbags, headlamp levellers, automatic door locking once the car is on the move, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, tinted glass, a trip computer, pre-temperature control on diesel models, an all seat seat-belt reminder, body-coloured electric and heated door mirrors, leather trim on the steering wheel, gearlever and handbrake grip.

LS versions also have climate control, rear electric windows, reversing sensors, cloth and leather seta trim, front fog lamps, body- coloured door handles, silver-trimmed centre fascia, seatback pockets, illuminated vanity mirrors, a front map lamp and sunglasses holder, illuminated ignition key barrel and cruise control for diesel models.

The only important item missing as standard is an Electronic Stability Programme. It is available as a £350 option but only on LS models.

Exterior

The 1.6-litre CRDi engines are designed, engineered and manufactured in Europe whilst the 1.6-litre petrol unit comes from Korea. In truth the 113bhp turbodiesel unit, especially at the new promotional price, is the one to go for – most customers will.

It is strong, quiet, responsive and returns an official 57.6mpg with only 128g/km CO2 emissions putting it in VED Group C with a road tax cost of £115. My test car returned 46.1mpg, still very good.

With 255Nm of torque from 1,900rpm the engine is ‘gutsy’ and responsive. It would be even better for motorway travelling with a six-speed gearbox which would lower engine noise and improve fuel economy.

The rack and pinion power steering is sharp and accurate and gives good feedback to the driver. The all-round independent suspension provides a flat and level ride. It is very comfortable, slightly firm on poorer surfaces and road noise intrusion is minimal except for concrete road sections.

All in all the Kia cee’d SW is an exceptional value for money vehicle, smartly styled, apart from the front grille, with loads of carrying room for passengers, or loads, or both. It has to be praised in almost every area and a vehicle I recommend when practicality at a price is required.

MILESTONES

Kia cee’d SW 1.6-litre CRDi LS

Price: £14,995 (Reduced until year’s end to £13,995)

Engine/transmission: 1.6-litre, CRDi, four-cylinder, turbodiesel, 113bhp, 255Nm from 1,900rpm, five speed manual

Performance: 116mph, 0-62mph 11.7 seconds, 57.6mpg (46.1mpg actual), CO2 128g/km, VED Band C £115,

Benefit in Kind tax 18%

Insurance group: tbc

Braked towing weight: 1,400kg

For: Value for money, practicality, high specification, long warranty, styling, build quality

Against: No Electronic Stability Programme as standard, no 6-speed manual transmission

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