| Could estates be making a comeback? MPVs | | | | Doors shut with a convincing thud and |
| and SUVs have been taking a big chunk | | | | the soft-feel upper dash and doors are |
| out of that market in recent years. But | | | | tactile. |
| companies like Kia think that trend may | | | | Comfortable seats have big, wide |
| be in reverse gear. | | | | cushions and are handily height |
| They point out that the lifestyle and | | | | adjustable, with a rotating wheel for |
| leisure vehicles are becoming expensive | | | | accurate rake control. |
| to buy and run and have styling and | | | | The dashboard is very low level and |
| design compromises. | | | | simply sorted for easy identification on |
| So Kia have plenty of confidence in | | | | the move but the bonnet slopes away so |
| their new cee'd SW - their first ever | | | | sharply that none of it can be seen when |
| estate car. Not only is it a practical | | | | manoeuvring. |
| and stylish newcomer, it also comes with | | | | The speedo, flagged up at 20/40/60 |
| an industry-best seven-year or | | | | marks, misses the important 30mph and |
| 100,000-mile warranty - an unrivalled | | | | 70mph numbers but main displays are |
| expression of faith in the cars coming | | | | clear and readable on the move, despite |
| out of Zilina in Slovakia. | | | | their quirky cut-off needles. |
| The cee'd SW (I can never remember how | | | | The 1.6 petrol model I tested does need |
| to write it, although I've learned to | | | | a heavy right foot to pull the best out |
| say it) has the same wheelbase as the | | | | of it but it does eventually respond |
| highly-acclaimed five-door hatchback, | | | | well with plenty of clout, even if it's |
| and an identical front end. Even the | | | | a bit boomy at the top end. |
| rear doors are the same. But the body | | | | A positive five-speed gearbox is solid |
| has been stretched by 235mm and the SW | | | | and has an predictable, easy change, but |
| is 10mm taller and has smart roof rails | | | | a clonky action. |
| to set it apart. | | | | Handling is predictable but unremarkable |
| Kia have done a clever thing by | | | | and this isn't the sort of car for a |
| extending the tailgate into the rear | | | | thrash around the lanes or to take out |
| roofline, so that owners can stand | | | | just for the hell of it. |
| closer to the car when sorting luggage - | | | | Steering, in particular, is a little |
| the big cutaway area also gives | | | | woolly and uninvolving. |
| excellent access for loading and | | | | But the SW's sheer usefulness and solid |
| unloading. | | | | value will win it many friends as |
| The load floor is also dead flat and at | | | | estates make a fresh attack on the |
| bumper level, so that luggage can simply | | | | leisure market. |
| be slid on or off and rear seats fully | | | | Factfile: |
| rumble to create a truly horizontal | | | | * Kia cee'd SW, prices from |
| platform. | | | | £12,995-£14,995. |
| Kia blot their copybook slightly by | | | | * Made in state-of-the-art factory at |
| providing a rather naff pull-down boot | | | | Zilina in Slovakia alongside acclaimed |
| strap - not terribly high-tech but | | | | five-door hatchback cee'd. |
| practical, I suppose. | | | | * Best-in-industry seven year |
| The end product is that the SW model can | | | | 100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. |
| hold almost 300 litres more than its | | | | * Body stretched by 235mm compared with |
| stablemate hatchback. | | | | hatchback and 10mm taller, excluding |
| And let's not forget the 55 litres of | | | | roof rails. |
| space in trays beneath the boot floor - | | | | * Luggage capacity of 1,664 litres with |
| a handy touch. | | | | seats folded flat. |
| Kia also point out that the SW version | | | | * Three 1.6-litre engines; one petrol |
| is only £700 more than the equivalent | | | | and two turbodiesel. |
| hatchback whereas rivals such as Ford | | | | * Five-speed gearboxes as standard but |
| Focus estate, Vauxhall Astra estate and | | | | four-speed automatic available with the |
| Renault Megane Sport Tourer are about | | | | petrol engine. |
| £970 more for the equivalent. | | | | * Estate model aimed predominantly as a |
| Apart from a dingy interior (old | | | | fleet car. |
| fashioned black and grey two-tone seat | | | | * Exceptionally stiff bodyshell, |
| fabric, black dash with grey underneath, | | | | aerodynamic shape. |
| dull grey roof and pillars), I liked the | | | | * Independent front and rear suspension |
| cee'd SW and found it a practical, solid | | | | benefits ride and handling. |
| and smart medium estate. | | | | |