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