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