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The Kia Ceed - Easy To Sell Hard To Spell

Could estates be making a comeback? MPVsDoors shut with a convincing thud and
and SUVs have been taking a big chunkthe soft-feel upper dash and doors are
out of that market in recent years. Buttactile.
companies like Kia think that trend mayComfortable seats have big, wide
be in reverse gear.cushions and are handily height
They point out that the lifestyle andadjustable, with a rotating wheel for
leisure vehicles are becoming expensiveaccurate rake control.
to buy and run and have styling andThe dashboard is very low level and
design compromises.simply sorted for easy identification on
So Kia have plenty of confidence inthe move but the bonnet slopes away so
their new cee'd SW - their first eversharply that none of it can be seen when
estate car. Not only is it a practicalmanoeuvring.
and stylish newcomer, it also comes withThe speedo, flagged up at 20/40/60
an industry-best seven-year ormarks, misses the important 30mph and
100,000-mile warranty - an unrivalled70mph numbers but main displays are
expression of faith in the cars comingclear and readable on the move, despite
out of Zilina in Slovakia.their quirky cut-off needles.
The cee'd SW (I can never remember howThe 1.6 petrol model I tested does need
to write it, although I've learned toa heavy right foot to pull the best out
say it) has the same wheelbase as theof 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 thea bit boomy at the top end.
rear doors are the same. But the bodyA positive five-speed gearbox is solid
has been stretched by 235mm and the SWand has an predictable, easy change, but
is 10mm taller and has smart roof railsa clonky action.
to set it apart.Handling is predictable but unremarkable
Kia have done a clever thing byand this isn't the sort of car for a
extending the tailgate into the rearthrash around the lanes or to take out
roofline, so that owners can standjust for the hell of it.
closer to the car when sorting luggage -Steering, in particular, is a little
the big cutaway area also giveswoolly and uninvolving.
excellent access for loading andBut the SW's sheer usefulness and solid
unloading.value will win it many friends as
The load floor is also dead flat and atestates make a fresh attack on the
bumper level, so that luggage can simplyleisure market.
be slid on or off and rear seats fullyFactfile:
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 bootZilina in Slovakia alongside acclaimed
strap - not terribly high-tech butfive-door hatchback cee'd.
practical, I suppose.* Best-in-industry seven year
The end product is that the SW model can100,000-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 ofroof 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 equivalentand two turbodiesel.
hatchback whereas rivals such as Ford* Five-speed gearboxes as standard but
Focus estate, Vauxhall Astra estate andfour-speed automatic available with the
Renault Megane Sport Tourer are aboutpetrol engine.
£970 more for the equivalent.* Estate model aimed predominantly as a
Apart from a dingy interior (oldfleet 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, solidbenefits ride and handling.
and smart medium estate.



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