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