| Kia has well and truly planted its cee'd in the UK car | | | | glovebox; and USB port, AUX input and MP3 capability |
| market. | | | | on all but entry-level models because they know we all |
| And while it has a number of things going for it, the | | | | like using our iPods. |
| most talked about is its warranty package. You'll | | | | Our test car, the 1.6 diesel-powered offering, combined |
| probably get fed up with the car long before that runs | | | | decent performance with good economy over our |
| out... | | | | time behind the wheel, and the clutch and five-speed |
| Although that might be a bit unfair, because the new | | | | gearbox have a synchronicity that others will be |
| Kia is such a good all round package that you could | | | | envious of. Quick, smooth changes prompt you to tick |
| very conceivably opt to buy another one. But, as | | | | the 'exemplary' box. Brakes are good, progressive and |
| Hyundai owners found out with the five-year deal | | | | with no snatching, so you can bring it to a quick halt |
| offered by the Korean giant on its new products, it | | | | without any dramas and, while there's a bit of body roll |
| makes shifting the car second-hand an easier | | | | evident if you indulge in some exuberant cornering, it |
| proposition when you can sell it after three years with | | | | has an overall user-friendly set up that will win it a lot |
| two years of the deal still to go. Now Kia have beaten | | | | of chums. Ride is comfortable, and it absorbs potholes |
| that with a incredible seven-year 100,000-mile warranty | | | | and undulations well. Seats are OK - not |
| on the new cee'd, which went on sale in the UK in | | | | over-supportive, and maybe a bit on the flat side, but |
| February. It's probably the most important car they | | | | certainly comfortable enough. You can drive a fair |
| have ever launched in the UK, taking over from the | | | | way without any aches of pains to distract you. Its |
| worthy but not exactly top-selling Cerato. It's been | | | | wide-track, long wheelbase and relatively tall roofline |
| designed in Europe, because if you want a car to | | | | means here is plenty room aboard for five adults, and |
| appeal to Europeans the only place to put it together is | | | | there's a decent boot for luggage too, before you start |
| in Europe. It's built in Europe at a new state-of-the-art | | | | playing around with the rear seats to get Great Aunt |
| factory in Slovakia. And it's sold exclusively in Europe. | | | | Maud's antique chest of drawers back home. |
| And to make it sell, they've given it a Euro hatchback | | | | It's roomy and well-priced, starting at under |
| look, with the sort of neat five-door styling that makes | | | | £11,000 on the road, with our test car, an LS |
| it look not a lot different to its main rivals, the Focus | | | | spec vehicle with the 1.6 CRDi engine, the most |
| Golf/307/Astra/Megane quartet in the C sector. Later | | | | expensive at £14,245. With its 115bhp and |
| in the year comes the three-door, and Motoring Citizen | | | | 255Nm of torque at 1900rpm upwards, acceleration |
| readers probably won't have missed the convertible | | | | was again given good marks. Not earth-shattering, but |
| concept we featured a while back. If that doesn't get | | | | not at all bad. |
| people into cee'd ownership, then I don't know what | | | | The interior is neat without setting the world on fire but |
| will. Where they've attempted to win over converts - | | | | the info panel in the centre gives all the relevant |
| apart from with the warranty - is in the standard | | | | information you could possibly need. There's also a set |
| equipment, which includes driver and front passenger | | | | of lights to let you know if those in the back are belted |
| active head restraints (you can never have too many | | | | up. A neat touch but possibly a bit superfluous. |
| safety features in my opinion); aircon with a cooled | | | | |