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