Kia Ceed Estate

Our verdict

The Kia Ceed is car that lobs the paving slab of reality into the windscreen of preconception. It might be a straight clone of a Toyota/Ford/VW hatch, but it’s a damn good one. Cheap, and ludicrously good seven-year warranties add peace of mind

Comfort

Bounds from speed bump to pothole without so much as a murmur. Compare this quantum leap in suspension capability over the previous-generation Cerato and you'll see what strides Kia has made. Rides as well, if not better than, the European competition.

Performance

A bit complicated as far as the engine/power line-up goes, so bear with us. There are five engines available; an 89bhp or 113bhp version of a 1.6-litre diesel, two petrols (a 1.4 with 103bhp or a 1.6 with 121bhp) and a 2.0-litre diesel with a tidy 140bhp. The 113bhp diesel sounds weedy but isn't. Overall, the 140bhp diesel is the one to have, even if it does get a bit loud.

Cool

No matter how much explaining you do, the Ceed isn't cool unless you're well into the realms of inverse snobbery. And even then it's a bit obscure.

Quality

Forget Kia of old and embrace Kia of the next century. Millimetric precision abounds on the Ceed- even if nearly everything (including the materials) are just tracing-paper perfect clones of the Toyota Corolla. Feels so well put together that the seven-year warranty won't get troubled much.

Handling

Remarkably tidy, even as an estate, using fully independent rear suspension to great effect. You'll have fun in here.

Practicality

As practical as any other small five-door estate, which is to say very. As a practical and useful cheap alternative to a premium brand, it's not very far away.

Running costs

Brilliantly low insurance (group 4,5 and 6), relatively cheap initial purchase price (between £11k and £14k) and a seven-year warranty that can be passed from owner to owner, the Ceed makes fantastic financial sense. Residuals won't be mental, but that passable warranty should buoy things up a bit.