Kia Ceed - TopCarNews

Kia Ceed (2018 – present) | Expert Ratings [hide]

Summary

The Kia Ceed is a medium-sized family car, available as a five-door hatchback or estate (called the Sportswagon). The current model is the third generation and was launched in 2018.

The Ceed has received mostly positive scores from the UK motoring media, with the top-spec GT model generally scoring better than the rest of the range. The Ceed has been particularly praised for its value for money and driving dynamics, however prices get expensive quite quickly as you go up the range to the GT.

There is a sleeker, sportier estate vehicle called the ProCeed and a crossover-style vehicle called the XCeed. We are building separate pages for both of these, so check back soon.

Key specifications

Body style: Five-door hatch and estateEngines: petrol, diesel
Price: From £18,300 on-road

Launched: Summer 2018Last updated: –
Update due: Autumn 2021

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

The Car Expert

Score: 7.8 / 10“The third-generation Kia Ceed moves from being the family hatch for owners who want something cheap to a car on a par with the UK’s biggest sellers.”
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Auto Express

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid Sportswagon (estate)Score: 6 / 10“Compared with the rest of the Kia Ceed Sportswagon family, this plug-in hybrid powertrain is expensive, to the point where private buyers will be hard-pushed to ever recoup the extra cost. Practicality – such an important consideration for estate cars – is compromised, too.”
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Model reviewed: iMT mild hybrid hatchbackScore: 8 / 10“Kia believes that its clever new iMT system will deliver a modest reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, and the figures and our early drive show promise. The system’s action feels little different from any conventional clutch pedal, and promises the added benefit of reducing wear.”
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Model reviewed: Hatchback rangeScore: 8 / 10“If you’re in the market for a family hatchback, the Kia Ceed should be on your shortlist. It’s well priced, good to drive and has all the latest technology.”
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Model reviewed: SportswagonScore: 8 / 10“The Kia Ceed Sportswagon is a roomy family estate worth considering if you’re in the market for a family hatchback-based hauler. It has just about as much room as a Focus or Golf Estate, and drives well enough to keep most owners happy.”
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Model reviewed: Ceed GTScore: 8 / 10“The Ceed GT offers an ideal middle ground for performance fans who don’t quite wish to commit to a full-blown hot hatchback.”
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Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Hatchback rangeScore: 7.8 / 10“In a competitive sector, the Kia Ceed sticks to traditional values of generous equipment levels, good build quality and the reassurance of a seven-year warranty. A solid if not scintillating performer, it’s worth a look if you want a dependable and well-equipped hatchback.”
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Autocar

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel (mild hybrid) manualScore: 8 / 10“Diesel power meets mild-hybrid technology to give Kia’s hatchback improved fuel efficiency and lower CO2.”
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Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol-electric plug-in hybrid automatic Sportswagon 3Score: 7 / 10“To get anywhere near its claimed 188mpg economy figure, you’ll have to use it primarily for short hops around town so you can make the most of its 35-mile electric-only range. You’ll want to ensure you can reliably charge at home, too, because using the petrol engine to do so will eat into any fuel savings you might have previously achieved. But the same goes for any PHEV, really.”
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Model reviewed: (range review)Score: 8 / 10“The Kia Ceed is now a top-five contender and outranks the Astra, Octavia, Mégane and others that shoppers at the value end of the hatchback spectrum might be considering. And if that sounds like a bit of a coming of age for Kia, that’s exactly how it seems to us.”
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Model reviewed: Ceed GTScore: 8 / 10“Along with the inherently good ergonomics of the third-generation Kia Ceed, as everyday transport the GT is a convincing car.”
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Car

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“Prices have been creeping up, and the most desirable top-spec models command some high cash prices. But one thing’s for sure, it’s certainly a good steer, and it comes packed with equipment that you’d have to pay extra for on plenty of its rivals.”
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Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Spoertswagon estate rangeScore: 8.6 / 10“The Kia Ceed Sportswagon is a well-equipped family estate car with a big boot and reassuring warranty”
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Model reviewed: (range review)Score: 8.6 / 10“The Kia Ceed hatchback takes on the establishment and gets close to causing an upset, offering more space and fun than before.”
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Carwow

Model reviewed: Sportswagon estate rangeScore: 7 / 10“The Kia Ceed Sportwagon has a large, practical boot and comes stacked with standard equipment. It’s not as comfortable as alternatives, though, nor as plush inside.”
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Model reviewed: Hatchback rangeScore: 7 / 10“The Kia Ceed is an affordable family hatchback that’s impressively practical and comes packed with high-tech features as standard, but you’d hardly call it fun to drive.”
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Company Car Today

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel ‘2’ hatchbackScore: 8 / 10“A nice update to an appealing mainstream choice, the Kia Ceed is improved in every area, with safety equipment, looks and driving experience being the main successes.”
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Daily Mail

“Here’s what you need to know. This five-door family hatchback looks the business and won’t disgrace your driveway. It drives well. Prices are reasonable.”
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Evo

Model reviewed: Ceed GTScore: 6 / 10“It’s an OK warm hatchback, but the steep price tag in context with rivals makes it a particularly tough sell.”
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Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: 1.4-litre petrol manual First Edition hatchScore: 7 / 10“The new Kia Ceed does most things very competently but we’d recommend everyone to try the all-electric Kia e-Niro before buying a petrol or diesel Ceed.”
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Honest John

Model reviewed: 1.4-litre petrol automatic First Edition“Whatever the finer points of competitors such as the new Ford Focus, the Mazda 3 and the Volkswagen Golf, they all come with mere 3-year standard manufacturer warranties. The Kia Ceed is manufacturer warranted for 7 years or 100,000 miles at no extra cost. More than twice as long as the others.”
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Model reviewed: (range review)“Kia has honed it to make the Ceed as practical and enjoyable to live with while retaining all of its existing virtues of long warranty, reliability and low running costs. The result is the Ceed deserves its place among small hatch royalty.”
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Parkers

Model reviewed: Hatchback rangeScore: 8.4 / 10“Kia’s hatch is highly commendable, if not quite class best”
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The Sun

Model reviewed: Ceed GT“The Kia Ceed GT doesn’t have the firepower at 204hp to compete with a VW Golf GTI, Focus ST or Hyundai i30N, but it has the feel.”
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“The third-gen Kia Ceed is a peach of a motor — and it’s much more fun to drive with a stiffer body, faster steering, revised fully independent suspension and a lower centre of gravity.”
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The Telegraph

Model reviewed: Ceed GTScore: 8 / 10“On paper the Ceed GT simply doesn’t have the firepower to compete with its hot hatch rivals – and in the flesh it’s marred by an anodyne engine note and a notchy gear shift. But its excellent chassis, smart interior, practicality and value combine to make this a surprisingly tempting prospect.”
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Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7 / 10“Kia improves things yet again. Refinement, styling and interior quality are nearly as good as anything out there. Nearly…”
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What Car?

Model reviewed: (range review)Score: 6 / 10“The Kia Ceed is competitive in lots of areas and a perfectly decent car. However, unlike its best rivals, it fails to be outstanding in any area. Long warranty aside, there’s little compelling reason to recommend it over the better-handling Ford Focus, the more practical Skoda Octavia, or the more refined and comfortable VW Golf.”
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Which?

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol manual GT hatchbackScore: 7 / 10“The combination of a sporty setup and sensible surroundings makes the Kia Ceed GT an impressive all-rounder, able to entertain when required to do so, or accommodate a family and its associated detritus when necessary.”
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Model reviewed: plug-in hybrid SportswagonScore: 7.3 / 10“There’s very little on which to fault the Kia Ceed Sportswagon PHEV as a family car. It’s got plenty of room inside, is comfortable and safe to drive, and has a generous level of standard equipment. Its hybrid power system opens up the potential for very low running costs, while Kia’s seven-year warranty gives great peace of mind.”
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Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6.8 / 10“A sensible, solid family car.”
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Safety rating

Overall rating: 4 stars
Date tested: July 2019

88%

ADULT OCCUPANT

85%

CHILD OCCUPANT

52%

VULNERABLE ROAD USERS

68%

SAFETY ASSIST

Read full Euro NCAP review

Note on safety

The Kia Ceed has two separate Euro NCAP safety ratings. Lower-specification models do not get as much safety equipment as standard, so they get a four-star rating as shown above.

Higher-specification models get an additional Advanced Driving Assistance Pack (available on most lower-spec models at additional cost), which earns them a five-star rating. This also bumps up the Vulnerable Road Users rating from 52% to 68%, and the Safety Assist Rating from 68% to 73%.

Eco rating

No eco rating

The Kia Ceed has not been lab tested by Green NCAP. This is a new initiative, launched in 2018 as a sister organisation to Euro NCAP, and only a few cars have do far been assessed.

Awards

Trophies, prizes and awards that the Kia Ceed has received

2019

Intelligent Instructor Awards – Car of the Year
Red Dot Awards – Product Design
iF Awards – Product Design
What Car? Awards – Best Family Car under £20K

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