I guess it depends on how much stuff you need to carry around with you that may deciide on the Ceed if you need more room for things like buggys.

However, The 1.25l is a brilliant engine (very strong and almost bullet proof).

There have been a few clutch issues on the 1.25l but I think this was on earlier cars (Hyundai I20 and Kia Rio are essentally the same car).

The 1.4l is an older engine design, well proven but in reality doesn't put out much more power than the 1.2l.

I am not too sure about the dual mass flywheel, I suspect not as I thought only the diesels had these. And on the Kia's and Hyundai's the diesel engines don't have them.

I have only driven the I20 and the Kia Rio but can't comment on the Ceed.

Maybe someone else can help regarding the driving experience comparing these cars.

Good luck with what ever choice you make.

No idea about the Rio, but we've got a 2010 cee'd 1.4 petrol. About town we get mid to late 30's mpg. On the motorway low to mid 40's mpg (got to be air con off and gentle speed (ie legal!) to get mid 40's!).

The 1.4 is chain driven cam, so nothing to replace. We've had a clutch replaced and it was a standard type unit with no mention made over DMF so I don't think it has one.

As long as you don't want to accelerate desperately fast the 1.4 is a brilliant engine, incredibly flexible and will do anything you ask of it, as long as it isn't to go fast! Will cruise happily at 70mph on the motorway, but it is relatively noisy then, running at 3500rpm+. (That said, if you nail your foot to the floor and rev the life out of it the car will shift along perfectly fine). The engine feels like it would last for ever it it's looked after and the rest of the car is holding up fine after 55000 miles.

If you're talking about the latest model I think the current 1.4 is a development of the engine we have, but not driven it.