Kia Cee'd (2007 – 2010) Review
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Kia Cee'd (2007 – 2010) At A Glance
Designed for Europe. Built in Slovakia. Excellent 1.4 and 1.6 petrol and 1.6 diesel engines. Decent quality and handling. Seven year powertrain warranty.
Not quite as well finished as its twin the Hyundai i30, but still a very good car that deserves to be on shopping lists.
Reviews for Kia Cee'd (2007 – 2010)'s top 3 rivals
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Kia Cee'd (2007 – 2010) handling and engines
- Engines range from 1.4 to 2.0 CRDi
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 29–60 mpg
Like the Focus, Mazda 3 and Volvo S40 (or the A3, Golf, Leon and Octavia), the Cee'd and i30 are, of course, sisters under the skin. Almost identical twins, in fact, sharing not only floorpans but also their entire engine ranges. The companies themselves rate the Ceed as slightly more sporty and the i30 as slightly more refined.
Unlike the i30, the Ceed for European consumption is built in Zilina in Slovakia. The i30 will be built in the neighbouring Czech Republic in a year or so, but is currently assembled in South Korea. Since i'd tested the i30 hatchback range it made best sense to check out the new Ceed SW in this test.
Its a decent sized, practical station wagon, estate car, shooting brake or whatever you want to call this type of car. The back seats split-fold 60/40 creating a long (1,670mm) load bed, 1,035mm wide at its narrowest and a useful 1,395mm at its widest, ideal for golf bags.
Instead of making it like a van Kia has taken the Peugeot 407 approach and styled the rear end with an upswept C pillar and D pillar hidden by the lights. It looks good and works well, with the hatch back opening well into the roofline allowing it to be opened in multi story carparks where there can sometimes be restricted room.
The driving seat is a bit flat and low at the front with no tilt arrangement, and though the steering wheel adjusts for height and reach it wont go as far back as Id like. You also have to compromise between comfort and obscuring the instruments. One early criticism of the back-lighting for them being too bright has been addressed, however. Now it doesnt come on unless you switch the lights on and can be dimmed to obscurity.
The leather steering wheel on my car was a bit slippery and lacked those comfort bumps at ten-to-two that many European cars now have. But the dash itself is very pleasing. There are plenty of cubbies to store things. And, of course, the Ceed and i30s hat trick of USB port, AUX input and MP3 capability as well as 12v power output sockets in the console and in the boot.
The smooth, quiet, German designed chain-cam 115PS diesel engine is as perky as ever with peak torque from 1,900 2,750rpm, but plenty from low revs too. No complaints there at all. And though the 1.4 and 1.6 chain cam petrol engines are even smoother, the diesel is the best choice for an SW that may sometimes be called on to haul heavy loads.
The electric power steering is light, Corolla-like rather than Focus-like, and has a slight over-centre feel to it accentuated by the hard and slippery leather steering wheel. But the car handles neatly and tidily with no irritations, the five forward gear ratios are right and top gear gives a sensible 30mph per 1,000rpm, which means you can leave it in top a lot more than higher geared boxes.
The LS has cruise control that works from steering wheel buttons pretty much like any other cruise control and locks the car on to a steady 70 that can easily be overridden then just as easily settles back. The rides a bit firm, but the right kind of firm as it absorbs speed cushions very well. The Michelin Energy 205/55 R16 tyres are quiet at speed.
The passenger airbag is switchable. An unsurprising omission is the lack of bump strips along the side. But just look at the rest of the spec. Theres no skimping at all. The LS diesel even comes with standard half leather seats.
The clincher is the combination of warranty and list price. All Ceeds come with a 7 year 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. Four years longer than European rivals. And the fully equipped, top spec, car I was driving lists at just £14,995. A similarly equipped Focus would be £5,000 more.
To make the cars even more irresistible, the Ceed SW is now on sale at KIA dealers, at a special launch deal of diesels at the same price as petrol engines. That makes the 90PS Cee'd 1.6CRDI GS SW just £12,995 instead of £13,745, and the 115PS Ceed 1.6CRDI LS just £13,995 instead of £14,995. As part of the launch offer the LS also comes with free rear parking sensors.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 | 46 mpg | 11.6 s | 145 g/km |
| 1.6 | 44–44 mpg | 10.8–11.1 s | 152–154 g/km |
| 1.6 CRDi | 58–63 mpg | 11.5–14.1 s | 119–128 g/km |
| 2.0 CRDi | 49–50 mpg | 10.3–10.5 s | 148–154 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Kia Cee'd (2007 – 2010)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
82%
Real MPG
29–60 mpg
MPGs submitted
411
Kia Cee'd (2007 – 2010) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4235–4470 mm |
| Width | 1790 mm |
| Height | 1480–1525 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2650 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1355–1572 kg |
| Boot Space | 340–534 L |
| Warranty | 7 years |
| Servicing | 10000–12500 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £11,445–£16,745 |
| Insurance Groups | 14 |
| Road Tax Bands | C–G |
| Official MPG | 43.5–62.8 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | 5 |
| Child | 4 |
| Pedestrian | 2 |
| Overall | - |
On sale until September 2009
| Estate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 1.6 CRDi LS 5dr | £15,545 | 57.6 mpg | 11.7 s |
On sale until May 2009
| Estate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 1.6 GS 5dr | £13,545 | 43.5 mpg | 11.1 s |
| 1.6 LS 5dr | £14,545 | 43.5 mpg | 11.1 s |
| 1.6 LS 5dr Auto | £14,545 | - | - |
| 2.0 CRDi Sport 5dr | £16,745 | 48.7 mpg | 10.5 s |
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 1.4 GS 5dr | £12,245 | 46.3 mpg | 11.6 s |
| 1.4 S 5dr | £11,445 | 46.3 mpg | 11.6 s |
| 1.6 CRDi LS 5dr | £14,745 | 60.1 mpg | 11.5 s |
| 1.6 CRDi LS 5dr Auto | £14,745 | - | - |
| 1.6 GS 5dr | £12,745 | 44.1 mpg | 10.8 s |
| 1.6 GS 5dr Auto | £12,745 | - | - |
| 1.6 LS 5dr | £13,745 | 44.1 mpg | 10.8 s |
| 1.6 LS 5dr Auto | £13,745 | - | - |
| 1.6 S 5dr | £11,945 | 44.1 mpg | 10.8 s |
| 2.0 CRDi Sport 5dr | £15,945 | 50.4 mpg | 10.3 s |
On sale until April 2009
| Estate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 1.6 CRDi GS 5dr | £14,295 | 57.6 mpg | 14.1 s |
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 1.6 CRDi GS 5dr | £13,495 | 62.8 mpg | 11.5 s |
| 1.6 CRDi S 5dr | £12,695 | 62.8 mpg | 11.5 s |
Model History
January 2007
New Kia Cee'd unveiled. In European showrooms from December 2006. UK from 2007. 4,235mm long, 1,790mm wide, 1,480 tall. Built at Kia’s new factory in Slovakia purely for the European market.
Exceptional seven-year / 150,000 kilometre new car warranty comprising five years cover on the entire car and an additional two years cover for the powertrain, The warranty is free and transferable to subsequent owners, provided the vehicle is regularly maintained in accordance with the servicing schedule.
April 2007
Seven year powertrain warranty extended to seven year bumper to bumper warranty. This translated to a seven year 100,000 milesd (whichever came first) warranty in the UK.
September 2007
Station Wagon version launched with a special launch deal of diesels at the same price as petrol engines. That makes the 90PS Cee'd 1.6 CRDI GS SW just £12,995 instead of £13,745, and the 115PS Cee'd 1.6 CRDI LS just £13,995 instead of £14,995. As part of the launch offer the LS also comes with free rear parking sensors. 90PS Cee'd ECO model down to 119g/km CO2 from Autumn 2007.
12-03-2008: Eco-friendly technologies destined for 2009 Kia Cee’d shown at Geneva March 2008: Called ‘eco_cee’d’ the concept cars are a development of the highly-acclaimed Kia pro_cee’d and the hugely popular cee’d five-door hatchback.
With the eco_cee’d models, Kia aims to achieve even better fuel consumption, with fewer emissions – while still delivering a lively, spirited and entertaining drive. Kia Motors has already confirmed that many of the technologies featured on the eco_cee’d concept cars will be progressively transferred to the cee’d family of production models manufactured from December 2008.
The impressive performance, fuel economy and emissions figures of the eco_cee’d cars result from numerous small but significant modifications. Fuel consumption is improved (just 3.9 litres/100km) and CO2 emissions reduced – to just 104 g/km (down 17%) for pro_cee’d and 106 g/km (cee’d five-door).
Belt cam 2.0 CRDi Sport added across cee’d range from 6-4-2008. range topping engine is introduced with a new Sport grade featuring 17-inch alloys, black bezel headlights and rear privacy glass. The Sport models’ interior has part leather seats featuring a specially designed tyre tread cloth design with silver stitching highlights on seats, arm rest and steering wheel. In all, the combination of the belt cam 138bhp 2.0-litre CRDi with a Sport specification enhances cee’ds ability to compete against its rivals.
The walk-up in price from a 1.6 CRDi to the new Euro IV compliant 2.0 CRDi is just £1,200 on both cee’d five-door and cee’d SW models making the five-door cee’d 2.0 CRDi Sport available for £15,595 and the same engine in the cee’d SW for £16,395.
July 2008
The Cee'd ZR-7 is a pro_cee'd is being offered with a 1.4 litre petrol engine from £11,995 OTR. This entry level model comes with 16" alloys, air conditioning, metal interior finish, black bezel headlights. remote central locking andwas originally offered with one years free insurance.
The Cee'd SR-7, with a choice of 1.4 litre or 1.6 litre petrol engines, brings the unique Mars Red from the pro_cee'd range to the five door cee'd for the first time, along with an exciting choice of other colours, both solid and metallic. With this unique look the cee'd SR-7 also adds a 6CD changer, USB/Auxillary socket, unique 16" alloys, air conditioning and front fog lights. With a starting price from just £10,995 and a choice of manual or automatic transmissions there is now a cee'd to match everyone's needs.
July 2008
Kia has adjusted the standard output diesel engine available in the new Cee'd and Pro_Cee'd models. The 1.6-litre CRDi engine now emits just 119g/km with a combined fuel consumption of 62.8 mpg. This makes its emissions lower than ever taking it into Band B for tax (£35 this year; £30 next year).
Cut price 1.4 SR-7 available July 2008 for just £10,995. Standard kit includes 16-inch alloy wheels, a/c and 6 CD autochanger, plus 7 year manufacturer warranty.
What to watch out for
Problem of audio units swallowing CDs. Apparent software glitch. Owners told units to be replaced. But these have been slow in arriving.
Driver's doorlocks can stick in cold weather.
A few cases of the electric power steering motor on the column locking solid, thought to be due to miscommunication between steering angle sensor and the microchip in the column itself. Requires a new steering column.
03-08-2013:Seems that Kia dealers are routinely remapping the turbos on 1.6 and 2.0 CRDI engines to prevent overboost and extend the lived of the turbos. This results in much less torque in the 1,800-2,000 reve range and considerably reduced performance.
26-03-2015:Report of 75k mile KIA cee'd 1.6CRDi failing to rev beyond 2,800rpm. MAF sensor checked, Fuel filter replaced. EGR valve isolated. Doesn't have a DPF, so most likely to be a broken up oxygenating car converter matrix.
15-02-2016:Another case of the electric power steering motor on the column of a 2009 KIA cee'd locking solid. Reader found it happened after using headlight flasher to flash an oncoming car.
22-12-2017:EPAS failure reported on 2007 KIA cee'd.
