Kia Cee'd 2007 review

If you’re after an extremely capable, well built and highly equipped load-lugger, then Kia’s Cee’d SW is worth checking out. It looks good, is pleasant to drive and has acres of space in the back. Factor in competitive pricing, plus a seven-year warranty, and the Korean estate represents serious value for money. Forget the petrol model, though, and go for the 113bhp diesel with its superior in-gear performance, better mpg and lower emissions.

Full details of the hot Pro_cee’d have been revealed this week, while the hatchback version has just won its second group test against the Hyundai i30 and Toyota Auris.

And as if that wasn’t enough, the most practical member of the range – the SW estate – will be arriving in British showrooms on Saturday. In terms of styling, the versatile five-door is even more distinctive than the standard hatch. The classy rear end is very similar to the Peugeot 407 estate, which also wears the SW badge. Along with the sloping C-pillar, neat tail-lamps run all the way to the roofline, where silver bars add an air of quality.

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Kia Cee'd

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Yet, despite this attention to detail, the SW is practical, too. As on the big French estate, the Cee’d SW’s bootlid hinges have been carefully located so it can be opened in tight parking spaces. The clever arrangement also provides a bigger loading aperture, which means that even large items can be squeezed in.

Inside, cabin quality is first-rate, with upmarket materials used to cover the dashboard and seats. There are plenty of stowage bins, too, and as with the hatch, the seats in the rear are both generously proportioned and comfortable to sit in.

There’s also plenty of room for bulky luggage, as the 60:40-split rear seats fold completely flat to free up a massive 1,664 litres of space – more than the rival Vauxhall Astra and Ford Focus estates. And even with the rear chairs in place, there’s still an impressive 534 litres of load-lugging capacity – a 200-litre improvement over the hatch.

This extra practicality doesn’t come for free, though – the Cee’d SW costs £700 more than the five-door. Prices start at £12,995 for the 1.6-litre petrol GS. The 120bhp unit returns 43.5mpg, and needs to be worked hard to make swift progress. Most people would be better off going for one of the two 1.6-litre diesel versions – which are more expensive to buy, but should prove cheaper to run.

Basic oil-burners start at £13,745 for the 89bhp engine, which is only available in GS guise, and rise to £14,995 for the flagship 113bhp variant, which comes in the higher-spec LS trim. The 0-62mph time for the former is 14.1 seconds, while the higher-power diesel dispatches the benchmark sprint in 11.7 seconds.

While this is 0.6 seconds slower than the petrol version, with 255Nm of torque, the oil-burning powerplant has far superior pulling power, and in-gear acceleration feels significantly quicker when on the move, too. It also returns impressive fuel economy of 57.6mpg – exactly the same as the slower 89bhp unit delivers.

Whichever variant you go for, the Cee’d SW is pleasant to drive, thanks to its well weighted steering and decent handling. The only real complaint concerns the ride; as the rear suspension has been stiffened to cope with its load-lugging duties, it is slightly harsher than the hatch’s. On bumpy roads, there’s more tyre noise, too, as the load bay amplifies some of the sounds that make their way into the neatly trimmed cabin.

However, we reckon most buyers will be willing to overlook this, in light of the model’s vastly superior practicality and style. And combined with its impressive levels of equipment – air-con, six airbags and an MP3 stereo input come as standard – the Cee’d SW is a compelling package.

RIVAL: Ford Focus Estate
While the Ford may trump the Kia’s ride and refinement, the gulf between the two isn’t as wide as you may expect. The £16,195 Focus has a more upmarket feel, and performance from the 1.6 TDCi engine is similar. Basically, your choice comes down to price.