Skip advert
Advertisement

Family hatchbacks

In its first test, the all-new cee’d meets key rivals from Citroen and Mazda

This is Kia’s most important car ever – simple as that. After years of giving British buyers models tailored for the Korean market, but which haven’t translated particularly well, the company is going for broke by bringing us an all-new family hatchback that’s been designed and built exclusively for Europe.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Kia has hired a team of top stylists and engineers, and spent £700million and two years constructing a state-of the-art factory at Zilina in Slovakia. The end result is the cee’d – pronounced seed – which goes on sale here from this week. Built on a platform that will also underpin Hyundai’s imminent compact family hatch, the cee’d is brand new from the ground up. Every variant gets fully independent rear suspension, a port for MP3 players and a stiff bodyshell that should help the newcomer attain a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating. There’s also a seven-year warranty.

Replacing the slow-selling Cerato, the 10-model range covers three trim levels and four engines, and there’s more to follow. Kia’s aim is to achieve 100,000 sales a year in the UK; to do so, it hopes the cee’d will draw new customers to the brand, but at a price that won’t alienate existing buyers. The line-up starts from less than £11,000, and rises to £14,245 for the top-spec 1.6 CRDi LS we test here. So far, so good. But what’s the model like? To find out, we tested it against two key rivals at the car’s launch in the south of France.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

3

2015 DS

3

70,100 milesManualDiesel1.6L

Cash £4,200
View 3
XF

2015 Jaguar

XF

61,000 milesAutomaticDiesel2.2L

Cash £7,495
View XF
Range Rover Evoque

2023 Land Rover

Range Rover Evoque

32,368 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £23,495
View Range Rover Evoque
Range Rover Evoque

2023 Land Rover

Range Rover Evoque

12,482 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £28,995
View Range Rover Evoque

As with Kia, both Citroen and Mazda have enviable reputations for offering great value for money. The handsome C4 majors on comfort, while the 3, with underpinnings shared with the Ford Focus, aims to deliver driver appeal in a practical package. But has Kia sown the cee’d of success?

Verdict

Is the Cee’d revolutionary? It is for Kia. Investing so heavily in Europe has paid dividends – the Cee’d is a much more appealing and competitive product than anything the Korean firm has built before. But does it set new class standards? Not quite. It’s a very competent hatchback that’s well built and cleanly styled, but its only unique selling point is the seven-year warranty. While this is very appealing, the car itself doesn’t have a particularly strong personality.

However, it’s a fine all-rounder and has the measure of both rivals here. The Citroen C4 has a laid-back attitude, good comfort and distinctive design. It also offers the potential for big price savings, but the cheap trim and poor ergonomics let it down. The Mazda 3 really needs to watch its step, though. Bland inside and out, it’s not as spacious or smooth-riding as the Kia. It’s easy to see potential buyers being persuaded to swap to the Cee’d instead.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £4,500 off RRP*
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,200Avg. savings £4,670 off RRP*Used from £14,998
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,450 off RRP*Used from £11,895
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £2,921 off RRP*Used from £8,951
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Skoda Epiq vRS to headline brand’s hot-SUV onslaught
Skoda Epiq vRS exclusive image

New Skoda Epiq vRS to headline brand’s hot-SUV onslaught

Every future Skoda will get the go-faster treatment, with the brand also working on making cars sharper and more engaging
News
27 Jun 2025
Marcos is back! British sportscar brand’s big plan, and swirling controversy
Marcos, interior

Marcos is back! British sportscar brand’s big plan, and swirling controversy

Development is already underway on the first all-new Marcos cars in roughly 20 years
News
27 Jun 2025
Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal
BMW M5 Touring - front action

Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal

The BMW M5 Touring is M car royalty, with a thoroughly impressive PHEV powertrain. It’s our Deal of the Day for 29 June
News
29 Jun 2025