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As a stylish, slightly more practical alternative to the Kia Ceed hatchback, the Kia XCeed fills a niche in the South Korean manufacturer’s range. It’s about the same size its Niro stablemate but more akin to rivals like the Toyota C-HR in its combination of design flair and driver focus.
Standard equipment is generous, there’s more space inside than you’ll find in the Ceed hatch and the XCeed is both more comfortable and more fun to drive than its conventional hatchback sibling. However, the XCeed’s place in Kia’s range means there’s plenty of competition from within – a Kia Sportage is a better choice if you want a full-blown SUV and the Kia Niro will be cheaper to run.
The XCeed is Kia’s answer to the new car market’s voracious appetite for SUVs of all shapes and sizes. It fills the gap between the Stonic and Niro in the range, but is about the same size as the latter; the larger Sportage starts around the same price and is the larger, more practical choice. The XCeed is positioned as the stylish choice, its sharp looks setting it apart and taking the fight to more expensive, premium-badged rivals like the Mercedes GLA and Audi Q2. Other rivals include the Toyota CH-R, Mazda CX-30, Volkswagen T-Roc and MINI Countryman.
• Best small SUVs and crossovers
As with all Kia models, the XCeed’s range is simple and easy to understand. There are four trim levels – 2, Edition, 3 and First Edition, while power is provided by two petrol engines and two diesels; 118bhp 1.0-litre and 138bhp 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrols are joined by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder diesel with 114bhp or 134bhp.
Kia has also introduced a plug-in petrol hybrid model delivering up to 36 miles of electric range. The XCeed PHEV is powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine, with an 8.9kWh battery and a 59bhp electric motor. The system produces a total output of 139bhp and 255Nm of torque. There's also individual trim levels for the hybrid model - 3 PHEV and First Edition PHEV.
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Regardless of your trim choice, the XCeed comes with great standard equipment. The entry-level 2 gets 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, cruise control and a parking camera, plus Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity – more than enough kit for most buyers. Edition trim adds 18-inch alloys, rear privacy glass and power folding door mirrors.
The step up to 3 trim features a larger 10.25-inch infotainment system and part faux-leather trim alongside heating for the steering wheel, front seats and rear-view mirrors, amongst other additions. First Edition cars get all the bells and whistles, including a premium JBL sound system and a panoramic sunroof.
The XCeed features hydraulic bump stops and reworked suspension that give a smoother, softer ride than its Ceed sibling; the result is a car that’s relaxing to drive and settles down nicely on the motorway. It’s good to drive on twistier roads, too; the raised ride height doesn’t impact negatively on the car’s handling.
Elsewhere, there’s a boot that’s usefully larger than the Ceed hatchback’s and a bit more space in the rear for passengers. If you like the idea of a small SUV that’s stylish, practical and good to drive, the Kia XCeed is worth a test drive.
For an alternative review of the latest Kia XCeed SUV visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk
Continue reading...
Standard equipment is generous, there’s more space inside than you’ll find in the Ceed hatch and the XCeed is both more comfortable and more fun to drive than its conventional hatchback sibling. However, the XCeed’s place in Kia’s range means there’s plenty of competition from within – a Kia Sportage is a better choice if you want a full-blown SUV and the Kia Niro will be cheaper to run.
The XCeed is Kia’s answer to the new car market’s voracious appetite for SUVs of all shapes and sizes. It fills the gap between the Stonic and Niro in the range, but is about the same size as the latter; the larger Sportage starts around the same price and is the larger, more practical choice. The XCeed is positioned as the stylish choice, its sharp looks setting it apart and taking the fight to more expensive, premium-badged rivals like the Mercedes GLA and Audi Q2. Other rivals include the Toyota CH-R, Mazda CX-30, Volkswagen T-Roc and MINI Countryman.
• Best small SUVs and crossovers
As with all Kia models, the XCeed’s range is simple and easy to understand. There are four trim levels – 2, Edition, 3 and First Edition, while power is provided by two petrol engines and two diesels; 118bhp 1.0-litre and 138bhp 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrols are joined by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder diesel with 114bhp or 134bhp.
Kia has also introduced a plug-in petrol hybrid model delivering up to 36 miles of electric range. The XCeed PHEV is powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine, with an 8.9kWh battery and a 59bhp electric motor. The system produces a total output of 139bhp and 255Nm of torque. There's also individual trim levels for the hybrid model - 3 PHEV and First Edition PHEV.
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Regardless of your trim choice, the XCeed comes with great standard equipment. The entry-level 2 gets 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, cruise control and a parking camera, plus Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity – more than enough kit for most buyers. Edition trim adds 18-inch alloys, rear privacy glass and power folding door mirrors.
The step up to 3 trim features a larger 10.25-inch infotainment system and part faux-leather trim alongside heating for the steering wheel, front seats and rear-view mirrors, amongst other additions. First Edition cars get all the bells and whistles, including a premium JBL sound system and a panoramic sunroof.
The XCeed features hydraulic bump stops and reworked suspension that give a smoother, softer ride than its Ceed sibling; the result is a car that’s relaxing to drive and settles down nicely on the motorway. It’s good to drive on twistier roads, too; the raised ride height doesn’t impact negatively on the car’s handling.
Elsewhere, there’s a boot that’s usefully larger than the Ceed hatchback’s and a bit more space in the rear for passengers. If you like the idea of a small SUV that’s stylish, practical and good to drive, the Kia XCeed is worth a test drive.
For an alternative review of the latest Kia XCeed SUV visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk
Continue reading...