Kia Cerato Sedan Review

Design and Engineering

Design and Engineering

 Good

This Cerato kicked off the brands excellent new design direction: contemporary, modern looks, wide stance and stylish 17” alloys (on the SLi grade).
Not so good

Nothing groundbreaking here; fat rear pillar makes the exterior appear chunky from the rear...
Interior and Styling

Interior and Styling

 Good

Modern design; USB audio input with iPod compatibility. There's a quality 'feel' to the dials and buttons. Many storage options up front and a large 415 litre boot down back.
Not so good

Hard interior plastics (however, at this price it should be expected); doors close with a cheap sound; lack of storage options for rear seat passengers; lack of manual release for boot lid.
Performance

Performance

 Good

Class-leading 115kW of power (for a 2.0L naturally-aspirated engine) and impressive torque; relatively quiet engine when cruising.
Not so good

Doesn't like to be hurried and therefore struggles when pushed. The engine lacks refinement and is unnecessarily coarse and loud under heavy acceleration. Manual gearbox is a bit 'notchy' and the auto tends to be a bit imprecise.
Ride and Handling

Ride and Handling

 Good

Handling has significantly improved compared to previous Kia’s; relatively refined at highway speeds.
Not so good

Steering is a touch too light for spirited driving (but fine for city driving) and could do with greater accuracy; base-model 'S' is a tad unsettled on coarse surfaces.
Buying and Owning

Buying and Owning

 Good

Excellent value for money - competitors will struggle to offer this amount of equipment for the same price PLUS 6 standard airbags and a generous five-year unlimited kilometre warranty.
Not so good

Question mark over whether it will hold its value as well as Japanese competitors.