When it comes to mid-life facelifts, many manufacturers take a distinctly “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach. Slap on a couple of new bumpers and call it a day. Not so for Kia, which has given its Cee’d range an upgrade for 2015, and it’s a pretty thorough one at that. New styling, new equipment and engines, plus an all-new trim level is just part of what the Korean marque has given the popular Cee’d, so what’s it like?
The updated Cee’d range comes in four flavours: the five-door Cee'd hatchback and the larger Cee’d Sportswagon estate, plus the sportier three-door Pro_Cee’d and finally the Pro_Cee’d GT hot hatch. Kia struck gold when the company poached designer Peter Schreyer from Audi, and the latest facelifted versions of the Cee’d really look the part. Sleeker and slightly bolder than before, each model in the range gets reshaped front and rear bumpers, plus new alloy wheel designs and LED rear lights.
The Pro_Cee’d benefits from a slightly leaner look and aims for the same territory as the Vauxhall Astra GTC and Volkswagen Scirocco, while the GT is the rowdiest of the bunch with a powerful turbocharged engine and a racy bodykit.
Structurally, the Cee’d is the same as ever, built on the same architecture as the Hyundai i30. With this latest facelift, though, the addition of the new GT Line trim level and a swathe of extra equipment, Kia is making a bigger effort than ever before to differentiate itself from its competition.
So what else is new? Well, on the inside the entire Cee’d range now comes with a redesigned dashboard with a gloss-black fascia, plus a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It’s nice, even if the scratchy plastic does feel a bit on the cheap side, but do bear in mind that this is a car that starts from just £11,687 in its most basic form.
Buyers can upgrade the touch-screen with a TomTom sat-nav and reversing camera, while you also get stop-start as standard and the option of a range of new safety features like parking assist, a speed limiter and blind spot detection. As well as that, each model comes with a digital instrument display, while the GT gets a special steering-mounted button that can switch between the regular display and a racier version, which shows torque and turbo gauges. Childish it may be, but it is a lot of fun to watch the turbo meter suddenly puff up when you put your foot down.
The GT model also gets the honour of being the first Kia to come with Recaro seats, which are outfitted in leather and suede, while the five-door Cee’d we tested came with full leather seating and additional leather inserts on the doors. Practicality too is pretty good, particularly in the five-door hatch version as you might expect. Five doors make for easy access, while boot space clocks in at a pretty impressive 1,318 litres with the rear seats folded flat.
Despite losing two doors, the Pro_Cee’d and GT versions are still fairly easy to live with, with 1,225 litres of boot space and a low loading lip. Beware, though, as the low-slung, coupe-like stylings of these models means that clambering into the back might take a bit of effort, while the rear window has roughly the same proportions as a microwave door and the visibility to match.
The five-door version of the Cee’d is a lot better in this respect than its sportier cousins, with the additional doors adding on extra glass, so you don’t have to pray to God you don’t hit anything when reversing. It’s also markedly cosier, and so it should be as it’s aiming for the family hatchback segment, with a serene driving experience to match. The 1.6-litre diesel we drove has been the best-selling model so far as is expected to continue as such, and it’s just as refined and pleasant as ever.
It’s also gotten a slight power bump from 126bhp to 138bhp, while the addition of a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox with flappy-paddle shifters is a welcome one. Overall, it’s composed and relaxed on the road, with soft suspension and a comfortable ride. Steering is light and direct, making short work of even sharp turns, but it does lack a little feedback. Still, it’s unlikely that anybody’s going to complain about its lack of prowess, as claimed fuel economy of up to 74.3mpg with only 99g/km of CO2 emissions will make it a very attractive option to cost-conscious buyers.
If performance is what you want, then the GT is going to be the obvious choice. Kitted out with extra interior features like red stitching on the upholstery and a race-style steering wheel, it looks the business and it has the figures to back it up. Power comes from a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which generates a mean 201bhp with 265Nm of torque. Able to catapult itself from 0-60mph in 7.3 seconds, Kia says that it undertook extensive testing at the Nurburgring to hone the GT’s performance, and it shows.
With direct steering that’s much better weighted than the rest of the range and an upgraded chassis, the GT is able to carve its way through twists and turns with grace and poise. While there is a little clatter over bumps, it’s to be expected, and in honesty it’s nowhere near as bad as you might think, or as bad as some of its rivals.
It certainly goes fast, feels fast and also looks the part, but regardless we couldn’t help but think that it could do with just a little more. Fun though it may be, you almost find yourself wishing for a bit more power and a few more spiky bits on the body kit. In for a penny, in for a pound, we suppose.
Compared with rivals like the Focus ST, it does come across as a little weedy, while the artificial engine noise that’s pumped into the cabin could prove a bit of a turn-off for enthusiasts. Still there’s no denying that it is a fun car, and if blasting through B-roads is your thing, it’s sure to put a smile on your face.
If you’re looking for a taste of the same poke as the GT but with a little more sensibility, then the new turbocharged 1.0-litre engine available on the Pro_Cee’d GT Line might just be the ticket. With a decent 118bhp on tap, it’s good enough to scoot from 0-60mph in just a fraction over 10 seconds, and it feels eager and lively, without any of the rattle that can come with three-cylinder engines.
Retaining much of the same appearance as the GT but with a more livable setup and claimed fuel economy of up to 57.6mpg, the GT Line offers a great compromise between power and practicality, and it’s a lot of fun to drive to boot.
Now pretty much in the middle of its life, Kia’s latest update to the Cee’d range is a comprehensive one, with a sharp new look and the addition of some very attractive gear and engine options.
Good value and with something for everyone, the Cee’d range now offers more than many of its big-name rivals for considerably less money. Maybe it’s not quite up there with the biggest hitters in terms of drivability just yet, but it’s not far off.
