The Kia Cee'd is a compact car produced by the South Korean manufacturer Kia since 2006, exclusively for the European market. It was released in December 2006, superseding the Kia Spectra and is available as a five-door hatchback, a three-door hatchback (Pro cee'd) and a five-door estate (Cee'd SW), with a choice of four engines (two petrol and two diesel), five trim levels (1, 2, 3, 4 and 4 Tech - previously S, GS, LS and SR) and either manual or automatic transmissions.
The Cee'd is Kia's first European-designed and built car and Kia intends to sell and manufacture the car exclusively in Europe. To mark the occasion, Kia took the initials of the European Economic Community, EEC or CEE in some places and added ED for European Design. Realising that "CEEED" had too many 'E's, they replaced the last 'E' with an apostrophe, with "Cee'd" being the end result.
First generation (2006-2012)
The Cee'd was designed in Frankfurt, Germany, with Miklós Kovács leading the design team. Cars are manufactured in the Kia factory in Tepli?ka nad Váhom, Slovakia.
The Cee'd shares the same platform as the Hyundai i30, as does a redesigned version of the Cee'd, marketed elsewhere as the Kia Forte, which is not sold in Europe (except for Russia, where the Cee'd and the Forte are available together).
As of 2010, the Cee'd received Kia's new corporate grille, known as the Tiger Nose, designed by Kia's design chief Peter Schreyer.
Kia Box Car Video
Second generation (2012-present)
Making its worldwide premiere at the 2012 Geneva International Motor Show is the all-new second generation Cee'd (with the internal code JD) which is claimed to be more sophisticated, more efficient, more refined, better equipped and with a more engaging driving experience than the first generation. The second generation Cee'd is however significantly more expensive than the first generation and moves the Cee'd out of the "budget" market as noted by independent reviewers such as Honest John. The new Cee'd is expected to build on the success of the original model. With the new Cee'd, came Kia's first attempt of a hot hatch with the Pro Cee'd GT.
Safety
The Kia Cee'd earned a Euro NCAP 5 star safety rating for adult occupants for the pre 2009 model. It is also fitted with six airbags (including curtain airbags) as standard even in countries like Ukraine where safety options were usually stripped in comparison with other countries.
- Adult Occupants score - 34
- Child Occupants score - 37
- Pedestrians score - 11
The Euro NCAP results also showed that the dashboard can become a threat to the driver and passenger's knees in the event of a front collision, despite having 6 airbags in the car and the Cee'd also scored the maximum available points for the side impact and pole tests.
Variants
At the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show Kia unveiled the Pro_Cee'd, and began marketing the model in January 2008. The Pro_Cee'd is mechanically identical to the 5-door model but many body panels (sans the bonnet and front-wings) are new and do not carry over from the 5-door model. The first generation Pro_Cee'd was often compared to the Audi A3 in terms of its appearance, Auto Express calling it a "bargain Audi A3".
In 2013, Kia released the second generation Pro_Cee'd. Unlike the previous generation, this car shares no body panels with the 5-door model. The new Pro_Cee'd has been continually praised in reviews for its looks, with a more coupé-like appearance, more sporting stance, lower suspension (by 40mm) and a smaller front grille. The car has, however, have gained some criticism; it excels at comfort and refinement like the standard Cee'd, but its suspension and steering are not considered at all sporty, its setup favouring the afformentioned comfort.
Kia's Ex_cee'd cabrio concept car premiered at the 77th Salon de l'Automobiles in 2007 Geneva. Based on the three-door Cee'd hatchback (Pro_cee'd), the Ex_cee'd shares the same platform, but features different exterior panels and an electric folding fabric roof.
Kia revealed a concept of its Pro_cee'd line, with improved aerodynamics and mild hybrid engine tuning to their diesel engine, under the name "Eco_cee'd". The concept models were fitted with ISG (Idle Stop&Go) and regenerative braking.
Kia previewed a hybrid Cee'd concept at the 2008 Paris Auto Show, and operates an evaluation fleet of in Europe -- with the hybrid models featuring an electric motor, powered by a high-voltage battery mounted behind the rear seats.
Kia Pro_Cee'd GT and Cee'd GT
On July 1, 2013, Kia released the Pro_Cee'd GT; a 5-door Cee'd GT was released January 2014. The Pro_Cee'd GT is the companies first performance oriented car and the first European style "hot hatch" to come from a Korean manufacturer. The GT models are a sign of Kia's growing confidence in Europe, believing that they now have the style and brand recognition to deliver a truly desirable performance model in the region and for the GT to act as a halo model for the rest of the range. It is also the first Kia sold in the UK with a turbo-charged petrol engine.
The Pro_Cee'd GT uses a variant of the Kia/Hyundai T-GDi Gamma Engine. The engine in the Pro_Cee'd GT is the same as that used in the American market Hyundai Veloster Turbo, but different gear ratios and more aggressive suspension have been used. The Torque has also been dramatically increased to 265Nm (195 lbs ft) over the normal aspirated engine; though, where the standard T-GDi engine has all of its torque available between 1750 to 4500rpm, the engine as used in the Pro_Cee'd GT has been altered slightly, having its full torque available between 1750 and 4600rpm. The engine propels the car to 60 mph in 7.4s, 0.4s faster than the Veloster Turbo with the same engine.
The suspension in the GT has been modified over the standard Pro_Cee'd, giving a far more agile and sporting ride. As too has the steering, being more responsive and engaging, though it also comes without Kia's "FlexSteer" system, meaning drivers will not be able to choose a different steering mode (of which there are three: Comfort, Normal and Sport).
The styling of the car has been well received. The lines and body panels of the standard Pro_Cee'd have remained on the GT, but a body kit has been fitted to give the car a more muscular stance. The rear bumper now includes a splitter and twin exhausts, whilst the front introduces a large air intake with red pinstripe, a gloss black grille with silver GT badge and distinctive LED "Ice Cube" daytime running lights - side skirts are also fitted. The car runs on 18" Alloy Wheels over the standard car's 17" wheels. The interior gains red accents including an overstitched GT badge on the bottom of the steering wheel, as well as Leather and Suede Recaro sports racing bucket seats and TFT instrument dial, allowing the driver to switch between an analogue speedo and digital readout with boost pressure and torque meters.
The car has also received praise for its impressive grip, handling and real world performance, along with its low asking price despite very high levels of standard equipment and excellent interior build quality and comfort. Its ability to remain comfortable and composed when driving in normal traffic despite its sporting pretences has also been praised - TopGear UK stating that it is much easier to live with in day to day situations unlike its competitors, citing the Megane 265 as an example, calling it a "Steroidal Bugger to live with" in comparison to the far more forgiving ride of the Pro_Cee'd GT. The British television show Fifth Gear (Series 23, Episode 11) compared the Pro_Cee'd GT very favourably to the Megane 265, claiming that although it lacks the outright power of the Megane, it was "still quick" and its chassis balance and control were both matching the Renault in corners. The online review Series CarThrottle also gave the Pro_Cee'd GT a very high score; praising its looks and grip, complimenting how fun it was to drive on the limit and calling it "one of the best budget all-rounders money can buy".
The Pro_Cee'd GT, however, has met with some criticisms, mostly pertaining to its speed and fuel economy. Other C-Segment hot hatches, such as the Ford Focus ST and Volkswagen Golf GTI, use 2.0L petrol engines where the GT only uses a 1.6L unit, making the car a full second slower to 60 as compared to other rivals. The engine is also somewhat inefficient given its size - emitting 171g/km CO2 and only averaging 38.2mpg on the EU Combined Cycle. This is the same average fuel economy as the more powerful 2.0L engine present in the 2013 Ford Focus ST, meaning the GT may be expensive for some drivers to run if driven hard. However, the Pro_Cee'd GT starts at GBP£19,995 - making it GBP£5890 cheaper than a basic Golf GTi and £2000 less than an equivalent spec Ford Focus ST 1, with the Tech model being £2500 less than the equivalent Focus ST 2 (prices correct at time of writing).
Sales
It has been Kia's best selling model in Europe in the first years after its launch, overcoming strongly the sales of its predecessor, the Cerato, and the previous best selling model, the Picanto, with between 90,000 and 150,000 units marketed per year. It benefited from the innovative seven years warranty, the first ever to be offered on any vehicle marketed in Europe.
Media
On 27 June 2010, the Kia Cee'd was revealed as the new reasonably priced car for the "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car" segment of the top-rated UK television programme Top Gear, where presenter Jeremy Clarkson deliberately mispronounces the name as "Cee-apostrophe-d" and describes it as "the only car with an apostrophe in its name." The version used had a kerb weight upwards of 1,263 kg, and was priced at GB£13,930 (22,873 US Dollars). The car was eventually replaced in Series 20 by a Vauxhall Astra Tech Line.
Motor sport
Kia Racing, a factory-sponsored team in the Swedish Touring Car Championship, has currently entered a few Cee'ds in the series.
Outside Europe
The Cee'd is currently available only in European markets (as the Kia Forte, already sold outside Europe would then be in direct competition with the Cee'd) and in Iran and South Africa, where it was imported in August 2009. In 2014, the Pro Cee'd is being sold in Australia and New Zealand.
Reception
- Auto Express - New Car Honours - Special Honour for seven year warranty
- Autocar - 'Idea of the Year' for Cee'd seven year warranty
- What Diesel Car? - Hatchback of the year
- Towcar awards 2007
- Camping Fritid (Danish Camping magazine, from DCU) - Camping car of the year 2007
- UK survey, Cee'd ranked in first place in the Driver Power's Compact Family category to beat out Volkswagen, Toyota, Fiat and other notable competitors in the segment. Driver Power is Auto Express's car owner reliability and satisfaction survey which presents the frank and honest views of drivers in the UK.
- Top Gear named it runner up in their car of the year award for 2009 (broadcast 3 January 2010). They then named it as their new "reasonably priced car" from series 15 to series 20.
- German auto magazine ACE Lenkrad, Kia Cee'd surpassed the Toyota Auris and the Volkswagen Golf.
- German auto magazine Autobild, Cee'd was rated higher than the Toyota Auris, Citroen C4 and Honda Civic.
- Austria auto magazine Autotouring (2007.4), Cee'd was rated above Toyota Auris, Volkswagen Golf, Mazda 3.
- Danish auto magazine Motor, Kia Cee'd is the first car to ever earn the 6 out of 6 rating.
- Swedish magazine Vi Bilägare found in the yearly long-distance test (one year, 40 000 km) that Kia Cee´d had the highest second hand value among all cars the magazine had tested through the years.
- German car magazine AutoBild tested the Kia Cee'd during 100,000 km. Just a few flaws, ranked as high.
- France's motoring publication L'Automobile Magazine, The Kia Cee'd won a 2009 quality/reliability survey in the compact-car category.
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