The brand is Korean, but the new Kia Ceed it couldn't be more European. Designed in Frankfurt, Germany, at the brand's European design center, and developed not far away in Rüsselsheim, it is also produced on the mainland at the Kia factory in Žilina, Slovakia, together with the Sportage.
Everything is effectively new at Ceed — it's built on a new platform, K2; new gasoline and diesel engines debut; it already reaches level 2 in autonomous driving and reinforces its arguments when it comes to comfort and safety.
The new Kia Ceed arrives in Portugal from next July — the van, Sportswagon, arrives in October. The national range will consist of four engines, two petrol and two diesel; two transmissions, a six-speed manual and a seven-speed dual-clutch (7DCT); and two levels of equipment, SX and TX — the GT Line, one of the most popular among us, will only arrive in early 2019.
Engines
The Portuguese range starts with the well-known 1.0 T-GDi petrol, three-cylinder, 120hp and 172Nm — already present in models like the Stonic —, emissions of 125g/km of CO2, available only with the six-speed manual transmission, and available with the equipment levels SX and TX.
Still on gasoline, a first. THE new Kappa 1.4 T-GDi engine , with 140 hp and 242 Nm between 1500 and 3200 rpm, (replaces the previous 1.6 atmospheric), may be associated with the two transmissions — manual (CO2 emissions of 130 g/km) and 7DCT (emissions of 125 g/km) —, and at the SX and TX equipment levels.
Diesel, also debut of new U3 1.6 CRDi engine , with two power levels — 115 and 136 hp. The 115 hp and 280 Nm version is only available with manual transmission (101 g/km emissions) and SX equipment level and will target business customers. The 136 hp version, when associated with the six-speed manual gearbox has a torque of 280 Nm, and 320 Nm when with the 7DCT, with emissions being, respectively, 106 and 109 g/km.
All thrusters are already compliant with Euro 6D-TEMP and WLTP - with the emission values to be reconverted to a transitory adjustment value, called NEDC2, with the absolute entry of the WLTP values in January 2019 .
To achieve this, Kia has equipped the engines of the new Ceed with particulate filters in gasoline and active emission control SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) in diesel.
Equipment
As is the hallmark of the Korean brand, the new Kia Ceed comes very well equipped, even when it comes to the lowest level of equipment. At the SX level it already comes standard with the Driver Alert System, Front Collision Alert, Lane Maintenance Assistant, Automatic High Lights, rear camera and leather steering wheel. It also features comfort elements such as Bluetooth, USB connection, cruise control with speed limiter, 7″ touchscreen — with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay — as well as daytime running lights, front and rear — a first in the segment — in LED.
THE TX level adds an 8″ touchscreen with navigation system, wireless phone charger, fabric and leather upholstery, 17″ alloy wheels (16″ for SX), smart key.
There are also optional Full LED packs; JBL Premium audio system with Clari-Fi sound processing technology; Leather — includes leather seats, electrically adjustable, heated and ventilated; ADAS (Advanced Driving Assistance) and ADAS Plus. The latter, for 7DCT versions only, combines Lane Keeping Assistant plus Cruise Control with Distance Keeping, enabling Level 2 in autonomous driving — an absolute first at Kia.
THE GT Line will arrive in January 2019, associated with the 1.4 T-GDi and 1.6 CRDi of 136hp, both with manual and 7DCT gearbox. Also in 2019, the option for a fully digital instrument panel and a 48V semi-hybrid version associated with the Diesel engine will arrive.
There are more appealing interiors to the eye, but Ceed's doesn't offend. Commands laid out in a logical and easy-to-use way.
Prices
The new Kia Ceed hits our market with a launch campaign — worth 4500 euros — making the Ceed more affordable, 1.0 T-GDi SX, with a price starting at 18440 euros. As always, the warranty is 7 years or 150 thousand kilometers. Kia Ceed SW, when it arrives in October, will add 1200 euros compared to the saloon.
| Version | Price | Price with campaign |
| 1.0 T-GDi 6MT SX | €22 940 | €18,440 |
| 1.0 T-GDi 6MT TX | €25,440 | €20 940 |
| 1.4 T-GDi 6MT TX | €27,440 | €22 940 |
| 1.4 T-GDi 7DCT TX | €28,690 | €24,190 |
| 1.6 CRDi 6MT SX (115 hp) | €27,640 | €23 140 |
| 1.6 CRDi 6MT TX (136 hp) | €30,640 | 26 €140 |
| 1.6 CRDi 7DCT TX (136 hp) | 32 140€ | €27,640 |