New Kia Ceed Ready with 5 Engines and More Upscale Feel

Kia is moving the new Cee'd slightly upmarket for its second generation in Europe, and it will be available with five engines: three petrol and two diesel. Kia has successfully established itself has a major automaker with quality products at a fair price. Now it is attempting to do the same thing in Europe, and the new Cee'd will be the next step in this process. 

The new Cee'd rides on a completely new platform that retains the old model's 2.65m wheelbase. However, it is 4.31m long, 50mm longer, and 1.47m high, 10mm shorter. The overall body is more narrow, but both the front and rear track have been widened. These changes should make the new Cee'd a more dynamic handling car. 

The new Cee'd is designed to be a much better driving car than its predecessor. The body is 45% more rigid, the steering is quicker and in-cabin noise is down. There is also 12mm more headroom and 21mm more legroom in the front. Cargo capacity is also up 12% to 380l.  

Kia will have five available engines in the new Cee'd. The two diesels are a 1.4l unit with 90ps or a 1.6l with either 110ps or 128ps. The three petrol engines are a 1.4l with 100ps, a 1.6l with 130ps or a direct-injected 1.6l with 135ps. All of the engines are available with a six-speed manual transmission, but only the 1.6 liter engines, both petrol and diesel, are available with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic. The best fuel economy and emissions comes from the 110ps diesel that uses 4.0l/100km and emits 104g/km of CO2. The worst fuel economy is from the regular 1.6 liter petrol engine that uses 6.4l/100km and emits 149g/km of CO2. 

Kia's EcoDynamics package that adds start/stop tech and low rolling-resistance tires is available on all but the regular 1.6 liter petrol, and it cuts fuel economy and emissions slightly on all available models. 

"The original Cee'd was a paradigm shift for Kia, taking the company into the hotly contested C-segment with a truly competitive car for the first time. Just as the original Cee'd represented a major step forward for Kia in 2007, this second-generation model represents a further leap for the brand - both in terms of the capability and sophistication of the vehicle, and what it will do to drive further momentum in our European sales," said Paul Philpott, Chief Operating Officer, Kia Motors Europe.

Standard features include Ipod connectivity with a six speaker stereo, gloss black and aluminum trim, and LED cabin lighting. 

The new Cee'd will be built in Slovakia with 10 available exterior colors.