The Kia Cee’d has become a common feature on Irish roads over the past number of years. Based on figures obtained from SIMI it would appear that since 2010 over 4,500 new Kia Cee’d models have been registered in Ireland. The introduction of the Kia Cee’d GT Line in both 5 door and pro-cee’d variants has allowed the Korean manufacturer expand their model range in the ever evolving C segment where the customer is constantly demanding stylish, modern vehicles which remain economical to run and to buy.
The subject of this review, the Kia Cee’d GT Line powered by a 3 cylinder 1 litre T-GDI delivers across the range when it comes to all of the above. First impressions if you were to take it at face value would be that the 3 cylinder 1 litre T-GDI engine may not be powerful enough to push the cee’d along but you will be mistaken. We’ll go into that in more detail later on though.
From the exterior, a number of changes have been made to the mid-life facelift Cee’d. The look that has proven popular which is the hallmark “tiger-nose” grille has been retained with updated wraparound headlamps and integrated fog lamps. The front bumper has now become more angular and wider. New daytime running lights are now incorporated into quad lights within the front bumper. Taking to the rear of the car, the bumper has again been remodelled and reshaped. LED rear lamps complete the rear of the car and enhance the sporty appearance of the new Cee’d GT Line.
Sitting into the new Kia Cee’d you are welcomed by a lot of what was in the previous model. Everything is simple to use and easily navigated. There is nothing too complicated to operate in the cabin of the Cee’d and all the relevant information can be accessed with ease. Most information can also be accessed through the steering mounted controls.
The materials throughout the cabin have the appearance that they will most definitely last the test of time. While they are durable they do not appear too robust. Included in the GT Line trim there’s an extra dash of chrome to add to the updated look along with contrasting stitching and opposing upholstery finishes in the seats. The seating offers exceptional comfort. They may not be sports seats but they do offer great support to front seat passengers at least. Space both in the front and the rear is ample. This space continues into the boot which has plenty of space at 380 litres with the rear seats in place which expands up to 1,318 litres with the rear seats folded down.
Taking to the road in the new KIA Cee’d GT line powered by the new 1.0 litre T-GDI engine you will be hearing that familiar 3-cylinder rev coming into play. It is by no means underpowered and is perfectly paired with a 6 speed manual transmission. As you progress through the gears the 1.0 litre turbo engine quickly reins in the revs and produces exceptional power distribution. Even at the higher engine revs the little engine consistently delivers. Underestimate this engine at your own peril. This little power plant has a max power output of 120 bhp along with 171 Nm of torque and I have to admit it was great fun to drive. All this power out of such a small engine does not come at a price when it comes to carbon emissions. This engine has been developed in house by KIA and it features a high-pressure direct injection system, advanced engine cooling and an integrated exhaust manifold for cleaner emissions.
When it comes to comfort on the road the engineers at KIA have made a number of modifications to the suspension and chassis in order to improve ride comfort and handling, endowing the car with more dynamic performance. Primarily they have introduced a new torque vectoring system which reduces understeer by slowing the inner wheel while cornering. Feedback from the steering whilst electronically controlled can be adjusted at the touch of a button with the sport mode offering great steering weight on country roads whilst the comfort mode is ideal for nipping through the city streets.
As I am sure you have gathered by now I was highly impressed by the sporty feel and appearance of the new KIA Cee’d GT Line model and it delivered beyond my expectations. If you are in the market for a C segment car the Cee’d GT Line should definitely be considered.
Technical Specification
Engine Size – 1.0 Turbo
Fuel Type – Petrol
Power – 120 bhp
Torque – 171 Nm
Acceleration (0 – 100km/h) – 11.1 seconds
Top Speed – 190 km/hour
Consumption (Combined) – 4.9 litres/ 100 kilometres
CO2 emissions – 115g / km
Road Tax – €200
Base Price – €20,650
Price as per model tested – €22,550 (GT Line 1.0 L T-GDI)
