Kia

XCeed

The Kia XCeed is a dynamically designed compact SUV that’s packed with technology and available with a choice of powerful engines. The modern styling will turn heads,  the interior has a premium feel to it and there’s plenty of on-board kit as standard. It’s quite the all-rounder and is now available with plug-in hybrid technology.

The good

Style, practicality, technology, performance and pricing

The bad

Competing against accomplished opposition

Tech Specs

Price from

£23,345

Combined Fuel up to

46.3mpg (WLTP) (201mpg PHEV)

0-62 from

8.7 seconds (0-60mph)

max speed up to

129mph

co2 from

137g/km (32g/km PHEV)

Test Drive

Kia XCeed – First Drive (2022)

Take a Kia Ceed, give it some beefed up proportions and you get the rather striking crossover XCeed model – and it has just been given added appeal.

The XCeed was first launched in 2019 and has proved a resounding success and now accounts for 10 per cent of Kia’s UK sales with 120,000 models sold across Europe.

Now, the Korean carmaker has given the five-door family SUV a makeover with a more muscular design, a revised trim line-up and refreshed powertrains.

Customers can select from grades called XCeed ‘2’, GT-Line, ‘3’ and GT-Line S (the ‘4’ has been withdrawn) and prices range from £23,345 to £30,345. In addition, there is a plug-in hybrid version for the ‘3’ trim costing £32,945.

All models boast plenty of road presence and this car is guaranteed to turn heads, especially if you opt for the bright Spirit Green colour. Eye-catching features include a gloss black radiator grille, panoramic sunroof, silver roof rails, chrome window surrounds, privacy glass, distinctive LED daytime running lights, new-look LED tail lights, smart 18-inch alloy wheels, along with body-coloured bumpers, door handles, side sill mountings and a rear spoiler.

Moving inside, the interior is clutter-free and upmarket. Our range-topping XCeed GT-Line S model boasted high-end black leather and suede seat upholstery, plenty of GT-Line badging, a floating 10.25-inch touchscreen navigation system, a 12.3-inch TFT cluster display and a leather trimmed flat-bottomed sports steering wheel.

To fend off the winter chill, the front and outer rear seats can be heated and memory settings mean the driver can save their favourite driving positions just in case someone else comes along and alters them. The readouts, dials and controls are ideally positioned for ease of use with a separate panel for all the climate control functions.

And there is a wealth of technology to be explored, such as a pitch perfect eight-speaker JBL sound system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connection, a wireless mobile phone charger, Bluetooth and smart park assist which will make you look the ultimate expert when squeezing into a tight parking space.

There is a reversing camera with dynamic guidelines and it’s easy to stay connected on the move with two front USB ports (one USB-C) plus a USB C-type port in the rear.

Our XCeed GT-Line S model, costing £30,345, was powered by a four-cylinder, 1.5-litre turbocharged, petrol engine delivering 158bhp and 253Nm of torque. It was mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and could sprint from 0-60mph in 8.7 seconds and maxed out at 129mph.

When it comes to efficiency, the car can deliver a combined 44.8mpg with carbon emissions of 143g/km. Superior economy can be found in the XCeed ‘3’ PHEV model which offers a combined 201.7mpg. Like all plug-in hybrids this figure would only be achievable if owners made the most of the 36.6 electric-only miles and charged the battery regularly. This model also has a much lower carbon emissions figure of just 32g/km which brings good tax savings to business drivers.

Our turbocharged petrol-powered car definitely impressed when put through its paces. It can easily cruise at 70mph on motorways and is well poised and balanced when fizzing through the twisting country lanes. The driver benefits from excellent all-round visibility thanks to the slightly raised seating position, and the XCeed has a turning circle of 10.4 metres so proved agile and easy to manoeuvre in busier city settings.

The engine does get a little raspy when pushed particularly hard, but that sort of adds to its appeal. And special mention to the highly efficient suspension set-up though that ironed out most road creases despite riding on 18-inch alloy wheels. These are standard on all XCeed models apart from the PHEV which has 16-inch alloys.

We also took the XCeed ‘3’ PHEV for a spin and it was pleasant enough to drive. It’s not so responsive or dynamic as its pure petrol siblings, but would be just fine for any owners that can make full use of the EV miles.

The XCeed is a practical car with plenty of room up front and space for a couple of adults in the back, unless the front seats are pushed back too far. It would be fine for children though.

The boot, which is accessed via a powered tailgate for convenience, can accommodate 426 litres of luggage, increasing to 1,378 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. The XCeed PHEV has less room due to its hybrid technology eating into storage space with capacities of 291 and 1,243 litres respectively.

There are plenty of handy storage compartments throughout the vehicle too, including practical door pockets, front and rear cup holders, a central cubby bin, seat back nets, a glovebox, plus a sunglasses compartment.

Factor in the array of safety features and driver assistance aids included and the latest Kia XCeed is a great family crossover that should continue to clock up impressive sales figures. Especially as it would seem there is a model to suit all tastes and budgets.

Test Drive

Kia XCeed 1.5 T-GDi ‘4’ (2022)

Take a standard Kia Ceed hatchback and boost its dimensions by giving it the compact SUV treatment and the end result is the rather striking Kia XCeed.

This five-door model boasts dynamic styling along with a generous level of kit as standard, which is very much the Kia way.

Customers can choose from a wide selection of trim levels and powertrains, but we opted for the high-end XCeed ‘4’ powered by a punchy 1.5-litre petrol engine delivering 158bhp and 253Nm of torque.

It carried a £29,090 price-tag and could reach 60mph from a standing start in a respectable 8.7 seconds with a maximum speed of 129mph. The XCeed can deliver a combined WLTP-tested 44.8mpg with carbon emissions of 143g/km.

The vehicle looks great from any approach with dynamic lines and quite an upright stance. There are LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, a panoramic sunroof, satin chrome window surrounds, a dark chrome and satin chrome grille, silver roof rails, rear privacy glass and smart 18-inch alloy wheels.

The interior is beautifully styled with black leather seat upholstery, a leather trimmed steering wheel that can be heated, aluminium pedals, heated and ventilated front seats, heated outer rear seats and a powered driver’s seat with memory settings.

On-board technology is plentiful with a wealth of creature comforts to explore such as the 10.25-inch touchscreen with sat nav, full smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth with voice recognition and music streaming, an eight-speaker JBL sound system, a reversing camera with dynamic guidelines, a 12.3-inch tft cluster display and a wireless phone charger.

When it comes to performance, the XCeed drives really nicely. It’s no powerhouse, but can certainly hold its own on motorways cruising effortlessly at 70mph. There is lots of power to fizz through the twisting country lanes where the road holding is reassuringly grippy with barely a sign of body sway in or out of tighter vends. The test car had a six-speed manual transmission and there was ample power on tap for steep hill climbs or to overtake slower moving vehicles.

The steering is nicely weighted and the vehicle is well insulated so barely any road surface, wind or engine noise filters into the cabin.

The XCeed is also agile in busier town centres with a good turning circle and very decent all-round driver visibility. It featured a smart park assist system for automatic parallel and perpendicular parking.

Comfort levels are excellent up front with supportive seats, but there is fairly restricted legroom in the back, especially if the front seats are pushed well back. These seats are ideal for children though or adults over shorter trips.

The boot, which is accessed via a powered tailgate, can swallow 426 litres of kit, a limit that increases to 1,378 litres with the split-folding rear seats dropped flat. In addition, there is a glovebox, a central cubby box, door bins with a drinks section, front and rear cup holders, seat back nets and a sunglasses compartment.

Safety systems are comprehensive with the likes of forward collision avoidance assist with cyclist and pedestrian detection, high beam assist, driver attention warning, intelligent stop and go, lane keep assist, intelligent speed limit warning and a full suite of airbags.

All in all, the Kia XCeed is a fabulous all-rounder that is an ideal choice for any active family. It is competitively priced and easy to drive with all the mod cons thrown in as standard, so there will be no unexpected added costs. It also has one of the best warranty packages in the business covering seven years.

Test Drive

Kia XCeed 1.6 GDi PHEV ‘3’ 6-speed DCT (2021)

Kia has added extra appeal to its stylish XCeed line-up thanks to the introduction of plug-in hybrid technology.

The front-wheel drive, five-door XCeed is based on the popular Ceed model but is chunkier and more beefed up with a ride height that’s increased by 42mm.

And now, the latest version sees the combination of a 1.6-litre 104bhp petrol engine with a 35bhp electric motor for hybrid performance and it is matched to a six-speed automatic transmission. The XCeed PHEV in high-end ‘3’ trim level is priced at £30,905 and, as is the Kia way, there are no hidden extra costs to worry about.

According to official figures, the XCeed PHEV can sprint from 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds and tops out at 107mph. Although these may not be the most exciting performance stats you will ever read, this car is about the all-round package and it can deliver a combined 210.8mpg (if EV-only driving is maximised to the full) with carbon emissions of just 32g/km which brings excellent tax savings to the business driver.

Another really positive factor is the design because there is no denying the fact that the XCeed is definitely a looker with its muscular stance, black and satin chrome closed radiator grille, LED daytime running lights, tinted glass and 16-inch alloys.

Move inside and the cabin is clutter-free but jam-packed with top-notch technology. The black cloth and faux leather seats have plenty of adjustment as does the steering wheel, so it won’t take long to find a perfect driving position. In addition, the seats and steering wheel can be heated to fend off the winter chill.

Creature comforts are plentiful and include a 10.25-inch touchscreen with sharp graphics that features navigation, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone connectivity both with voice control, Bluetooth with voice recognition and music streaming, a reversing camera with dynamic guidelines and a neat 4.2-inch cluster display behind the steering wheel.

Comfort levels are impressive with ample space up front for a couple of six footers. There is room for a pair of adults in the back provided the front seats are not pushed back too far. A third passenger will fit, but it does get a little snug. It’s ideal for a trio of youngsters though.

When it comes to performance, the XCeed is an absolute delight to drive. It’s not blisteringly quick but it’s no slouch either. It cruises effortlessly at national speed limits on motorways, is balanced and well-grounded on fast-moving B roads and also proves agile and easy to manoeuvre in busier town centres with good all-round driver visibility.

The vehicle starts up in electric mode (charge permitting) and can be driven for up to 36 miles in electric-only mode. This figure would very much depend on the driving style, weather conditions and amount of features you have running such as the air conditioning.

But the EV range can be boosted via the regenerative braking when cruising or braking, so it is possible to see the range increase on some journeys. And the driver can select from Auto, Hybrid or Electric modes. There are also Eco and Sport drive modes that alter the manner in which the car responds with Sport certainly adding an extra edge.

When it comes to storage, the boot can accommodate 291 litres of kit – a limit that increases to 1,243 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. This is slightly less than the non-hybrid model. Elsewhere there is a glovebox, a centre console with cup holders and sliding cover, front and rear door storage, seat back pockets and a sunglasses compartment.

Euro NCAP awarded the XCeed a dual score of four or five stars depending on the trim level when it was tested for its safety rating. Our test car would have been in the five-star category.

It features the likes of lane following assist, lane keep assist, high beam assist, forward collision avoidance including pedestrians and cyclists, driver attention warning, brake assist, a full suite of airbags and lots more besides.

All in all, the latest newcomer to the XCeed family with plug-in hybrid technology is a very welcome addition to the already-impressive line-up and yet another clear indication of Kia’s progression towards greener, cleaner motoring.

Test Drive

Kia XCeed 1.6 CRDi 3 (2020)

Kia’s Ceed family has expanded and the latest addition is quite the headline-grabber boasting compact SUV styling, a wealth of on-board techno treats and great all-round handling.

It’s called the XCeed and has the same wheel-base as the five-door Kia Ceed. But this car has some real attitude and, design-wise, it’s only the front doors that are carried over from its sibling model.

From a design point of view, the XCeed looks striking from any angle with its muscular profile, prominent front grille with large lower air intake, long bonnet, ‘ice cube’ LED lights with slim indicators that flow back over the wheel arches, front and rear LED fog lights, privacy glass and 18-inch alloys to complete the look.

Step inside and the XCeed is upmarket, spacious and packed with technology and creature comforts. Our high-end XCeed 3 model, costing £25,675, featured the likes of a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, Bluetooth with voice recognition and music streaming, a DAB radio, plus a reversing camera with dynamic guidelines. There are heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and lots more besides.

The layout is cleverly thought out with all controls, dials and readouts perfectly positioned for driver usability. The centre console is slightly angled towards the driver for convenience and the floating infotainment system is neatly situated above the dashboard.

The test car was powered by a punchy 1.6-litre 134bhp diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and it could sprint to 60mph from a standing start in 10.2 seconds, maxing out at 122mph. According to official figures, this XCeed can deliver combined fuel economy of 53.3mpg with carbon emissions of 138g/km.

Comfort levels within the car are high and the driver’s seat has plenty of adjustment to help find the perfect position. There’s room for a couple of adults to stretch out in the back and there is enough space for a third to be added if they don’t mind rubbing shoulders.

On to performance then where out on the open road the XCeed feels nicely balanced with ample grip through long sweeping bends. On motorways it cruises with ease at the national speed limit and there is always plenty of power on tap from the diesel engine.

The acceleration through the six-speed transmission is both smooth and responsive, and overtaking slower moving traffic on country lanes is no problem at all. In addition, the slightly elevated driving position results in good all-round visibility which is a bonus when weaving through the busier city centre traffic with cars and pedestrians darting out from all angles.

The XCeed is well insulated too with noise levels fairly suppressed unless it’s driven particularly hard when the engine develops quite a growl. But generally engine, road surface and wind noise are kept to a minimum.

Clearly any compact SUV needs to have all the practicality bases covered and the XCeed does just that with a generously-sized boot that can hold 426 litres of kit – a limit that increases to 1,378 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped down. Elsewhere, there are a number of convenient storage compartments scattered throughout the cabin, including a glovebox, deep door pockets with a section for bottles, a covered tray in front of the gearstick with a USB port, practical cup holders, a central cubby box, pockets in the seat backs and a drop-down sunglasses holder.

And completing this impressive all-rounder is a whole host of safety kit to protect occupants, pedestrians and to help prevent accidents happening in the first instance.

Safety systems on the XCeed include lane keeping assist, high beam assist, driver attention warning, forward collision avoidance assist, anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, hill start assist, electronic stability control, plus a full suite of airbags.

All in all, this latest addition to the Ceed family really is the complete package. It’s economically priced, delivers great driving dynamics, has eye-catching good looks and offers a wealth of on-board kit.

And it comes with Kia’s excellent seven-year warranty too. Fair to say then that it certainly has the X factor.

Test Drive

Kia XCeed – First Drive (2019)

Kia has built an enviable reputation for producing cars that are beautifully designed, packed with technology and very competitively priced and the latest model is guaranteed to make an impact in the compact SUV sector.

Called the XCeed and priced from £20,795 to £29,195, it is the fourth member to join the all-new Ceed family alongside the five-door hatch, three-door coupe and wagon models. The eight-model XCeed line-up is based on four turbocharged engines, two transmissions and three trim grades called 2, 3 and First Edition so there’s lots of choice.

There’s no denying that the XCeed has a commanding road presence with distinctive styling and, although the car shares the same wheelbase as the Ceed, only the front doors are carried over. Eye catching features include an athletic stance, a prominent grille with larger lower air intake, ‘ice cube’ LED lights topped by a slim turning signal that flows back over the wheel arches, a long bonnet and new narrow tail lights. There are heavily creased lines that run horizontally across the tailgate and bumper to give the car a wider appearance, and very smart alloy wheels to complete the look.

The interior is similar to its other Ceed stablemates with a sculptured centre console angled slightly towards the driver. A floating infotainment system has a prominent position at the top of the dashboard while the lower section of the instrument panel features touch-sensitive buttons and dials to control the audio volume, along with the climate control.

There is a wealth of technology to explore with full smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, a DAB radio and Bluetooth standard across all trims. Move up through the grades though and you will see the introduction of a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a navigation system with Kia Connected Services, an eight-speaker JBL sound system, smart park assist, a panoramic sunroof, heated seats and a whole lot more.

The cabin has a classy feel to it with plenty of soft touch surfaces and snazzy satin chrome dashboard trim, plus a yellow colour pack for First Edition models that adds black upholstery with vibrant yellow stitching on the seats and doors, yellow seat piping and a blend of gloss black and yellow highlights throughout the car.

There’s a good choice of engines too. For petrol fans there is a three cylinder 1.0-litre 118bhp unit or a 1.4-litre unit delivering 138bhp. There are also two Smartstream diesel options that are the cleanest the company has ever developed, and these are offered in 1.6-litre with outputs of either 114bhp or 134bhp. A plug-in powertrain will follow in early 2020.

We tested three variants and they had their own individual appeal. First up was XCeed 3 powered by the 1.6 134bhp diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and priced at £25,345. This car could reach 60mph from a standing start in 10.2 seconds, topped out at 122mph and could deliver combined fuel efficiency of 53.3mpg (WLTP) with CO2 emissions of 116g/km.

Kia believes the 3 trim level will be the most popular and it is a car that’s fully loaded with all the on-board infotainment systems imaginable. It also has the classy touchscreen and a cabin that feels very premium.

When it comes to performance, the XCeed is beautifully balanced and the road holding is very assured. It accelerates effortlessly through the gears and quickly reaches national speed limits on motorways where it cruises along in near silence.

The slightly elevated driving position results in great all-round visibility and all the dials, controls and readouts are ideally positioned for ease of use. The XCeed is agile and easy to manoeuvre in busy city centres with nice light steering, but is just as content showing off to its full potential when powering down the faster country lanes.

The spacious cabin is bright and welcoming with ample room in the back for a couple of passengers provided the front seats are not pushed back too far.

Next up was the top-of-the-range First Edition model. It is only available with the 1.4 petrol engine, matched to a six-speed manual or seven-speed DCT automatic transmission. We opted for the auto gearbox, making this the most expensive XCeed in the line-up at £29,195.

The yellow body and interior trim were greeted with mixed opinion. I liked it and thought it looked quite exclusive, but other people felt it was a little too garish.

But one thing we agreed on was the performance of the car. The engine was punchy, the gearbox ultra-smooth and the handling sharper than its diesel counterpart. The 0-60mph sprint time is faster too at 9.2 seconds with a top speed of 124mph, but the fuel economy is lower at a combined 40.4mpg with carbon emissions of 134g/km.

The auto version of the XCeed also features drive modes with Sport or Normal settings and they alter the steering and throttle responses accordingly.

Finally, we took a spin in the entry-level XCeed 2 powered by the 1.0-litre engine. This car, priced at £21,045, performs well enough but lacks the refined interior quality of the other models. There is a smaller touchscreen and more basic equipment levels. That said; the three-pot engine was fun to drive and the power levels were good even if the engine sounded quite raspy when pushed hard.

Any family car needs to provide good storage options and the XCeed does just that with a boot capacity of 426 litres. This can be increased to 1,378 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. First Edition models feature 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats along with a powered tailgate.

Safety features are comprehensive across the XCeed line-up with the likes of Forward Collision Warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, Blind-spot Collision Warning, Smart Parking Assist, Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Lane Keeping Assist, High Beam Assist and Lane Following Assist which controls acceleration, braking and steering by tracking vehicles and road markings ahead to keep the car in-lane and a safe distance from any cars in front.

And of course all XCeed models are covered by the best warranty in the business of seven years or 100,000 miles.

Kia claims the XCeed offers the space and practicality of an SUV with the sporty packaging and handling of a hatchback making it quite the comprehensive all-rounder. And after a day driving a selection of models, I wholeheartedly agree with that summary.