Kia Ceed review - Interior & comfort

It’s hard to believe the Ceed is only in its third generation, especially when you sit inside. In terms of quality, there’s little to separate it from the Volkswagen Golf, thanks to attractive and tactile surfaces on the dashboard and doors, plus satisfying buttons and switches. Entry-level ‘2’ models come with cloth upholstery, however mid-spec cars get part faux-leather seats, which go a long way to making the cabin feel a lot more premium. 

One thing we will say, however, is that the overall design is beginning to show its age in comparison to rivals such as the concept car-esque Peugeot 308, or the Vauxhall Astra. The Kia Niro SUV has a much more exciting cabin – although it remains a chunk more expensive than the Ceed.

Kia Ceed infotainment and navigation

The update for 2021 brought with it a new central 10.25-inch touchscreen – base cars get a smaller eight-inch display. We feel that its integration could be a little neater as it resembles an iPad glued onto the dashboard; although, it’s incredibly responsive and easy to operate. 

In eight-inch guise, the Ceed’s infotainment comes as standard with DAB radio, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Not only is the 10.25-inch display on higher-spec cars visually more impressive, but it also comes with built-in TomTom navigation.

19

Equipment

The Ceed hatchback is now sold in four trim levels: '2', ‘3’, GT-Line and GT-Line S. Even the entry-level ‘2’ is very well equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, the aforementioned eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cruise control and a reversing camera.

Step up to GT-Line and this adds a sporty body kit with black exterior accents, stiffer suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels,  LED headlights, the larger 10.25-inch touchscreen, dual-zone climate control, heated seats, a heated steering wheel and keyless entry and start. If you prefer a subtler look, the ‘3’ offers all of this with the same restrained styling as the entry-level model, alongside model-specific alloy wheels and LED ‘honeycomb’ tail-lights.

Finally, the GT-Line S tops the range and is the only model to come fitted with an automatic gearbox. Other additions include larger 18-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, leather and suede upholstery, an upgraded JBL stereo, wireless phone charging, heated rear seats and blind spot monitoring. However, at over £30,000, we’d recommend sticking with the standard GT-Line specification as this offers most of what buyers will need.

Options

In order to simplify production, there are very few options available to buyers outside the outlined trim levels. Metallic paint can be added for around £600 while there are also a handful of accessories to choose from, such as mud guards and differing alloy wheel designs.