Kia XCeed hatchback - Interior & comfort

Kia continues to raise the quality of its interiors and the XCeed even improves over the latest Ceed hatchback, courtesy of a new infotainment system that’s bigger and sharper and even includes live sport scores. Equipment levels are strong across the range, with digital instruments making an appearance on the top trim.

Kia XCeed dashboard

The high-spec ‘3’ and ‘GT-Line S’ models get a new 10.25-inch infotainment display that's faster to load and has better graphics, but with familiar, clear menus. The '2' trim still comes with an eight-inch screen but gets a rear-view camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard; features for which some premium manufacturers charge extra.

Equipment

The ‘GT-Line S’ model gets Kia's digital instruments, and while the 12.3-inch screen is crisp and easy to read, it doesn't offer quite as much customisation as some rivals. There's also a panoramic sunroof, a exterior design and black door mirrors. Inside, it has some colourful interior detailing, a JBL sound system, wireless phone charging and leather-trimmed seats and a powered driver's seat with memory function.

Move down one rung to '3' and you still get 18-inch wheels (16-inch versions on the PHEV), tinted glass, part-leather seats, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, along with dual-zone climate control.

The '2' trim has 16-inch alloy wheels, LED tail-lights, air-conditioning, cruise control and roof rails. A ‘Connect’ trim level, which includes the larger wheels, three free-of-charge metallic paint colours and part-faux-leather upholstery was also available. It seemed quite good value seeing as it only cost a little more than the ‘2’ trim on which it was based – the caveat being it was only offered with the smallest petrol engine.

GT-Line S adds a bodykit, a panoramic sunroof, black leather and suede upholstery, heated rear seats and a powered tailgate. There’s also an eight-speaker JBL stereo system, wireless smartphone charger and 12.3-inch ‘Supervision’ instrument display, along with extra safety equipment.

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Options

Kia tends to avoid extensive options lists, instead advising customers to pick the trim level that best fits their needs. Metallic paint costs around £600, which most customers will choose given the ‘free’ colour for most trim levels is brown. One benefit of the Connect trim was a choice of five no-cost colours, including black, grey, yellow, blue and red.

You can also pick from a range of approved accessories, including items such as silver door mirror caps, protective bumper trim, dashcams and even racing stripe decals.