Kia Cee'd hatchback (2012-2018) - MPG, running costs & CO2

Kia’s value-for-money philosophy means you make savings from the moment you hand over your cash. For example, prices start at a little less than £15,000 for the entry-level 1.4-litre 1, which undercuts less well equipped alternatives from Ford and Vauxhall.

One weakness in the Kia’s armour is its relatively steep depreciation, meaning it loses more of its value on the used market than similar models. Even the best-performing versions will struggle to hit 40% here.

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That becomes a plus for used-car buyers, though, because of the blend of value and plenty of that long seven-year warranty still to run, a used Kia Cee'd makes an excellent choice.

Kia Cee'd MPG & CO2

If keeping running costs in check is your top priority, then it's best to steer clear of the smallest petrol engines. In entry-level 1 trim, the 1.4-litre emits a hefty 138g/km of CO2 and claims just 47.1mpg fuel economy – the extra weight and larger alloy wheels of the 2 push these figures to 143g/km and 46.3mpg respectively. The 1.4-litre engine is also the most expensive for company car drivers, with a 26% Benefit in Kind rating.

Surprisingly, the 133bhp 1.6-litre petrol promises to be more fuel-efficient, with the manual-gearbox version claiming up to 52.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 124g/km.

The more up-to-date three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine is the fuel-economy champion of the range, capable of returning up to 57.6mpg fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 113g/km making for a BIK rate of 22%.

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If you have a high annual mileage, then it's worth looking closely at the diesels. On paper, the 89bhp 1.4-litre CRDi seems attractive thanks to its 67.3mpg fuel economy and 109g/km CO2 emissions. However, the price you pay for this efficiency is sluggish performance.

But the 1.6-litre CRDi diesel is a much better bet. Not only does it feel more powerful on the move, it also emits 94g/km of CO2 and is capable of up to 78.5mpg economy. BIK rates vary between 20% and 22%.

All new Kia Cee'd models cost £140 a year in road tax.

Insurance group

Low insurance groups mean that covering a Kia Cee’d shouldn’t cost you the earth. The entry-level 1.4-litre petrol falls into group 7, while even the flagship Kia Cee’d GT is in group 29 – most sporty hatchbacks are higher.

Warranty

Another aftersales highlight is Kia's impressive seven-year/100,000-mile warranty – the best in the business. It’s just a shame that this guarantee isn’t match by a similar breakdown recovery package – Kia only provides a 12-month policy here.

Servicing

Servicing your Cee'd is unlikely to break the bank, because Kia offers a great-value pre-paid maintenance package. For just £329, you can take care of servicing for three years or 30,000 miles, while paying £359 will cover the first three services plus the car's first MoT test.

Fork out £609 and you won’t need to pay for scheduled maintenance for the first five years of your Kia’s life. Better still, these packages can be transferred to subsequent owners at no extra cost.

And that’s not all: the Cee’d has been designed to run for up to 20,000 miles between check-ups – although Kia recommends that you take the car in every 12 months, regardless of mileage.