Kia Cee'd hatchback (2012-2018) | owner reviews: MPG, Problems & Reliability

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My wife already drives an earlier version of this car (09 plate) and that car has been utterly reliable and practical as a family car. Having experienced lets say a few reliability issues with my own BMW I decided to sacrifice performance for reliabilty and I have not been disappointed so far. Just like my wifes earlier car this much higher specd newer car just keeps going. It is a much better car in terms of performance comfort ride and general overall fit. It has not only an auto box which is very traditional ie not CVT but had flappy paddles too which mean you could imagine you were in a much more expensive car. The last car I drove with flappy paddle shifts was an Audi R8. However dont expect the 1.6 petrol engine to get your heart racing with its blistering performance because powerful it isnt. It will accelerate reasonably if you gun it and will happily keep at the legal top speed all day long on a motorway where permitted with the engine just ticking over. I think fuel economy is good for a petrol engine but if you want real economy and you do the miles get the equivalent diesel version. I drive these regularly as a part time collection and delivery driver and the diesel economy is particularly impressive in both auto and manual versions. My journeys are now all short with the occasional long trip thrown in and I'm impressed with my 35mpg fuel consumption around town and tbats with the Eco button turned off. The car is so full of gadgets despite having driven for 40 plus years that Im always finding something new like the additional cornering lights that turn on in bends quite amazing and useful. As the rear seats fold food down you can carry a huge amount of stuff in the boot. Rear passengers have a decent amount of legroom and are always suprised how quiet the car is. Daytime led running lights mean you are always visible to others whatever time of day it is. Theres a good choice of colours, mine's gunmetal grey. If you dont want lots of marks and swirls showing on your paintwork I would avoid black but thats my opinion. As the car paintwork is waterbased black with a combination of kids fingerprints that have suntan lotion on them will ruin your cars look. The best feature of the car is its 7 year warranty. Keep your car serviced every year and you have lots of peace of mind. Get a service plan at yhe outset and you will have at least three years of peace of mind that you are not going to face any huge unexpected bills. Kia dealerships do some cracking finance deals too so you dont even have to fork out huge sums of money to buy these cars. So we now run two Ceeds both 1.6 petrol autos. My wifes car s 7 year warranty is coming to an end but its been so reliable I expect my newer version to be the same. These cars wont turn many heads but you can feel quite smug that they are unlikely to let you down or leave you stranded on the roadside Would I recommend them to anyone...absolutely. Go test drive one and see for yourself

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Having had a Picanto, Mk1 Carens, a Cee'd Diesel Auto and Manual estate, I am now in this car. I am knocked out by Kia reliability. The only fault EVER across 5 cars was the aerial amplifier 2 cars ago - had radio then aerial changed with no fuss under warranty. The only fault in design is that every Kia I have owned produces a hissing noise from the rear wheel bearings when side load is applied (like going around a roundabout). As I tow a caravan, I fitted rear suspension stiffeners. Recently tried a 'Pro-Bitz' tuning 'dongle'.....general running around (5 mile cross country journey) improves 47 mpg to about 55! On an auto. But remove when you send car for service. No hesitation about buying again and have consantly recommended to friends.

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I've read some of the other reviews and would like to comment on those first. The ''menu'' system, for me at least [and I'm now 77] is actually quite easy to understand very few cars these days have an 'always on' thermo and oil pressure gauge. However, these will appear if there is cause for alarm through the engine management light system. so no problem there. The only criticism that I have is that, on my model at least, the running MPG display only goes up to 60mpg [my last car a FIAT STILO went up to 100mpg - and on similar journey returned 45mpg!]. The only reliability problems I've had have been a blown ''running light bulb'' and a rear shocker that was changed as a precaution. I find it easy to drive at least as comfortable as my son's BMW 3 Series Sport [I'm told this is because of BMW fitting run flat tyres]. It's very quiet on good roads and handles at least as well as the Ford Escort I recently had as a courtesy car due to a minor shunt. In the first instance the steering does feel a tad ''indirect'' but once you get used to it is actually quite direct. The performance etc. is up to expectations and very few drivers would ever, in normal use, approach the limits. IN fact my son tells me that I drive much too fast - and that in spite of him having at least an accident every two years during which time I've only had ONE minor parking shunt! Mine is the Cee'd One spec which includes wheel controlled media, voice controlled bluetooth and trip computer. What else can I say except that I've now had five new cars, two Citroens and two FIATS, and have driven a considerable number more and my Kia Cee'd One is the first car that does more than it says on the tin! If anything Kia understate their case and, notice that they have no been drawn into the emissions scandal! By the way the Kia/Hyundai small diesel is recognised as being probably the best on the market due in no small measure because they have gone back to a proper engineeering solution for reliability by using a proper camchain instead of a cambelt. That seven year warranty is not to be sneezed at either. I have the confidence to consider ordering a new Kia Cee'd semi-automatic in the New Year. Go to the internet and you can get some pretty good discounts into the bargain. It's where I bought all my last three cars and I've yet to be disappointed in the deals I got. As an aside as long as your car has done less than 5000 miles you can get a good ''servicing'' deal from any KIA dealer-

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My 2nd Cee'd 2. Latest facelift still has all the faults previously mentioned including, IMO, very poor ride and poor instrumentation. Tried to change to Kia 15" wheels but they do not fit latest model which suprised KIA Support. Have just changed headlight bulbs for Philips H7 extreme 130 extra - considerable improvement. However new fully auto 7 speed DCT has excellent acceleration albeit can not be used for engine braking as previous TQ box. Big improvement in MPG - now 44 overall brim to brim, zero road tax, despite my complaints I still recommend the facelift KIA Cee'd with 7 speed dct.

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Despite a few small dislikes, No Permanent Engine Temp gauge, No Permanent Trip Odometer, Not fit for purpose Jacking System,,Inadequate Headlight illumination, Useless hard to decipher Menu System, No auto dip rear view on Ceed 2 , this is a excellent trouble free car that feels a lot faster than the quoted figures especially initial acceleration with No turbo lag. Must fit Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance tyres for some steering feel & slightly better ride. The auto box is excellent, No DPF problems and I am looking forward to trying out the forthcoming GTLine with new 7 speed DCT box hoping it is fully & not semi-auto.

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Ride uncomfortable, better on 15" wheels. Steering vastly improves with Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance tyres. Fuel consumption brim to brim over 14000 miles 34 mpg. Best feature is the excellent auto box turbo diesel combo, no turbo lag. All versions require auto lights. Diabolical menu. Not fit for purpose jacking system, overlarge fuel dial, Requires permanent temp gauge & trip odometer.

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Cee'd 2 1.6 CRDi auto 8500 miles only 32.5 mpg Poor ride with 16" wheels on rough roads, ok on motorway. better with 15" higher profile tyres. Not fit for purpose jacking system, No permanent engine temp gauge or easy view trip odometer, have to use hard to read menu. Pointless & feel less Flex steer. Headlights not strong enough. Would prefer rear lights to illuminate with DRL. Best feature excellent autobox/engine combo No turbo lag. Like powered foldback door mirrors, rear parking sensors. Space saver wheel. Do not like omission of drivers knee air bag, & auto dip rear view mirror.

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There's a lot to like about the Kia Cee'd hatchback. It really can now stand tall and proud amongst it's more mainstream competitors. If you were to put aside any pre-conceptions about what you think it should be, and took a good look at what's in front of you, I think that you would see this car very differently. It's a handsome thing. It's graceful curves and sporty stance -to my eyes- make the Focus look a little "fussy", like it's designers were trying too hard. It's a quality product too. VW owners should take a seat in one of these and have a good nosey around. Now I would never dream to say that Kia's quality is better than VW's excellent products (which I have owned recently), l would say however that I doubt you would be disappointed with the Cee'd's fit, finish and quality of materials. My 1.6 litre diesel is economical, fast and quiet to drive. My brother and I are both in agreement that my Cee'd diesel is more refined than his similar age/mileage petrol powered Astra. There are those that will say that the "Ford Focus is a more exciting drive" but the differences are really not that great. The Cee'd driving experience is perfectly pleasant. As is the spacious cabin and luggage area. The seven year warranty isn't too bad either. Doubters and badge snobs will tell you that the Kia Cee'd isn't so cheap anymore and that for pretty much the same money you could have any of it's mainstream rivals. Well it's not cheap anymore because it's good. I'll keep my Cee'd thanks. If anyone from Kia is out there you should be very proud. And while you are there, better headlamps next time please- my only gripe.

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NO PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE. ALWAYS RELIABLE AND RESPONSIVE TO WHAT I ASK IT TO DO

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Absolutely no problems

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Brilliant little car especially for the price. I'm used to the equivalent focus that lacks the C'eeds agility and cosy feeling inside. The engine although small is punchy and doesn't feel underpowered unless you move off in second. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a small family hatch.

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I owned a 2008 Pro_cee'd 1.6 diesel manual from new in 2008 for 7 years and handed it down to my daughter-in-law. Excellent car. So I bought a 5-door Ceed '4' 1.6 CRDi manual last year. The interior is vastly improved - get the '4' version for the extra dosh, it's really worth it. Not the 'dour' interior someone else mentioned at all. It has less boot space due to the 'tray' provided but plenty adequate. I check the mpg manually versus the 'dash' computer figure and it's actually a bit less but the car does 49mpg guaranteed, as did the previous car. More on long journeys. The gearbox is slick but I wouldn't say the 'from start' acceleration is great but still adequate. Some wind noise which I have had looked at/window changed but to no avail, it gets a bit annoying at times. The satnav has a mind of its own sometimes, just can't se why it goes awry, just be aware of where you are going. Make a list of the main roads you want to go along! Reliability I have found to be excellent over nearly 9 years of use - will buy again. If you are a boy racer don't purchase but for the average family man/person then GET ONE.

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Great little car that replaced a VW Touran. Very economical although official Govt. figures are a dream. No complaints of any kind. Does everything it needs to very well. No problems found at first service.

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KIA's are never less than 100% reliable

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Not had it long enough yet but so far no problems.

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done 7000 miles without a problem

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Very reliable so far (although it's only 5 months old)

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My dad had this on hire while he waited for his company car to be built. A decent car very comfortable and quiet with lots of space inside. Pretty good looking too. Why the terrible rating then? Well its all because of the auto box, it really was the worst gearbox i have ever used. Wouldnt kick down quickly enough and even in sport mode changed up too early at times. It also stayed in second gear coming up to junctions so would have to wait a few seconds for it to realise we have stopped. My mums c4 egs gearbox is better thats how bad the kia box is. Wouldnt reconmend the car with this gearbox to anyone

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No Red thumbs down