Kia Ceed SW

Because of the way the UK vehicle excise duty bands are structured, ISG will initially be available only with the standard (89bhp) 1.6-litre CRDi diesel engine. It gives Kia a model that will have particular appeal to business users who can derive maximum tax advantage from the fuel economy and CO₂ improvements it bestows. With the ISG system, CO₂ emissions of the cee'd SW 1.6 CRDi are just 119g/km – below the all-important level of 120g/km for benefit-in-kind taxation. For business drivers, it means a rate of 13 per cent for tax liability compared to the 18 per cent with the majority of rivals. Average fuel economy is 62.8mpg.

Some of the features found on the cee'd 2 SW EcoDynamics are also fitted to other models in the range, and they help to reduce fuel consumption by an average of five per cent. All cars with 16-inch wheels have Michelin Energy Saver low rolling resistance tyres like those on the cee'd EcoDynamics, bringing worthwhile gains in fuel economy and CO₂. A six-speed gearbox becomes standard on all manual diesel variants, replacing the old five-speed transmission, as a further aid to improving economy and emissions. A gearshift indicator will become standard across the range from late 2009 to advise drivers on the most fuel-efficient points to change up or down.

Kia will also fit cee'd SW petrol-engined models with a new kick-down switch on the accelerator later in 2009 to prevent unintentional full-throttle use. A small resistance felt through the accelerator pedal helps drivers recognise full-throttle condition and thereby cuts down on excessive fuel consumption.

Polishing a diamond

The new two-tier line-up will be badged cee'd SW 2 and cee'd SW 3, with the super-efficient 2 EcoDynamics model equating to cee'd SW 2 but for one or two equipment differences. Both grades continue to deliver the outstanding value for money for which Kia is renowned.

Right from the start, cee'd SW slipped seamlessly into the European motoring landscape. Its proportions, size and style ensured it was perfectly at home in Europe's most chic cities.

The design changes Kia is introducing could therefore be regarded as polishing a diamond. They are most noticeable at the front, which is now dominated by what has become known as 'the Schreyer grille' in honour of Kia's German chief design officer, Peter Schreyer, who created it. This is an elegant slim, chrome-edged opening, pinched in the middle to frame the silver Kia badge.

There are two versions of the new grille. On cee'd SW 2 and 2 EcoDynamics, it features a black core with a full chrome surround. The grille pattern is echoed in the lower air intake below the front bumper.  The luxurious cee'd SW 3 has a unique grille pattern that emphasises its more sporty character and trim, but the biggest change is to the grille surround –­ a slim chrome band with a broader outer border in high-gloss black. Both designs give the new cee'd SW the look of an increasingly premium, sophisticated product.

The grille is flanked by front light clusters with black bezel projection headlamps as standard. The lamp units have a bulge in their lower edges where they meet the new bumper assembly, giving both trim levels a more dynamic and sporty appearance. There is a large pyramid-shaped lower air intake housing reshaped foglights. The bonnet is also new, with sharper creases taking the eye towards the new grille and a flatter and higher centre section gradually dropping towards a straight front edge. 

At the rear, there are new lamp clusters creating an LED effect to the lighting and adding to the premium character of the cee'd SW.

First-class ticket

Kia has set itself the goal of being in the world's top three manufacturers for actual quality within three years, and among the top five for perceived quality within five years. That determination is evident as soon as you step aboard the revised cee'd SW. It is now like travelling first class while paying an economy price.

From the tones and textures of the trim materials to the action and smoothness of the major controls, the spacious and stylish interior has enjoyed an upgrade. And five people can travel in equal comfort on one ticket.

If cargo capacity is more important than passenger space, cee'd SW is equally happy to oblige. The ingenious tailgate has top hinges located 225mm into the roofline so that its upswing and outswing are reduced by 72mm. It means that owners can stand closer to the car when loading and the tailgate can be fully opened even in restricted parking spaces or garages.

cee'd SW therefore has one of the most accessible load areas in the C-segment. Luggage capacity up to the rear window line is 534 litres, including 55 litres in trays beneath the boot floor. With the 60:40 split rear seats folded flat, luggage capacity rises to 1664 litres.

New on the revised cee’d SW is the sporty-looking four-spoke steering wheel from Soul. This new wheel has more slender cross-bars at the three o' clock and nine o' clock positions and an elegant twin-bar metal support at the bottom. The spokes house the remote audio and trip computer controls, plus Bluetooth on cee'd SW 2 EcoDynamics and cee'd SW 3, and cruise control buttons on cee'd SW 3. The wheel-mounted switches are new, and work on the smoother-operating see-saw principle.

The perfectly-positioned centre console has been completely redesigned to make it more intuitive and more satisfying to use. There is a new audio layout with a large central control switch that makes it easier to change the volume, radio stations or CD tracks while on the move. The standard air conditioning controls have been relocated with the same aim in mid. The same is true of the dual-zone climate control switches on cee'd 3.

A silver finish is now applied to the console surround on cee'd SW 2 and 2 EcoDynamics, while the luxurious and sporty cee'd SW 3 has a lustrous piano black finish that echoes the edging on the main front air intake. Even the gearlevers have been upgraded and now sit at the end of a lower console tray with flying buttresses at either side to hold items more securely in place.

Just one example of the attention to detail and usability found in the revised cee'd SW can be seen in the indicators, which now feature an overtaking function. When changing lanes, the driver now need only lightly touch the left-hand stalk and the indicators blink three times.

In the UK, Kia has a seven-model line-up based on the two trim levels and three 1.6-litre engines – a 124bhp petrol unit and 89bhp and 113bhp versions of the European-designed and European-built 1.6-litre CRDi turbo diesel.

Smoother and sharper

The all-independent suspension, with struts at the front and Kia's compact in-wheel multi-link arrangement at the rear,  has been widely praised for allowing precise direct cornering and stable lane-changing at high speeds while delivering excellent ride comfort. The latest revisions, in response to feedback from customers and the motoring press, make both the handling and ride characteristics even better.

cee’d SW benefits from a new Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) programme which has improved the electronic communications between the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and the electronic power steering (known as Motor Driven Power Steering or MDPS). Another new introduction is Hill-start Assist Control (HAC). (VSM/ESC and HAC are standard on 3 and optional on all other grades).

ESC detects potential loss of grip from either the front or rear and returns the car to a safe course by braking a wheel, reducing engine power or both. Meanwhile VSM reduces the degree of steering assistance if the driver applies too much lock that could cause under –or over steer, and increases the assistance when he or she counter-steers to correct potential skid. In this way, the driver can tell by the steering feel whether he or she is taking the right course of action to stabilise the car.

HAC holds the car on up gradients for three seconds whilst the driver transfers his or her foot from the brake to the accelerator, to prevent the car from rolling backwards.

Every cee’d SW continues to enjoy the seven-year or 100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty that, in Europe, is unique to cars made at Kia's Zilina factory in Slovakia.  It is transferable to subsequent owners; a major selling point for anyone trading in the car before the warranty period has expired.

Prices start at £13,995 and there is an easily-understood walk-up between trim grades and engines, in keeping with the simplified badging structure. There is a £1500 increment to progress from cee'd SW 2 to cee'd SW 3, and a £1000 premium to move from a petrol engine to a diesel, or manual transmission to automatic.  

On-the-road prices for the revised Kia cee’d SW: