New images of the Kia XCeed, the SUV version of the Kia Ceed itself

The SUV line-up of Kia will grow with a new variant called the Kia XCeed

Indeed, the Kia XCeed is the crossover version of the Kia Ceed. Unlike the original body style, it features a more extended drop of the A and C pillars, suspension with more ground clearance between the tyres and the wheel arches, and a more rugged look which, just like this generation of the Kia Ceed, is also the result of the design centre located in Frankfurt, Germany.

A design that sets this car apart from its inspiration, but nothing particularly new in a difficult segment, especially given the fratricidal SUV market and the direct rivals, where succeeding among crossovers is a complex task. Just ask Infiniti and its misunderstood Infiniti QX30.

It was no surprise either, since with the presentation of the new generation of the Kia Ceed in spring 2018, the South Korean brand assured that there would be more variants of the benchmark compact for this manufacturer, alongside the extended-body and high-volume versions such as the Kia ProCeed and the Kia Ceed Tourer.

Be that as it may, the appearance of spy photos of the new Kia XCeed in what seemed to be the car’s own photo shoot set may have accelerated the presentation, even if only through a couple of photos as a preview of its official debut. That presentation will take place in exactly two weeks, on 26 June.

The engines of the Kia XCeed

Given the current range of engines of the Kia Ceed, the most likely engine for this car will initially be the widely used 1.6-litre petrol unit producing 115 CV, although we cannot rule out the turbocharged three-cylinder 1.0 GDI capable of producing 120 CV. A diesel Kia XCeed is also viable and could feature the 136 CV 1.6 CRDi engine.

Speculation is open, and a hybrid or plug-in hybrid Kia XCeed would not only avoid competing with or taking sales from its sibling, the Kia Niro PHEV, but would also offer one more alternative among electrified SUVs with the ECO or ZERO label from the DGT.

As with the more urban SUVs from Kia, the real surprise would be a 4×4 variant, since the Korean brand focuses its crossover range on front-wheel drive, which suits asphalt better, rather than any all-wheel-drive option.

A new leap in quality

If there is one thing that has characterised Kia over the last decade, it is its ability to innovate, improve and offer products on a par with other brands of well-known renown. In fact, it is thanks to its value for money that it has been able to venture into complex markets, where buyers have strong brand loyalties, such as Europe, and carve out its own space by putting new cars in dealerships that are very attractive in terms of that same value.

Therefore, and with the proliferation of digitalisation in the commercial automotive sector, Kia proposes an alternative to the traditional analogue instrument cluster, based on the use of screens.

Thus, behind the steering wheel of the Kia XCeed, we expect a display of 12.3 inches with a high-quality resolution of 1920×720 pixels showing speedometer and tachometer information, along with other data such as consumption, range, active driving mode, active driver assistance systems…

A digital instrumentation in the Kia XCeed§h39§ which, although offered as an option, will further enhance the sense of quality that the Asian manufacturer has worked to improve in its cars.