The new Kia Ceed 2018, debuting in Geneva

The third generation of the Kia Ceed, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, will be in dealerships after the summer. Here is a look at its main new features.

Besides dropping the apostrophe from the name, which becomes Kia Ceed instead of c’eed for all markets, the new compact from Kia comes loaded with new features, and not only in design. After its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, where the five-door body version is presented along with a preview of one of the two others still to come –an estate and the proCeed–, its arrival on the Spanish market is scheduled for the third quarter of the year.

New engines: a focus on petrol

Technically, it should be noted that the new Kia Ceed shares a first-rate kinship with the new Hyundai i30. As such, among the new engines it can be fitted with under the bonnet, it is no surprise to find the magnificent 140 hp 1.4 T-GDi petrol. Additionally, there will be an updated version of the efficient 1.0 three-cylinder with turbocharger producing up to 120 hp. The entry-level variant is the 1.4 naturally aspirated with 100 hp.

But Kia has not forgotten about diesel, and the new Ceed will also receive the new-generation 1.6 CRDi that we will soon see, among others, in the Hyundai Kona and Kia Stonic. Available in 115 and 136 hp versions, the main contribution of this engine is its SCR system with particulate filter to reduce emissions. An automatic dual-clutch gearbox is optionally available.

On the chassis, the main contribution of the new Kia Ceed, beyond the specific suspension adjustments to improve precision and comfort at the wheel –the new platform, which Kia calls K2, also helps– is the dynamic driving system Drive Mode Select. It lets you choose between Normal or Sport modes, varying steering assistance and throttle response.

Same exterior size, more interior space

Externally, the new Kia Ceed keeps the same length, as it shortens the front overhang by the same amount the rear is extended (20 mm), resulting in 4.31 metres in length, while keeping the wheelbase at 2.65 metres. But with another 20 mm of width and 23 mm less height, it has a sportier design.

The new design nevertheless allows a boot with 395 litres of capacity, gaining almost 15 litres over the current model. Kia also promises more space in the cabin at shoulder height for rear seats. The dashboard now has a completely new design, with the main display of the multimedia system floating, although conventional controls are kept for operating the main systems.

Among the wide range of driver assistance systems, the new Kia Ceed debuts a lane-following assistant called Lane Following Assist which, according to the brand, can be classed among the level 2 autonomous driving systems. It operates between 0 and 130 km/h, and is able to monitor and identify gaps in other lanes to move in the most favourable way in congested traffic situations, detecting road markings and controlling acceleration, braking and steering while maintaining the safety distance from the vehicle ahead.