Kia XCeed Review 2024

June 2019

Kia XCeed revealed

Kia has launched its new XCeed as an 'urban crossover utility vehicle' set to take on the Ford Focus Active when it goes on sale later this year - with prices expected to start at around £21,000.

The only body panels carried over from the five-door Ceed are the front doors, suggesting the XCeed is a bit more than a jacked-up hatch in the same vein as the Focus Active. The Korean manufacturer claims it offers comparable interior space to an SUV, along with a more sporty drive than conventional crossovers.

The XCeed sits up to 42mm higher than the standard Ceed. It's also slightly longer than the hatchback and shorter than a Sportage, while its boot is bigger than the Ceed's (426 litres compared to 395 litres). An adjustable two-step boot floor along with a hidden underfloor storage compartment sounds promising for buyers seeking practicality.

Inside, the XCeed's cabin looks largely the same as the standard Ceed. A yellow colour pack can be selected in a bid to appeal to a younger audience. This features vibrant yellow highlights throughout the cabin, including trim around the air vents and stitching on the seats and doors.

There's also an optional 10.25-inch navigation system perched on the dash, along with the brand's first 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in place of conventional dials.

Engineers have been tasked with making the XCeed handle better than a typical family SUV. Its fully-independent suspension is softer than that used in the regular hatchback, yet Kia claims it doesn't lean any more in bends.

There's the same engine line-up as the Ceed, including a 1.0-litre three-cylinder and 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrols. The range is topped by the 1.6-litre turbo used in the Ceed GT, while a 1.6-litre diesel is available with 115 or 136PS.

Electrified engines, including 48V mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, will be offered in the Kia XCeed from early 2020.

Production of the Kia XCeed will start at the firm's Slovakia plant in August, with UK deliveries expected late in the year. Prices will be confirmed at a later date, expected to start at around £21,000. The XCeed will be sold with the company's seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

July 2019

Kia XCeed priced from £20,795

Following the reveal of the all-new Kia XCeed last month, Kia is today releasing pricing and specifications of the fourth member of the Ceed range. Order books are now open for the Kia XCeed, with the first cars set to arrive in UK showrooms in September 2019.

The all-new Kia XCeed adds a Compact Utility Vehicle to the Ceed range, a body style that is increasing in popularity, and one that bridges the gap between the traditional hatchback and SUV body styles. It has a higher ground clearance, is 85mm longer and 43mm taller than the Ceed hatchback, however, with its sloping roofline it sits lower than an SUV, giving the Kia XCeed a dynamic and more distinctive look.

The exterior of the Kia XCeed shares only the front door panels with the Ceed hatchback. Face-on, there is a distinct difference between the two models, helped by the longer, taller, sportier bonnet, new dual blade front grille, satin chrome garnish, revised bumper and new LED headlamps. Changes at the rear of the car include a new dynamic bumper, diffuser and new LED lights. The rear proportions give the Kia XCeed a muscular stance on the road. The Kia XCeed also benefits from SUV styling in the form of black wheel arch trims along with unique 16- or 18-inch alloy wheels.

At the heart of the Kia XCeed’s dashboard is Kia’s new 10.25-inch TFT LCD widescreen system, featuring the new UVO CONNECT telematics system. It is featured as standard on ‘3’ and ‘First Edition’ grades. New functions include a split screen mode, home screen customisation, Bluetooth® multi-connection and user profiles. UVO CONNECT puts a raft of information at owners’ fingertips, including live traffic, weather, and parking availability. The system can also be accessed via a UVO smartphone app, providing remote access to a range of vehicle functions, including at-a-glance overview of key elements of the car, including doors and locks. The last known location of the vehicle can be viewed, and a monthly summary of the car’s usage. Diagnosis alerts are shared with the smartphone user, keeping them informed of the current status of the car, with notifications automatically sent whenever an event is detected in the car.

The Kia XCeed will be available with Kia’s trademark, easy to understand line-up of ‘2’, ‘3’ and flagship ‘First Edition’ models, with both petrol and diesel engines on offer. A seven-speed DCT automatic transmission is available with the 1.4 T-GDi 138bhp engine.

Grade ‘2’ models are comprehensively kitted out with 16-inch alloy wheels, silver roof rails, a rear spoiler, a gloss black mesh front grille with satin chrome surround, satin chrome beltline and LED bi-functional headlights, front projection fog lamps, LED daytime running lights and LED rear lights and rear fog lamps. The eight-inch touchscreen features Android AutoTM and Apple CarPlayTM compatibility, together with a reversing camera system. Other equipment includes a leather trimmed steering wheel and gearshift, black premium cloth upholstery, automatic lighting control, electric front and rear windows with front auto up and down functionality, keyless entry, manual air conditioning and cruise control. Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) are both included, with pedestrian detection functionality available as part of the optional Advanced Driving Assistance Pack.

Move up to level ‘3’ and there’s 18-inch alloy wheels, privacy glass, electric and heated, wide, folding door mirrors with side repeater and a window defogger. Step inside and there’s the new 10.25-inch navigation system with telematics, black cloth and part faux leather seat upholstery, heated front seats and steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, an electric park brake and rear auto up and down functionality for the electric windows, as well as a smart key and button start. The centre console features a sliding storage box for extra versatility and pedestrian detection is added to the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) system on manual models and is an optional extra for DCT versions.

The top-of-the-range ‘First Edition’ models are fitted with a panoramic sunroof, a dark chrome mesh radiator grille with satin chrome frame and black gloss mirror caps. On the safety front there’s Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with pedestrian detection, Smart Cruise Control on DCT versions, Blind Spot Collision Warning (BCW), Intelligent Speed Limit warning and a high line Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with tyre pressure display. Cloth and part faux leather seat upholstery with exclusive yellow detailing makes a cutting dash, with a power operated driver’s seat with memory and lumbar support. The instruments are upgraded to a 12.3-inch TFT supervision cluster display, there’s a smart power tailgate, JBL® premium sound system, wireless phone charger, aluminium pedals and 40:20:40 split folding rear seats.

The ‘2’ and ‘3’ grade models are available with a choice of six exterior colours and the ‘First Edition’ is finished in a choice of two hues, matched to a contrasting interior. ‘First Edition’ versions benefit from Premium paint as standard (normally charged at £570), including the brand new and exclusive Quantum Yellow.

September 2019

Kia XCeed Plug-in Hybrid announced

Combines an 8.9 kWh lithium-polymer battery pack, a 44.5 kW electric motor, and an efficient 1.6-litre ‘Kappa’ four-cylinder petrol engine. The powertrain’s total power and torque output is 141PS and 265Nm, enabling the XCeed to accelerate to 62mph in 11.0 seconds.

The powertrain is paired with a six-speed double-clutch transmission (6DCT), allowing drivers to shift gear for themselves, ensuring a more enjoyable drive than other hybrid vehicles equipped with electronic continuously-variable transmissions (e-CVT), says Kia.

Standard regenerative braking technology allows the new Plug-in Hybrid models to harvest kinetic energy and recharge their battery packs while coasting or braking, further enhanging the overall efficiency of the powertrain.

Kia is targeting an all-electric range of around 37 miles, enabling drivers to complete the majority of daily drives and short commutes on electric power alone. CO 2 emissions for the new Plug-in Hybrid model are pending homologation and will be revealed prior to start-of-sales.

The XCeed is equipped with Kia’s new Virtual Engine Sound System, an audible warning system which activates in electric-only mode at low speeds or when reversing. The system generates virtual sound levels of up to 59 dBA to safely notify pedestrians of the car’s presence.

A new closed ‘tiger-nose’ grille at the front of the car aids aerodynamic efficiency. The charging port is integrated into the left front wing of the car. Equipped as standard with bespoke 16-inch aluminium alloy wheels, optional 18-inch alloys are also available.

The XCeed Plug-in Hybrid is equipped with a charging indicator, a visual aid to tell owners that their car is charging or when the battery is fully-charged. Its location on top of the dashboard means drivers can instantly ascertain the car’s state of charge at a glance from outside the car (for instance, when it is parked on their driveway at home and the owner hasn’t left the house yet).

It's offered with Kia’s 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment as standard, or an optional 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment and navigation system with Kia’s UVO Connect telematics. Unique to the new Plug-in Hybrid variant, the systems incorporate new functionality to help owners locate available charging points in their vicinity, or en route to their navigation destination. The screens can also show relevant information relating to the powertrain, displaying remaining charge levels in the battery and energy usage graphics. Furthermore, owners can use the touchscreen system to schedule when their vehicle should charge when plugged in at home, enabling owners to take advantage of cheaper off-peak energy tariffs. Both infotainment systems offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, while the optional 10.25-inch touchscreen navigation system features Bluetooth multi-connection, enabling occupants to connect two mobile devices at once.

The instrument cluster also features unique visuals for the Plug-in Hybrid powertrain, displaying remaining charge levels, anticipated electric-only range and the flow of energy between the battery pack, engine and electric motor. Available as an option, Kia’s new fully-digital 12.3-inch ‘Supervision’ instrument cluster is designed to deliver information as clearly as possible with a range of unique graphics displays. The high-resolution 1920x720-pixel Supervision display replaces conventional speedometer and tachometer dials currently found in the brand’s passenger cars with a single, seamless display.

The ‘Driver Only’ heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system – activated with a new button on the dashboard – instantly deactivates airflow to all cabin vents except those nearest the driver. This is designed to reduce the draw on battery energy from the ventilation system, while still keeping the driver at their preferred temperature. Unlike conventional ventilation systems, Kia’s ‘Driver Only’ system doesn’t simply restrict airflow to certain vents, rerouting it elsewhere; instead, it switches off the fans themselves, reducing energy use at source.

The Ceed model line-up was engineered from the start to accommodate new hybrid powertrains. This means that the adoption of a Plug-in Hybrid powertrain in the Kia XCeed has had a minimal impact on packaging, with the structure adapted from the start to contain the powertrain’s battery pack.#

The 8.9 kWh battery pack is located alongside the 37-litre fuel tank beneath the rear bench, unlike many other plug-in hybrid vehicles, in which the battery pack takes up valuable cargo space. As a Plug-in Hybrid, the XCeed provides 291 litres of luggage space, growing to 1,243 litres with the rear folded down. There is a dedicated space beneath the boot floor to store the charging cable when not in use.

An optional Towing Pack is available for towing braked loads – a rarity among cars in the hybrid class.

January 2020

Kia XCeed PHEV priced from £30,695

Available in 3 or First Edition trim, the plug-in hybrid XCeed is now on sale from £30,695.

The ‘3’ grade features 16-inch alloy wheels and black cloth seat trim with black faux leather bolsters and powered lumbar support for the front seats. The ‘First Edition’ grade comes with 18-inch alloy wheels and Black Leather Seat Upholstery with Faux Leather Door Centre Trim. All versions feature privacy glass and rain sensing front windscreen wipers.

At the heart of the dashboard is Kia’s new 10.25-inch TFT LCD widescreen system, including a satellite navigation system, European mapping and a Traffic Messaging Channel. Also included is DAB radio with MP3 compatibility and Kia’s new UVO CONNECT telematics system. UVO CONNECT puts a raft of information at owners’ fingertips, including live traffic, weather, and parking availability. The infotainment system allows smartphone users access to both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and it is Bluetooth multi connection-enabled, allowing occupants to connect two mobile devices at once for hands-free phone calls and music streaming.

Other standard equipment includes a reversing camera with dynamic guidelines, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, electrically folding door mirrors with LED indicators, an auto-dimming rear view mirror and rear parking sensors. Heated front seats and steering wheel are also included, along with an electric parking brake (EPB), front passenger seat height adjuster and a smart entry system with engine start/stop button.

Safety has been given a high priority with six airbags (front, side and curtain with front passenger cut-off switch), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), High Beam Assist (HBA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Hill Start Assist Control (HAC), Speed Limit Information Function (SLIF) and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist – City and Pedestrian (FCA) all included as standard.

The ‘First Edition’ grade sits at the top-of-the Kia XCeed Plug-in Hybrid range and features a Smart Park Assist System (SPAS) that integrates front and rear parking sensors with the ability to automatically park in parallel or perpendicular spaces. There are black leather seat upholstery, heated outer rear seats and a driver’s seat with memory function, meanwhile, the rear seats fold down, with a 40:20:40 split. An enlarged 12.3-inch TFT supervision cluster display comes fitted to the ‘First Edition’ grade, along with a panoramic sunroof with tilting/sliding function and automatic electric roller blind. Aluminium pedals, smart powered tailgate, a personal LED light and wireless mobile phone charger are all included, too. Extra safety systems include a Blind Spot Collision Warning (BCW), Intelligent Speed Limit Information Function (ISLIF) and Lane Following Assist (LFA).

In its EV mode, the Kia XCeed Plug-in Hybrid is capable of travelling up to 36 miles and takes 2 hours and 15 minutes to recharge the battery pack to 100 per cent using a 3.3kW AC charger.

The Kia XCeed ‘3’ and ‘First Edition’ Plug-in Hybrid models are available to order now from showrooms, with the first examples set to arrive here in the UK during April 2020.

April 2020

Kia XCeed Edition announced

Sold with 1.0-litre T-GDi petrol engine and six-speed manual gearbox, the XCeed Edition is available in three new metallic paint colours: Blue Flame, Quantum Yellow and Lunar Silver.

Based on the 2 trim level, standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, LED headlights, cruise control, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Prices start from £20,995.

July 2021

Kia XCeed range updated

Kia has announced a number of changes to the XCeed model line-up, including the addition of the XCeed ‘Connect’, replacing the ‘Edition’ model. Benefitting from all the same features as the outgoing ‘Edition’, the ‘Connect’ model upgrades to a 4.2” colour supervision cluster, 10.25” navigation with UVO Connect and an expanded exterior colour offering. XCeed ‘Connect’ will also be available in ‘Fusion Orange’, exclusive to this version and new to the XCeed range.

The model will sit between the ‘2’ and ‘3’ grade XCeed, and will cost £21,775 – with a 1.0-litre T-GDi powertrain, and a six-speed manual transmission.

August 2022

Updated Kia XCeed priced from £22,995

Kia has revealed UK pricing and specifications for the new XCeed compact crossover as order books open for the upgraded model.

The new XCeed has received a range of mid-lifecycle updates three years after it first went on-sale. In that time, it has become the best-selling variant in the four-strong Ceed model family, and now accounts for 51 per cent of all Ceed sales in the UK. It has also made up 10 per cent of total Kia UK sales so far this year, with 5,652 units registered in the UK in the first half of the year.

UK customer deliveries for the new Kia XCeed commence from the end of Q3 2022, with prices starting from £22,995 for petrol models and £32,595 for the low-emissions PHEV model.

The new Kia XCeed has received a series of product enhancements for 2023, including a bold new exterior design, an enhanced interior, and the addition of a new ‘GT-Line S’ grade to the line-up. These changes make the XCeed an even more enticing proposition in the popular C-crossover segment.

The UK line-up incorporates a new ‘GT-Line S’ grade for the first time, designed to evoke a sense of sportiness, similar to other ‘GT-Line’ models in the existing Kia and Ceed line-ups. The new ‘GT-Line S’ grade sits at the top of the new XCeed range, replacing the earlier ‘4’ grade. With a generous level of standard equipment along with new GT-Line body kit, unique 18-inch alloy wheels for exterior styling, and GT-Line seats and steering wheel. The new XCeed also incorporates Kia’s latest driver assist, connectivity and infotainment systems for maximum everyday usability, enjoyment and occupant safety.

In the UK, the new XCeed offers the same choice of two powertrains as found on the pre-facelift model, including a low-emissions PHEV model.

The anticipated best-seller in the line-up is the 1.5-litre T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) engine, paired with a six-speed manual and producing 158 bhp and 253 Nm torque.

The engine features continuously variable valve duration technology, enabling it to shift continuously between combustion cycles to maximise performance and efficiency in different driving conditions.

The new XCeed PHEV carries over the same plug-in hybrid system, based on a 1.6-litre GDi (gasoline direct injection), paired with a 44.5 kW electric motor and 8.9 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack. It applies its combined 139 bhp and 265 Nm torque to the road via a smooth-shifting six-speed double-clutch transmission (DCT). The new XCeed PHEV is capable of travelling up to 30 miles on electric power.

WLTP fuel efficiency and emissions data for all variants, as well as (Benefit-in-Kind) BIK information for the business-friendly PHEV model, will be revealed closer to the car’s on-sale date.

‘2’, ‘3’ and ‘GT-Line S’ – a revised UK grade structure
The new XCeed offers a similar grade structure to earlier versions of the XCeed, but with the outgoing ‘4’ model replaced with the new ‘GT-Line S’ version.

Versions with the 1.5-litre T-GDi engine are available in ‘2’, ‘3’ and ‘GT-Line S’ grades. The ‘2’ grade, priced from £22,995, offers a generous specification as standard. This includes:

16-inch alloy wheels
LED bi-function headlights
8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and 4.2-inch Supervision driver instrument cluster
Seven-speaker audio system
All-round electric windows with front auto up-and-down function
Reversing camera system
USB-C and USB-A sockets in the front cabin, and a USB-C socket in the rear
Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with city, pedestrian and cyclist recognition
Intelligent Stop & Go (ISG)
Cruise control and speed limiter
Leather-trimmed steering wheel and faux leather-trimmed gearshift
Black cloth upholstery
60:40 split-folding rear seats

The ‘3’ grade, from £25,495, adds the following equipment over ‘2’ grade:

18-inch alloy wheels
10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment and navigation system
Privacy glass
Rain-sensing front wipers
Wide-view driver’s door mirror
Electrically folding, adjustable and heated door mirrors with integrated LED indicators
Black cloth and faux leather upholstery
Front passenger seat height adjuster
Power lumbar support (driver and front passenger)
Heated front seats
Dual-zone automatic air conditioning
Automatic defog system
Auto-dimming rear mirror
Smart key with engine start/stop button
Free seven-year Kia Connect connectivity services
Rear parking sensors

In addition, the new ‘GT-Line S’ grade, replacing the earlier ‘4’ grade model and now priced from £29,995, offers the following equipment as standard:

GT-Line body kit
GT-Line 18-inch alloy wheels
Panoramic sunroof with tilt and slide function and automatic electric roll blind
Black leather with suede seat upholstery
Memory driver’s seat with power height adjustment
Heated outer rear seats
Smart power tailgate
40:20:40 split-folding rear seats
Eight-speaker JBL premium audio system
12.3-inch TFT Supervision instrument cluster
Wireless mobile phone charger
Smart Park Assist System (SPAS) with parallel / perpendicular front and rear parking sensors
Blind-spot Collision Warning (BCW)
Intelligent Speed Limit Warning (ISLW)

The new XCeed PHEV is available as a single ‘3’ grade model, from £32,595 on-the-road. The new XCeed PHEV ‘3’ offers a compelling blend of high value, generous equipment and low running costs. This is similar to the ‘3’ grade offered on non-PHEV models, but adds:

Unique 16-inch alloy wheel design
Black and satin chrome closed radiator grille
Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go functionality
Drive Mode Select (with ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’ modes)

The XCeed has always been offered to UK customers with a selection of vibrant colour options, and the new model is no different. All four grades are available in a choice of eight paint options, with ‘Spirit Green’ new to the line-up and never seen before on UK roads.

These are offered alongside existing paint options, which include ‘Phantom Black’, ‘Penta Metal’, ‘Lunar Silver’, ‘Infra Red’, ‘Fusion White’ and ‘Blue Flame’. From launch, ‘Splash Lemon’ is offered as standard, with all other premium colours priced at £580.