We test the redesigned XCeed with the most powerful engine and the best equipment
From the moment of presentation until today, crossovers have changed the market so much that there is simply no point in anyone wondering where and why conventionally designed cars are disappearing. Family minivans are already a part of automotive history, three-seater limousines will remain only in the premium segment, and what we know as the “golf class” is also being prepared for the “broom”. Therefore, this time we will stick to good, old octane.
The redesign presented by Kia was not too aggressive, but it is effective enough for the “Iksid” to remain competitive on the market for a few more years. You will notice the biggest changes at the front of the car. The new light groups have a design in the style of the rest of the “sid” range – with three vertical LED daytime running lights that give it a “cat-like” expression. The radiator grille, popularly called the “tiger’s nose”, has been slightly modernized. The biggest change in the front part is the appearance of the bumper with vertical air intakes, that is, to be precise, vertical slits that drain the air around the wheels.
We enter the passenger area and there we notice that there are not too many changes, at least when it comes to the most luxurious package offered on the domestic market. The “ixida” cabin shares common elements with the rest of the family, but with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 10.25-inch multimedia screen. There is also satellite navigation, and the maps are made by the Tom Tom company, with the option of free seven-year EU map updates. A JBL sound system with an external amplifier and tweeters will ensure premium sound.
We have no complaints about the finish and materials, we even like them more than some newer models. The central console with a lot of physical buttons reveals its age but, on the other hand, brings practicality and ease of management. It is precisely this simplicity of control that many cars have lost by transferring all controls to screens.
The seats are made of a combination of eco-leather and fabric. The front seats hold the body surprisingly well in curves, thanks to slightly more prominent sides, and we like the seating position itself because it is closer to a sedan than an SUV variant. The raised body gives a better view of the road, so it’s essentially a bridge between the SUV and sedan worlds. The offer of storage space for small items is quite good. We have already praised the phone shelf located in front of the gearbox on the lower part of the center console. The cup compartment has a roll-up lid, so when you’re not using cans or glasses, you can simply close it. Since in this package of equipment “iksid” also has an electronic parking brake, a narrower compartment ideal for pens or a phone has been installed in the place where the handbrake was located.
The luggage space is slightly larger than that of the standard “sida” and amounts to 426 liters. The bottom of the trunk can be lowered so that you can get a little extra depth if the need arises. What the domestic customer can especially appreciate is the spare wheel with compact dimensions.
If we exclude the starting version of the “joy” equipment, 18-inch aluminum wheels are standard in all other packages, which give the “ix” that “x” factor and fit this compact crossover perfectly. On the other hand, the big wheels bring a slightly harder feeling when driving, although the “iksid” compensates for this with a somewhat softer suspension compared to the rest of the “sid” range. The front suspension is of the McPherson type, with gas shock absorbers and stabilizers, while at the back there is a “multilink”, which is a more expensive and not very common solution among competitors. As long as you don’t overdo it, this car perfectly holds the set path without leaning too much.
The tested example was equipped with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that replaced the 1,400 cc variant. With its 140 horsepower, it makes the optimal choice for the vast majority of users. It’s not explosive, but it has more than enough power and elasticity for safe and secure overtaking and climbing climbs without the need for frequent gear changes. The gearbox is a proven six-speed manual and already well known. Acceleration from standstill is just over nine seconds, and the maximum speed is declared at 208 km/h.
We were pleasantly surprised by the average consumption recorded in the test. “Ixid” was in the editorial office of “Auto Magazin” during the May Day holidays, but we used it mostly in city driving and the average consumption did not exceed 6.5 liters, which does not deviate much from the factory data.
Kia managed to keep its “crossover” trump card in good shape and continues to fight with the competition for its piece of cake. This model “struck” the heart of the European customer very well and is therefore leading when it comes to the share of sales within the “sid” family. Hand on heart, he didn’t get tired even in competition with competition that is anything but naive. In this class of compact “crossovers” there are also “Mazda CX-30”, “Volkswagen T-rock” and, for example, “Citroen C4”, which in the new distribution of tickets from the “hatchback” category moved to the aforementioned crossovers. Every day the offer becomes richer and the race more uncertain.
At the very end, we come to that one thing that makes us put our hands on our hearts more and more often even when the national anthem is not playing. Yes, that’s the price. The starting price of the new “Iksid” starts at 24,000 euros (with all discounts included), while this copy in the richest equipment package and with this engine currently costs around 29,000 euros. For those who have a suitable budget and have decided on a Kia, one more piece of information – is this sum just enough to enter the new dilemma of “Iksid” or “Sportage”?
Armen Derbogosijan
Globally popular
Thanks to the smart positioning of the model and the attractive, although not too risky design, Kia’s “iksid” quickly and easily found its way to customers throughout Europe. For the first three years, i.e. until the restyling in September 2022, with over 120,000 units sold, “iksid” took over 40 percent of the sales of the complete “sid” model range, which consists of a five-door version, a station wagon and the so-called “shooting break” version “prosid”. In certain markets, such as Great Britain, every second model from the “sid” family is this cute crossover.
Kia XCeed 1,5 T-GDi EX Beat
Motor: volume 1,482 ccm, power 103 kW (160 hp) at 5,500 rpm, torque 253 Nm at 1,500-3,000 rpm, 6-speed manual gearbox
Dimensions: 4,395/1,826/1,495 mm, wheelbase 2,650 mm, trunk 426/1,378 l, weight 1,295 kg, tank 50 l, tires 235/45 R18
Performance: max. speed 208 km/h, acceleration 0/100 km/h 9.2 s, consumption (factory): 6.0-6.4 l/100 km
CO2 emission: 136 – 145 g/km
Equipment: ABS, ESC, HAC, 6 vaz. cushions, two-zone automatic air conditioning, bi-functional projection LED headlights with an adaptive lighting system, rear LED lights, automatic lighting, bluetooth connection with voice recognition and the ability to connect two devices, “supervision” digital instrument panel with a diagonal of 12.3 inches, rear parking sensors with camera, premium JBL audio system with 10.25-inch color touch screen with Apple Carplay and Android auto function, audio device with external amplifier with additional woofers and tweeters and USB connection, audio device controls on the steering wheel, leather-covered steering wheel and gear lever, cruise control and speed limiter, seats in a combination of fabric and artificial leather, heated front seats and steering wheel, 18-inch aluminum rims, security alarm, additionally tinted rear windows, Smart key with engine start button, rear parking sensors with camera and cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring system…
Source: www.magazinauto.com
