Kia Cerato S Premium 2014 review

With the odometer ticking over 5,000km, the Kia Cerato S Premium is doing what it's supposed to do - provide safe, economical and comfortable transport.

It's the sort of car that will assimilate into a family scenario without much fanfare, going about its job unassumingly. That's what many car owners want. No dramas, no hassles, not much fuel, plenty of creature comforts.

Looker

The fact that the Cerato is a handsome looker is a bonus as is the price of this recently added S Premium model which takes the goodies most buyers want and puts them into an (auto only) base model.

How much

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The price is $24,590 - pretty good for a five door hatchback or four door sedan with a five star safety rating, six speed auto transmission and heaps of kit.

To the base S Cerato, the Premium model has added satnav, reverse camera, seven inch touch screen, 16-inch alloys, auto headlights, and a DVD player for some reason. Kit includes Bluetooth audio and phone and decent six-speaker sound.

Engine

They kept the price down by using the earlier, non direct injection 1.8-litre engine that still achieves a handy 110kW/178Nm output while consuming between 7.1-7.4 litres/100km of regular 91 octane petrol. The engine has variable valve timing to boost efficiency and passes EU 4 emissions regulations.

Driving

The Cerato S Premium drive experience is all positive thanks in part to the local suspension and dynamic calibration input. Kia's local arm takes its cars on a set drive look out in the boonies and back roads and a whole bunch of bits to find the best all round combination for ride and handling.

That's taken care of by a relatively simple strut front and torsion beam rear suspension. Discs are fitted all round.

The drive feel equation is aided by three mode Flex-steer that gives you a choice between firmish through to firmer.It has decent performance that makes light of most driving applications short of track days.

The engine is smooth and quiet and has plenty of zip off the line and throughout the operation range. Kia makes its own six speed auto and this one's a cracker - fitted to umpteen Hyundai and Kia models. No paddles though.

Practicalities

It has seats for five and can actually accommodate five adults relatively comfortably. Numerous storage options dot the cabin and the boot is a good size with a full size alloy spare under the floor.

The driving position is widely adjustable and all switches and in car functions are easy to find and use.