Kia Cerato 2006 Review

In the new millennium, consumers are spoiled for choice, particularly in the small-car segment, with a host of very capable manufacturers vying for your dollars.

Which brings me to the most uplifting thing about the Cerato: its price.

Just how big a factor price is in winning sales was hammered home by a city Kia dealer's radio advertisement that made scant mention of the car's "uplifting" qualities, but repeatedly pushed the sharp $18,990 drive-away price for the five-speed manual.

With oodles of kit thrown in — air conditioning, electric windows, power steering, cruise control, remote central locking and a six-speaker CD player — buyers must think they're getting a bargain as they drive off the dealer's lot.

It's certainly an appealing package, as long as you don't expect it to extend to an enthralling driving experience.

The little Kia's interior is roomy and reasonably well laid-out, with good space for front- and rear-seat passengers.

On the minus side is the quality of the Cerato's plastics, carpet and interior finish, which is at best average (or, in the case of the carpet and boot trim, rather ordinary).

Exterior styling is commendable, particularly as past Korean offerings have often fallen well behind their Japanese and European competitors. The Cerato has clean, well-defined lines.

Anyone considering buying a small car and driving it on city roads awash with 4WD behemoths is wise to consider safety features, and this isn't a Cerato strong point.

The European safety watchdog NCAP gives it three stars out of five, with particular criticism of its poor side-impact protection. Nevertheless, the Cerato comes with dual front airbags and seat belt pre-tensioners, but ABS is offered only as an option.

Despite disc brakes on all wheels, the lack of ABS shows, with the Kia's braking performance below par.

Our automatic Cerato hatchback had a respectably staid zero-to-100km/h time of more than 10 seconds.

The two-litre engine puts out an honest 101kW that gets it moving through city traffic at a reasonable clip.

The engine would pair well with the five-speed manual on the base model, as the four-speed automatic tends to cling to the lower gears if driven at anything beyond a going-to-church-on-Sunday pace.

With consumption of eight to nine litres per 100km, the Cerato isn't the most frugal car around, but it will hardly bleed you dry — unlike some sporty brethren that are addicted to high-octane, high-cost fuel.

Probably the most surprising thing about the Cerato is its ride. MacPherson struts at the front and a dual-link arrangement at the rear soak up bumps far better than many more expensive cars.

The downside is that this can make the Cerato feel slightly unbalanced and wafty on twisting open roads. That, coupled with steering that offers minimal feedback and the limitations of front-wheel drive, means it's not the type of vehicle you'd want to push too hard.

But few people who find their way into Kia's showrooms will be expecting a performance package. They're after a new car with the lot for under $20,000, and with a three-year, 100,000km warranty to boot.

You can't argue that the Cerato isn't great value. But, as we explain in today's cover story, a discerning buyer may find the best value by buying a near-new, second-hand car.