Kia Cerato SLi hatch 2011 review

A few years ago you might have picked a Kia just for its bargain price. But while the latest Cerato SLi is still not expensive, even if it cost a bit more you might choose it because of the great style, equipment and value proposition.  And there's little that will disappoint about it.

Forget about the stodgy attitude of past models. While the Cerato might not yet have the deft dynamics and performance of the class benchmark VW Golf, it's light years away from its predecessors and has streaked through the field to overtake rivals like the Hyundai i30 and Toyota Corolla -- and whittle down the gap to the Ford Focus and Mazda3.

Value

We tested the $26,240  top-spec Cerato SLi and there's everything you expect to find at this level - and then quite a bit more, including paddle-shifters on the leather-wrapped steering wheel, alloy sports pedals, 17-in alloys, rear parking sensors, climate-control aircon, good fabric upholstery and a six-speaker audio/Bluetooth/iPod control set-up.

Explore the 2011 Kia Cerato range

• Kia Cerato 2011 review
• Kia Cerato SLi hatch 2011 review

The small hatchback sales leader is Mazda3 but the class leader is still 2009 Carsguide Car of the Year, the VW Golf.

You can get the Golf 90TSI from $1200 more with a fantastic engine and twin-clutch transmission, five-star safety and better economy, but less style, 15-in wheels - which admittedly don't undermine its great handling - standard manual aircon, space-saver spare and having to pay extra for Bluetooth.

The Mazda3 Maxx Sport auto hatch is $2120 above the Kia, with slightly less power and torque, one less gear, 16-in wheels, space-saver spare and bigger thirst on more expensive 95RON petrol, but also with five-star safety and a six-CD audio system.

The newcomer in the field is the latest Ford Focus, with the Trend spec auto hatch competitive on price at just $550 more than the Cerato, for which you get more power and torque, better economy, five-star safety, about the same level of goodies but 16-in wheels and space-saver spare.

You might be tempted to compare the Cerato to its $350-cheaper Korean cousin, the Hyundai i30 SLX, but while the i30 is also a former Carsguide COTY, it's now been outstripped by the Cerato.

And for $750 more, there's the dependable, durable - some might say interminable -- Toyota Corolla in Levin spec. But put them side-by-side, and the quality and style of the Cerato will still win out.

Design

Under the direction of Kia's head designer Peter Schreyer, the Cerato has turned out to be a case of just right - there's enough freshness without it being outlandish.

The family 'tiger face' fits in well with the angles of the large air dam, while the triangular C-pillar glass, wraparound taillights and finned splitter in the rear bumper add lashings of style at the back.

The alloy pedals, oversized speedo and chunky steering wheel lend a sporty air to the SLi's cabin. The dash at first seems an overwhelming array of buttons, knobs and red-lit screens and dials, but it's all fairly intuitive and logical.

Bluetooth was a snap to connect - although a little hollow-sounding in conversation - and the optional iPod cable adds the ability to acess your playlists through the steering wheel controls.

There's plenty of cargo space, and the split-fold rear seats open the deep boot up into cavernous dimensions.

Safety 

The new Cerato is well-bolstered against mishaps, with six airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners and active headrests, stability and traction controls systems, anti-lock brakes with brake-force distribution to compensate for uneven load weight, brake assist for panic stops. Previous models moved up from three to four ANCAP stars over the years, but the new one hasn't been tested here yet.

Technology

The Cerato has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that develops 115kW/194Nm, delivering that to the front wheels via a new sequential six-speed auto transmission.

That particular engine is quite adequate for the job, but it's been around for while and seems - and sounds - less polished than the rest of the car.

The underpinnings are similarly old-school, with a the torsion beam rear suspension, but in this case it's less of a problem as the aging set-up and the steering have been given a deft nip-and-tuck especially for Australia.

And that extra effort - coupled with the little car having a bigger wheelbase and wider tracks than the Nissan X-Trail SUV that it replaced in the test slot - gives it surprisingly refined manners.

Driving

It's fun. There's no doubt about it. A first run through our local set of hilly bends was so satisfying we turned around at the front door and went back for another crack at it.

The Cerato feels solid and planted and responds obediently to steering. The firm-ish suspension serves it well - and wouldn't be out of place on a hot hatch -- but it does add a touch of harshness and some drivers might tire of that after a while.

But it's not a hot hatch. And that becomes more obvious when you push it. It's willing, but far from being able to deliver effortless spirited performance in the engine department. And the noise if you force it reminds you it's just a well-sorted little runabout.

Add in that it's generously equipped, easy to park, economical and good-looking - and there's not a lot to dislike. And engine and a couple of pieces of poorer plastic aside, there's little that doesn't suggest honest quality in the build and finishes.

Cover the badge on the steering wheel, and not only would you have no way to connect the Cerato with the Korean cars of previous years, but it might even look at home in a Japanese or (dare we say it) European showroom.

Verdict

It deserves something better under the bonnet. But forget about trying to push the engine up to the sporty promise offered by the handling and steering. Just enjoy the looks, fit-out and fun, coupled with good quality at what - in the balance - still turns out to be a bargain price for the sum of what you get.