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Kia Cerato

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Kia Cerato Australia

The LD Cerato launched in 2004 as a cheap small sedan and hatchback derived from the Hyundai Elantra, to take on the Toyota Corolla. It sold mainly on low price until, in 2013, Kia underwent a huge shift in the way it made and marketed its cars, by refocusing on design, space, technology, safety and – later on – a long warranty.

By then, most Ceratos were five-door hatches, though the now nearly-medium-sized sedan also proved a hit, more so than the sharply-attired two-door Koup that was only available in the TD series (2009) and its YD replacement (2013). All engines featured four cylinders, in either 1.8-litre or 2..0-litre naturally-aspirated specification, though the Koup did boast a 1.6-litre turbo option. The base model starts from $27,060, rising to $36,860 for the most expensive version.

The fourth-gen BD Cerato arrived in 2017, and though the Koup was gone, a GT hatch and sedan with the 1.6-litre turbo replaced it for drivers wanting a sportier experience than the now-default 2.0-litre atmo engine offered in the rest of the range.

This vehicle is also known as Kia Forte.

Kia Cerato Models Price and Specs

The price range for the Kia Cerato varies based on the trim level you choose. Starting at $27,060 and going to $36,860 for the latest year the model was manufactured. The model range is available in the following body types starting from the engine/transmission specs shown below.

Year Body Type Specs Price from Price to
2024 Hatchback 2.0L, —, 6 SP AUTO $27,060 $36,860
2024 Sedan 2.0L, —, 6 SP AUTO $27,060 $36,860
2023 Hatchback 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO $22,770 $38,830
2023 Sedan 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO $22,770 $38,830
2022 Hatchback 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO $22,440 $38,170
2022 Sedan 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO $22,440 $38,170
2021 Hatchback 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP MAN $18,480 $37,730
2021 Sedan 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP MAN $18,480 $37,730
2020 Sedan 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP MAN $15,620 $35,530
2020 Hatchback 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP MAN $16,390 $35,530
See All Kia Cerato Pricing and Specs

Kia Cerato Colours

Available colours include Clear White, Snow White Pearl, Mineral Blue, Silky Silver, Horizon Blue, Steel Grey, Runway Red, Platinum Graphite and Aurora Black. All hues except Clear White are premium paint and cost more.

  • Clear White
  • Snow White Pearl
  • Mineral Blue
  • Silky Silver
  • Horizon Blue
  • Steel Grey
  • Runway Red
  • Platinum Graphite
  • Aurora Black
To confirm current colour availability, please check the manufacturer's website. Shown above are the colours for the Kia Cerato 2022.

Kia Cerato Accessories

Standard features from the base variant up include manually adjustable seats, electric and heated exterior mirrors, cruise control, a 4.2-inch TFT-LCD instrument cluster, power windows, soft-touch upper door trim, a 12-volt outlet, three USB chargers, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker audio system and Bluetooth.

Kia Cerato Accessories
Shown above are the accessory details for the Kia Cerato 2022.

Kia Cerato Q&As

Check out real-world situations relating to the Kia Cerato here, particularly what our experts have to say about them.

  • The speed alarm in my 2023 Kia Cerato GT keens sounding

    This is a really common type of question here at CarsGuide. It seems a lot of car-makers are using these speed warning systems and, in many cases, they’re more of an annoyance than a help.

    In your Kia, speed sign recognition which is part of the adaptive cruise-control feature is the culprit. When the car’s cameras spot a speed sign, they compare that info with how fast the car is actually going (sometimes using co-ordinate information from the sat-nav as well). Sometimes, however, the sign detected relates to a side-street or roadworks on a side street, giving you a false alarm. Either way, not everybody likes this warning system.

    There’s good news and bad news in the case of your car, Steve. The good news is that you can go into the menu system, select Driver Assistance, then Vehicle Settings, then Speed Alert, and you should find an Off setting that should disable the warning. The bad news is, you have to do this every time you start the car, because the default setting is On.

    Perhaps the dealer can suggest a way of turning it off permanently since it appears as though a software update at your first service has enabled the system since you bought the car.

    Show more
  • My 2010 Kia Cerato won't start after changing the fuel filter

    This could be a coincidence whereby your maintenance was timed perfectly with something else going wrong. But if we assume that the new fuel filter is what has caused the no-start condition, then the first thing to check is that you've installed the filter in the correct orientation. Many filters only operate in one direction. Install it backwards, and the fuel may not flow at all, which would give you the symptoms you're now looking at.

    Show more
  • What fuel should I use in my 2018 Kia Cerato?

    All Kias sold in Australia and built after 1996 can use E10 fuel. But your car will be just as happy on standard ULP with its 91 RON octane rating.

    You won't notice any difference between the two fuels apart from perhaps a slightly higher fuel consumption when using the E10. That's because the ethanol content of the fuel has less energy in it than normal petrol. But there's really not much in it and the extra E10 you'll use will be offset by the cheaper per-litre cost compared with ULP.

    The fact that you've used E10 will not alter the retained value or desirability to of your car to a potential buyer one bit.

    Show more
  • What are the specifications for a 2016 Kia Cerato?

    This very website has an absolute wealth of information on this topic. Follow this link: https://www.carsguide.com.au/kia/cerato/2016 and you’ll find everything from pricing guides to performance data, dimensions and even towing capacities. It’s all there in black and white and one of the reasons CarsGuide is the best in the business.
     

    Show more
See All Kia Cerato Q&As
Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.

Kia Cerato Interior

The Cerato interior includes circular air vents and a touchscreen that sits atop of the centre stack. In entry grades it is an 8.0-inch screen while the higher grades have a 10.25-inch unit.

Cloth trim is fitted for the entry variants and higher grades feature leather-appointed seats.

The interior has more than adequate space in the front and rear, and it is larger than some small cars like the Toyota Corolla.

The second row has a USB-C port, lower air vents and space for bottles in the doors.

Shown above are interior details for the Kia Cerato 2022.

Kia Cerato Dimensions

The dimensions of the Kia Cerato Hatchback and Sedan vary according to year of manufacture and spec level.

Year Body Type Height x Width x Length Ground Clearance
2024 Hatchback 1445x1800x4510 mm 140 mm
2024 Sedan 1440x1800x4640 mm 140 mm
2023 Sedan 1440x1800x4640 mm 140 mm
2023 Hatchback 1445x1800x4510 mm 140 mm
2022 Hatchback 1445x1800x4510 mm 140 mm
2022 Sedan 1440x1800x4640 mm 140 mm
2021 Sedan 1440x1800x4640 mm 150 mm
2021 Hatchback 1440x1800x4510 mm 150 mm
2020 Sedan 1440x1800x4640 mm 150 mm
2020 Hatchback 1440x1800x4510 mm 150 mm
The dimensions shown above are for the base model. See All Kia Cerato Dimensions

Kia Cerato Fuel Consumption

The Kia Cerato is available in a number of variants and body types that are powered by — and ULP fuel type(s). It has an estimated fuel consumption starting from 7.4L/100km for Hatchback /— for the latest year the model was manufactured.

Year Body Type Fuel Consumption* Engine Fuel Type Transmission
2024 Hatchback 7.4L/100km 2.0L 6 SP AUTO
2024 Sedan 7.4L/100km 2.0L 6 SP AUTO
2023 Hatchback 7.4L/100km 2.0L 6 SP AUTO
2023 Hatchback 7.4L/100km 2.0L ULP 6 SP AUTO
2023 Sedan 7.4L/100km 2.0L 6 SP AUTO
2023 Sedan 7.4L/100km 2.0L ULP 6 SP AUTO
2022 Hatchback 7.4L/100km 2.0L ULP 6 SP AUTO
2022 Sedan 7.4L/100km 2.0L ULP 6 SP AUTO
2021 Hatchback 6.8L/100km 1.6L 7 SP AUTO
2021 Hatchback 7.4L/100km 2.0L ULP 6 SP MAN
2021 Sedan 6.9L/100km 1.6L 7 SP AUTO
2021 Sedan 7.6L/100km 2.0L ULP 6 SP MAN
2020 Hatchback 7.4L/100km 2.0L ULP 6 SP MAN
2020 Sedan 7.6L/100km 2.0L ULP 6 SP MAN
* Combined fuel consumption See All Kia Cerato Pricing and Specs for 2024

Kia Cerato Boot Space

The Cerato sedan offering an impressive 502 litres (VDA) of cargo space, which is more than other small sedans like the Subaru Impreza (460L) and the Hyundai i30 (474L).

Lower the rear 60/40 seats via the levers in the boot and that space increases further, but they don’t fold completely flat.

The Cerato hatch can swallow 428 litres.

Kia Cerato Boot space Kia Cerato Boot space
Shown above are boot space details for the Kia Cerato 2022.

Kia Cerato Wheel Size

The Kia Cerato has a number of different wheel and tyre options. When it comes to tyres, these range from 205x55 R16 for Hatchback in 2024.

Year Body Type Front Tyre Size Front Rim Rear Tyre Size Rear Rim
2024 Hatchback 205x55 R16 205x55 R16
2024 Sedan 205x55 R16 205x55 R16
2023 Hatchback 205x55 R16 205x55 R16
2023 Sedan 205x55 R16 205x55 R16
2022 Hatchback 205x55 R16 205x55 R16
2022 Sedan 205x55 R16 205x55 R16
2021 Hatchback 205x55 R16 205x55 R16
2021 Sedan 205x55 R16 205x55 R16
2020 Hatchback 205x55 R16 16x6.5 inches 205x55 R16 16x6.5 inches
2020 Sedan 205x55 R16 16x6.5 inches 205x55 R16 16x6.5 inches
The dimensions shown above are for the base model. See All Kia Cerato Wheel Sizes

Kia Cerato Towing Capacity

The Kia Cerato has maximum towing capacity of 1100kg for the latest model available.

Year Body Type Braked Capacity from Braked Capacity to
2024 Hatchback 1100kg 1100kg
2024 Sedan 1100kg 1100kg
2023 Hatchback 1100kg 1100kg
2023 Sedan 1100kg 1100kg
2022 Hatchback 1100kg 1100kg
2022 Sedan 1100kg 1100kg
2021 Hatchback 1100kg 1100kg
2021 Sedan 1100kg 1100kg
2020 Hatchback 1100kg 1100kg
2020 Sedan 1100kg 1100kg
See All Towing Capacity for Kia Cerato

Kia Cerato Speed

Kia has not provided 0-100km/h times for the Cerato range.

Shown above are speed details for the Kia Cerato 2022.

Kia Cerato Seats

The Kia Cerato sedan and hatchback offer seating for five occupants with two in the first row and three in the second. No seven-seat option is available. The rear seat is 60/40 split fold.

Kia Cerato Seats
Shown above are seat details for the Kia Cerato 2022.

Kia Cerato News

The new Cerato! 2025 Kia K4 hybrid sedan shapes up with Toyota Corolla, Hyundai i30 and Mazda 3 rival expected to land in Australia this year

The new Cerato! 2025 Kia K4 hybrid sedan shapes up with Toyota Corolla, Hyundai i30 and Mazda 3 rival expected to land in Australia this year

By C.hris Thompson - 27 Feb 2024
2024 Kia Cerato, Seltos and Sportage prices rise: Cost-of-entry ticks up for Korean maker's Hyundai i30, MG ZS and Toyota RAV4 rivals

2024 Kia Cerato, Seltos and Sportage prices rise: Cost-of-entry ticks up for Korean maker's Hyundai i30, MG ZS and Toyota RAV4 rivals

By J.ames Cleary - 8 Feb 2024
From $20k budget hatchbacks to a $100k premium electric SUV in just a handful of years - How Kia transformed its image and became a pain for brands like Mazda, Toyota, Mitsubishi and even Hyundai

From $20k budget hatchbacks to a $100k premium electric SUV in just a handful of years - How Kia transformed its image and became a pain for brands like Mazda, Toyota, Mitsubishi and even Hyundai

By T.om White - 14 Jan 2024
Price bump: 2024 Kia Cerato sedan and hatch pricing increased slightly with no update to specs or features for Toyota Corolla rival

Price bump: 2024 Kia Cerato sedan and hatch pricing increased slightly with no update to specs or features for Toyota Corolla rival

By C.hris Thompson - 5 Dec 2023
The cheap Kia cars are still coming, and they will stay affordable while Toyota, Ford, Mazda, MGs and others price themselves into premium territory

The cheap Kia cars are still coming, and they will stay affordable while Toyota, Ford, Mazda, MGs and others price themselves into premium territory

By B.yron Mathioudakis - 17 Jun 2023
Small car showdown! 2023 Hyundai i30 could topple Toyota Corolla for sales this year, but what happened to the Kia Cerato and Mazda 3?

Small car showdown! 2023 Hyundai i30 could topple Toyota Corolla for sales this year, but what happened to the Kia Cerato and Mazda 3?

By T.im Nicholson - 30 Apr 2023
Got a $30,000 limit? Don't want an MG3? Revealing and rating every affordable new car, SUV and ute for canny buyers on a budget from Suzuki Swift to Mazda CX-3 and Toyota Yaris Cross

Got a $30,000 limit? Don't want an MG3? Revealing and rating every affordable new car, SUV and ute for canny buyers on a budget from Suzuki Swift to Mazda CX-3 and Toyota Yaris Cross

By B.yron Mathioudakis - 24 Feb 2023
2023 MG4 spied testing in Melbourne! Launch for what could be Australia's cheapest EV approaches

2023 MG4 spied testing in Melbourne! Launch for what could be Australia's cheapest EV approaches

By T.om White - 31 Jan 2023
Price increases for 2023 Kia models including Stonic, Sportage, Rio, Cerato

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By C.hris Thompson - 23 Jan 2023
See All Kia Cerato News