Kia Cerato Problems

Kia told us that the tow bar is available for all current Cerato models, except the GT. Due to late changes in the rear design of the GT it was necessary to restart the design and validation process for that car well after the other models. It is in development and it’s hoped it will be available by the first month or so of next year.

I assume it’s with AM reception. It’s usually put down to the antenna. The most likely reason they’re ignoring it is that there is little they can do about it. You could take it to a car radio specialist and see what they might be able to do about the problem.

The Camry wins on reliability and fuel consumption, but carries the highest price; the Subaru is the least expensive but has the highest fuel consumption ad the lowest resale, while the Kia sits in the middle. The Kia is good value-for-money. If fuel consumption is your priority go for the Camry, if not go for the Kia.

The best approach is to buy a car from a well-respected brand, and stick with an Asian brand such as Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai or Kia rather than an European one. Models to consider would be a Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Hyundai i30 or Kia Cerato.

It should be covered under Kia’s warranty, so take it back to your dealer and have it fixed.

The clicking sound could be a sign of a weak battery, which is having difficulty coping with the cold weather. Don’t pump the accelerator; that does nothing on a fuel-injected car. Have the battery tested.

No, there’s nothing built into the Cerato that might assist you in finding your car.

The trade-in valuation you are likely to get is between $5500 and $10,500, depending on the model, condition, and odometer reading. There are no rules to say how much more you might get if you were to buy three cars.

The Mazda3 and Holden Astra are both good alternative choices, but you could also consider a Toyota Corolla or Kia Rio or Cerato.

The best times to buy are usually the end of the financial year, or at model run-out times, that's when the specials are on. The CVT and dual-clutch autos are both still unknowns in terms of long-term reliability, but either should be ok over the five years you plan to keep the car. Any of the cars you list, and the list is a long one, would be ok. It really comes down to what you like.