Kia Cerato Problems

The problem needs to sorted out with the dealer and Kia, so go back and tell the dealer you are unhappy with the car as it is and request them to fix it. Tell them you will not accept the car as it is. Ask them to demonstrate on another Cerato that the problem is 'normal'.

The 2015 MY Cerato was released in April 2014, so I would say you haven't been cheated.

It should run on 91-octane fuel without pinging; the knock sensor should ensure that it doesn't occur. Running it on higher-octane fuels makes it less prone to pinging, and again the knock sensor should have it running on the edge of pinging without actually doing it. I would keep the pressure on Kia to fix the problem, and at the same time get the help of an independent mechanic.

I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t be allowable, the price could have been a sale price for a period of time, and went up when the offer finished.

You need to have a mechanic observe the vibration first-hand and he might be able to diagnose it for you. It's impossible to diagnose without observing it. If you're really concerned about it take it back to the dealership where you bought it and try again to have them assess it for you.

Like you I doubt very much that changing to higher octane fuel will have any affect on the problem as you describe it. It seems likely that it’s a problem with the idle setting and that’s where they should be looking. Follow the dealer’s advice and run two fills of 95-octane fuel through it, so you can rule that out as a solution when you take it back. The only thing you can do is to keep the pressure up on the dealer, and to register your complaint directly with Kia’s customer assistance people.

You could clean the throttle body to fix the miss. After that you should be looking at the electronics on the engine. The speedo is a mystery, but you would have to think that it is related to the car's electronics.

The Cerato is a great package. If she is a keen driver who wants the sporty feel of the Focus, go with the Ford.

The run-out Cerato is a terrific deal and definitely the value pick. The 2.0-litre update is good but probably not a big deal for a budget buyer, although I give The Tick to both the Kia and the Hyundai.