2005 Kia Cerato Reviews

Kia Cerato is a small-to-medium South Korean model that has been overshadowed in the past by its big brother Hyundai's i30 and Elantra (Kia is controlled by Hyundai these days). However, when the ultra-stylish third-generation Cerato was launched in Australia in April 2013 buyer interest increased. Sales lifted immediately and quite a few of the third generation cars are starting to appear on the used-car scene.The South Korean car makers are coming up with some excellent lines, and the Cerato is arguably up with the best of them. Interestingly, much of the design work is being done by Europeans.The Cerato first arrived in Australia in July 2004, these earlier models were the first to really benefit from Kia's determination to improve build quality and are generally trouble free if they have been driven and serviced correctly.As well as improving quality, Kia Cerato also continued the Korean marque's emphasis on the sort of good on-road behaviour that appeals to Australian drivers. The first two generations were good without being great, the third generation car is almost up with the Europeans' driving dynamics. The suspension is reasonably supple, although rough Aussie country roads can occasionally trouble it. Noise and vibration are well damped, particularly in the latest model.Kia Cerato is sold as a four-door sedan and five-door hatch. The sedans were often introduced before the hatches so there was on overlap of new and old bodies at times.Though it's technically listed as a small car in Australia, the Cerato is actually pretty large and interior space is good. There are no headroom problems front or rear. It also passes the four-adult test for rear legroom without those in the front seats having to compromise to any real extent. As is usually the way in this class in Australia, the Cerato is generally used by families with small children, something it handles with ease.Most Kia Cerato models are powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. This gives it enough power and torque for most owners, but some would like a bit more grunt to match the dynamics of the chassis, particularly on the most recent model.The Cerato from April 2013 has a new design 1.8-litre engine in place of the old 2.0. It provides more performance and uses less fuel whilst doing so. Definitely our pick of the powerplants if your budget is up to it.Five-speed manual gearboxes were used until they were replaced by a modern six-speed unit late in 2010. The latter is an excellent unit with a good feel through the lever and a wise choice of ratios.Four-speed automatic transmissions, fitted prior to March 2011, do a reasonable job, but you will find them hunting up and down for the best ratio at times. Far better is the six-speed auto, installed from 2011.Kia Ceratos have quite a simple mechanical layout and can be serviced and repaired by good amateur mechanics. Don't forget to buy a workshop manual.Spare parts and professional repair costs are reasonably priced.Kia dealers are mainly in metropolitan areas, but some of the bigger country towns now also have agents.Insurance is usually costed in the bottom third of the premium scale and we haven't seen any big variations from company to company. However, it's always worth shopping around, just make sure your making a fair comparison.While the Kia Koup, introduced in September 2009 carries Cerato badges it is generally regarded as a different model. It's an interesting car with an unusual shape and we love the fact it's called a Koup rather than a Coupe.Former crash damage usually shows up as ripples in body panels, colours that don't match correctly and even wheels out of alignment. If you're in the least bit unsure call a professional.Look for body damage in areas such as the rear bumper which often gets scarred by people carelessly resting stuff on it while loading the boot.Check that the engine starts easily and idles smoothly pretty well straight away. Ideally the engine should be started stone cold first thing in the morning.Gearboxes that are noisy and/or sticky in their changes may be due for major repairs.Automatics should go into gear almost at the moment you move the selector.Handbrakes can be over adjusted causing premature pad wear on the rear brakes. You may feel and hear the pads rubbing slightly on the discs during your test drive.Fuel remote release cables can stretch making it difficult to open the flap.Some Ceratos had audio unit failures, check the full range of modes in the system to be sure everything works correctly.Incorrectly serviced variable valve timing units can fail due to poor oil quality blocking the oil passage. As always, we suggest having a vehicle serviced by a professional, preferably one with people trained on the vehicle type.

Kia Cerato has become more visible on buyer radars in the last year or so, primarily because of its excellent new styling.

Kia has lifted its game hugely in the past few years. Witness the Sorento, Tucson and Cerato, all attractively styled and well put together vehicles.Cerato is a mainstream compact sedan with plenty of appeal for a buyer on a budget. It offers a whole lot of car for the $18990 drive away ask.There's a four speed auto available for an extra two grand – drive away.Roomy body, five seater, five three point belts, big boot. 2.0-litre, DOHC engine has 101kw/182Nm output giving peppy performance even in auto. Auto is a four speeder, doesn't miss a beat, lacks a little smoothness changing under hard acceleration. No sequential mode – big deal. Ride/handling impressive thanks to strut front, multi-link rear suspension. Power steering, power windows, remote central locking and aircon included in the package. Heated exterior mirrors, electrically adjustable too. Almost instant demist in the cold. Audio is six speaker, pleasing sound, easy to operate. Safety features include dual front air bags. ABS not available but four wheel discs. Low noise, vibration and harshness through most engine speeds, quiet on the freeway. Economical in mixed driving expect around 8.5l/100km out of auto. Tank holds 55 litres. Interior looks modern, airy, better than many other offerings in the segment. Finish is up with Japanese, smooth paint, neat panel fit, tidy interior, chunky door close. Like the styling, crisp lines, purposeful front, tidy rear – something different. Smooth quiet ride over rough surfaces.  

The people buying these vehicles aren't looking for top-shelf driving dynamics and outright performance. They want comfort, safety, ease of operation and no hidden costs in the purchase price. They are drivers looking for a conveyance, not motoring enthusiasts.Kia thinks it has cracked the market segment with the Cerato by loading it with standard features many would consider optional extras, and advertising it with a "drive-away price".On test was the new four-speed auto version, which costs $2000 more than the $18,990 "drive-away" price of the five-speed manual.Just before I drove away, the saleman gave me a snapshot profile of the typical Cerato owner."More than 50 per cent are women buyers, and many of them are franchise or small-business owners," he said. "A lot of people have them as a second car, perhaps the husband has a company vehicle or a four-wheel drive."The attraction of the Cerato to these buyers is instantly obvious: a long wheelbase (by comparison with many of its class rivals) but a compact turning circle; a roomy body which seats four adults in comfort; a large boot storage area with seat fold-down options; European styling; and the sort of standard features usually found on more expensive cars.The large array of features can be broken into convenience, comfort and safety.Electric windows have an automatic-down function for the driver's door, useful for getting tickets out of carpark meters, or giving change at a toll booth.Side mirrors have a demister heater. The doors have large courtesy lights and the interior light has a time delay. Remote central locking includes fuel cap and boot release.The cruise control, operated from the steering wheel, is a good way to avoid speeding fines in country driving. There is a day-night option on the rear vision mirror.On the comfort side of the ledger, the Cerato provides plenty of legroom for front and rear passengers.However, the front seats need more lumbar support for long-distance travel. Rear seats have adjustable headrests, which is good.A power outlet allows the use of a portable DVD player. Although the CD player is a one-disc unit with no stacker, the six speakers give quality sound. There are cup holders front and rear, with the one near the driver especially large. Good for someone driving home from a gym workout with a thirst.The standard airconditioning, with plenty of vents, works efficiently throughout the cabin, not just the front. Side and rear windows are lightly tinted.Safety features include airbags for driver and passenger. Seat belts have pretensioners and load limiters. Fog lights are standard.Brakes are discs all round with an ABS option available that includes electronic brake force distribution.The fuel supply to the engine is switched off in the event of a shunt or accident impact.Security features remote locking and engine immobiliser.Options include alloy wheels and a rear spoiler but I would start with the $150 metallic paint option, which looks better executed than the standard finish.First impressions of the test car were marred by a strong, chemical, "new car" smell.With tilt-adjustable steering column and height-adjustable driver's seat, it's easy to get comfortable and all-round vision is good.Controls and instruments are logical and easy to use.Performance from the two-litre, double-overhead-cam, four-cylinder motor is quite zippy. But most Cerato buyers aren't the types who explore engine performance. So maximum torque of 182Nm at 4500rpm and power of 101kW at 6000rpm seems about right and encourages low-rev driving.The automatic works well in most situations but put the pedal to the floor for swifter overtaking and it drops a gear, the engine revs but it doesn't feel like a lot of forward motion is happening.This will not concern most Cerato owners, nor will the slightly vague feeling the power steering exhibits at higher speeds, which discourages brisk driving. Around town and in car parking manouevres the power-steering operation is delightfully light.Brakes are adequate but the ABS option is an affordable $850.With plenty of suspension travel, the ride quality is good over a variety of road surfaces.For its price, and loaded with features and crisp European styling, the Cerato is well worth a look.

I thought about responding that I was a clerk, or better, a librarian. What do you ask a librarian after "read any good books lately?"Then the ride would have been quiet and I could have watched the scenery, listened to the music or just dozed off.But I must have been off guard, for I told the truth, and he immediately asked what I thought of Kia."Why?" I asked cautiously."My mother just bought one," he said, adding he couldn't remember the name.So I proposed a few: Rio? Nup. Cerato? Maybe. Optima? Nup. Cerato?. Yep."She loves it," he said, which led me to suggest she's right.Because the taxi driver's mum had bought one of the best-value small cars on the market.The Cerato shows, at least in this early stage of its life, that Kia is getting very serious about value, quality, performance and style.The model, introduced late last year, is basically a remodelled version of its parent company Hyundai's Elantra.But it looks a whole lot neater than the Elantra, thanks to more conservative lines and a wider stance.The two cars share the same platform, drivetrain and suspension, though Kia has honed these components to create a surprisingly quiet, brisk and comfortable sedan.Most of that is attributed to the Cerato hitting the market two years after the latest Elantra.The Kia's cabin is on a par with the Corolla, with sufficient room for four adults and a spacious boot. There are no big surprises in the cabin, though Kia has crammed the car full of goodies and the price is a knock-out $18,990 with manual box.The four-speed auto version I tested comes in at $20,990 and included airconditioning, electric windows and mirrors, dual airbags and a CD player.Don't expect this car to compete in a weekend rally and you'll be rewarded with a neat handling, peppy machine that has quietness as one of its most endearing features.It handles corners well, though you recognise quite early that there's a limit.The brakes are fine, the steering feel is typically Korean -- like holding a dead bird -- though the ride is excellent for this class of car.Kia has done a lot of good work on the suspension, which comes as a major shock, given previous examples.The engine is torquey, has a strong mid-range power delivery and though it revs to 6000rpm it's a pointless exercise and will only cost money in extra fuel.The auto transmission is a plain Jane four-speed without accoutrements such as manual selection, though it proved to be well-matched to the engine.I would have liked better fuel consumption, though the car was an automatic and the 2-litre engine was no small fry.The Cerato does its job of transporting people with efficiency and, despite the price, looks like it cost a few thousand dollars more than you paid.This car will meet the needs of people who, unlike me, will contentedly beaver along the freeways and trundle through shopping centre car parks in comfort, with reliability and with spare change in their pockets.