2011 Kia Cerato Reviews

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Kia Cerato Koup as a used buy.

Graham Smith reviews the used Kia Cerato and Koup 2009-2013, their fine points and flaws and what to watch for when you are buying them.

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 Koup, usually known simply as the Kia Koup comes from the lets-have-fun-with-names department of the ambitious South Korean car maker.

Once a thriving segment, the budget sports car market had shrunk almost to the point of extinction when Kia launched its budget-priced Kia Cerato Koup in 2009.

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

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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.

WE turn the spotlight on automotive's newest and brightest stars, as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. Ultimately, however, there is only one question that really needs answering would you buy one?This is the five door hatchback variant of Kia's attractive Cerato which followed the sedan by about 18 months. The entry spec' test car featured Kia's excellent six-speed automatic transmission, essentially the reason we wanted to drive it.Keenly priced at $20,240 plus on roads.Too many to list really but including: Ford Focus, Mazda3, Holden Cruze, Hyundai i30, Mitsubishi Lancer, Nissan Tiida, Sooby Impreza, Suzuki SX4, Toyota Corolla and more.Has a punchy, twin cam, 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, petrol with variable valve timing that's good for 115kW/194Nm — right at the top of the class.Great — plenty of zip off the mark, smooth, relatively quiet, economical, willing to rev — ticks all the boxes. The throttle flare problem on manual variant isn't evident on the auto. No paddle shift on Si - who cares, leave it in DSips lightly at 7.7-litres/100km — not bad for a 2.0-litre auto.The manual is only a couple of points better.Green tinge, passes Euro 4 emissions regs, OK on the carbon dioxide. Don't know about the manufacturing process.Gets four starsVery — great ride/handling compromise, relatively comfy seats, minimal noise intrusion, plenty of kit to keep you happy on a drive.Impressive thanks in part to the six speed auto. We would buy the auto in preference to the manual — there's a small premium but it's worth it.Gets off the line quickly and rolls along sweetly at speed. Plenty in reserve at the push of the throttle. Impressive dynamics, looks good on the road.Excellent value all things considered though the Mitsu' Lancer at similar money makes it a hard call... Si model scores a full-size spare, six bags, cruise control with steering wheel controls, rear spoiler power windows and mirrors, Bluetooth for phone and audio streaming, six speaker audio.Yes, we'd shop it against some other contenders and base the decision on the deal. There is no cringe factor at all with buying the Cerato hatch — it's as good or better than anything else in the class. Roomy, good looking and we prefer it over the sedan.