Kia Cerato Reviews

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the Kia Cerato S Premium, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The turbocharged version of Kia’s second-generation Cerato Koup promises a healthy dose of performance substance to match its undeniable style.You can also get the Cerato Koup as a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre, but the 1.6-litre Turbo is the one to get your tongue wagging.The Koup Turbo represents pretty impressive value, and even with the automatic transmission on this one, it’s $30,190 price tag is within a whisker of the cheapest $29,990 Toyota 86 GT. It also costs about the same as the little hot hatches like the Clio RS, Fiesta ST, and 208 GTi, but the Koup Turbo promises similar thrills in a more mature package.It’s also $5100 cheaper than the $35,290 Veloster Turbo auto, so it’s a bit of a style and performance bargain.The Koup Turbo comes with cloth sports seats, a 4.3-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth phone and audio, reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors, proximity keys, heated folding wing mirrors, LEDs at the front and rear, and 18-inch alloys.An optional Touring Pack is also available, which adds leather trim, climate control and a 7-inch screen with satnav.The Koup Turbo shares its driveline and underpinnings with the Hyundai Veloster Turbo and the new Pro_cee’d GT, but the Koup is wrapped in a slightly-longer, more suave coupe body.On the inside, it’s a lot like the Cerato sedan and hatch, and there’s an impressive amount of room in the back and seating for three, plus a surprisingly large 433L boot and split-fold, and a full-size spare wheel. The Koup Turbo’s 1.6-litre engine pumps out the same 150kW/265Nm as the Veloster Turbo and the new Pro_cee’d GT, and carries an 8.0L/100km combined fuel consumption figure with the six-speed auto. Significant to the Koup Turbo’s ownership experience is the fact that it is happy running on Regular 91RON unleaded fuel, and comes with Kia’s capped price servicing plan and five year warranty.Like all current Ceratos, the Koup Turbo comes with a five star ANCAP rating, with dual front, side and curtain airbags, ABS, EBD and stability control.The Cerato Koup Turbo is a bit of a surprise out on the road, with a great balance of performance and refinement.The 1.6-litre turbo engine helps it complete the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.4 seconds, but this is only half the story. There’s fantastic urge available just off idle, with max torque from 1750rpm giving the “fast car” sensation at every flex of your right ankle.The six-speed auto is a great match even without using the paddle shifters, and it makes a nice muted rort from the twin exhausts.The Koup’s handling is nice and composed through corners, and with a torsion beam rear end it will rear-steer like a like a hot hatch when you’re really pushing it.The official fuel figures are tough to match when you’re enjoying the performance, and the steering can be a bit dull when twirled enthusiastically.Despite this finesse through the bends and its low profile 18-inch tyres, the Koup Turbo is surprisingly comfortable over bumps, and it’s nice and quiet at highway speeds.If you’re after a great blend of value, style, performance and comfort, the Kia Cerato Koup Turbo is an excellent option, and it’s easier to live with than a hot hatch. 

The Kia Cerato started out as a cheap and cheerful alternative to the established players in the small segment, such as the Toyota Corolla and Mitsubishi Lancer.

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.

As the name suggests the Koup is a coupe, a two-door version that's based on the Cerato four-door sedan.

We don't get it. Why would Kia introduce the Cerato Koup and then a few months later, the Proceed GT three-door hatch essentially the same sort of car? One's out of Korea, the other is out of Europe but they both fit in the same segment competing for the same customers. And there are two variants of the Koup in auto and manual.Go figure. But regardless, we like Cerato Koup on a number of levels -- the styling, technology, equipment, price and performance.ENGINE / TRANSMISSIONWe drove the turbo manual version but there's a naturally aspirated model as well with a 2.0-litre engine. The turbo is more desirable if you like an engaging, sporty drive more kick, better dynamics, racier styling and a choice of six-speed manual or dual clutch auto (also available in the 2.0-litre).Like most models in Kia's Aussie line-up, the Koup has undergone local ride and handling calibration that delivers a sporty/Euro feel. Though only a 1.6-litre direct injection petrol engine, its turbo helps generate a handy 150kW/265Nm output which translates into strong performance. Our manual test car offered up slick gear changes and about 7.7 litres/100km fuel economy to achieve a Euro 4 emissions rating on regular unleaded.DESIGN / STYLINGThe Koup is a cracking good looker with the so called "Schreyer" look to its flanks. Touches of carbon fibre look material set off interior and exterior styling as does subtle use of LED lighting.It's a fairly weighty coupe at 1334kg, bigger than you think and with a large boot and generous rear seat room. Access to the rear seat is commendably easy. Additional luggage space is provided by a 60/40 folding rear seat.VALUEThere's plenty of kit, adding value to the $27,990 ask. You get leather sports seats with a carbon fibre weave look. The driver's seat has six way manual adjustment while the steering wheel has rake and reach adjustment.Standard kit includes cruise, paddle shift on the auto, premium seats, trip computer, Bluetooth phone and audio, alloy pedals, judicious use of chrome garnishes, two 12V outlets, and numerous storage compartments. Wheels are 18-inch in a particularly fetching pattern alloy and the spare is a full size alloy.The audio/infotainment pod is comprehensive and includes SUNA satnav but the screen is a tad small on the regular Turbo. A Touring Pack adds a 7-inch screen. But metallic paint adds an annoying $520 to the bottom line.SAFETYKoup turbo scores a five star crash rating as well as a swag of driver assist kit like hill start assist, front and rear parking sensors, reverse camera auto headlights and wipers auto door locks and other stuff but none of the sophisticated driver assist electronics found on some of the Euro models at more money.DRIVINGAll good here, sporty, adequate get-go, reasonable fuel economy, impressive cornering, great looks and practical for a coupe. The Koup has just enough sporty edge to make it stand out from a crowd and is priced right with plenty of features to sweeten the proposition.The drive experience is enhanced by Kia's clever multi-mode power steering system called Flex-steer with normal, comfort and sports settings. It rides on a strut front and torsion beam rear suspension with decent size discs front and rear. They've done an excellent job on local calibration and the car is genuinely fun to drive.Overall, we like the Kia Cerato Koup. It has honest performance, looks a million bucks and isn't too heavy on the juice.VERDICTJust needs a slight polish in certain areas to make it really good. Kia Cerato Koup Price: from $23,990, ($27990 Turbo)Engine: 2.0 litre four-cyl petrol; 129kW/209Nm (150kW/265Nm Turbo)Transmission: 6-speed manual or auto; FWDThirst: 7.3L/100km (7.7L/100km Turbo) 

After completing a long distance test of Kia's new Cerato -- the popular sleek sedan which has also been joined by a hatchback in this country -- it was a case of the more I drove it, the more I loved it. Value Cerato prices start at a sharp $19,990 for the 1.8-litre S, you will pay $23,990 for the better performing

We turn the spotlight on the Kia Cerato Si sedan and answer the important questions, including the biggest -- would you buy one?

Kicking the tyres is a metaphor for buying a new car. Seriously consider buying the new Kia Cerato Koup if you're in the market for a two-door coupe, but ditch the tyres.