Kia Ceed Hatchback (2007 - 2012) 1.6 CRDi 3 5d (2009/59) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

It says I should have known better. Had one on hire for a week covering motorway miles and was impressed. The paper economy figures looked good, so decided to buy one. Turns out motorway use is the only positive thing I can say about this car.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

They think it was one of my least sensible decisions.

Would you buy this car again and why?

No. Warranty support has been terrible, charging me for diagnostic / investigative work. Kia UK Customer Services attitude is appalling. Kia Technical are even worse. Have lost £4000 selling the car after 20 months. The economy has been shocking averaging low 40s for most of the time.

What are you likely to buy next?

Not Kia and please don't make Kia your next choice.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£10,995

When did you buy the car?

October 2010

Did you get a good deal and why?

The deal was ok in terms of price relative to others for sale. Car was a Kia Direct car (translated means ex-hire car). Kia topped the warranty back up to 7 years, gave 2 years free breakdown cover and offered interest free credit up to £7000 of the purchase price.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

7 year warranty (barely worth the paper it's written on). Alleged fuel economy (terrible). £30 per year road tax. 5 start EuroNcap safety rating.

What was the dealer like?

Harbour Garage in Whitstable were very polite and straightforward during the sales process. Once I had bought the car though it took me several months and a complaint e-mail to obtain the warranty top up paperwork and the 2 year breakdown paperwork. The car also needed two new front tyres within a few hundred miles which I had failed to spot on collection. I wouldn't have expected a small family run main dealer to send a car out with tyres in this state.

What's it like to drive?

Dull. Very nose heavy. Noisy and unrefined. My 10 year old Fiesta diesel has a far superior ride. Badly geared - can't use 4th at 30mph but can be in 5th at 40. Gearbox rough - feels like an old car which has had a hard life. To give it some credit it is good on the motorway on smooth surfaces once up to speed.

What's it like to park?

It's ok. Just got to watch the 17 inch factory alloys.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Trim inside the boot tailgate hanging off. Driver's seat needed replacing due to loose components inside. Radio decides when it wants to turn off and on. Injectors / glow plugs failing causing blue smoke on start up. Eats tyres - have bought 7 tyres in less than 2 years and 25,000 miles. Rear suspension not up to the factory fitted 17 inch wheels, causing horrendous road noise and uneven tyre wear. Economy shocking averaging 42 to 45 - long way short of the claimed 60+mpg. Kia only fixed the seat to my satisfaction. Everything else 'we couldn't find anything wrong' was the stock answer.

What's most practical about your car?

It's a 5 door hatchback.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Stereo controls on the steering wheel.