Should you buy one?

The Ceed has morphed from an also-ran into an impressive hatchback that’s up there with the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. It’s not a particularly exciting car, but it’s comfortable, good to drive and should be painless to own thanks to a strong reliability record and long warranty.

Our choice would be a mid-spec petrol model, as these provide a great balance between performance and price. But don’t discount the entry-level cars, which still have plenty of equipment and offer a useful cost saving.

What we like

The Ceed has a long warranty and loads of equipment even on entry-level models – two things European manufacturers don’t always get right.

What we don’t like

It’s remote to drive, and none of the three engines are class-leaders in performance or fuel economy. There are no fuel-sipping hybrid options or a fire-breathing hot hatchback, either.

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