Should you buy a one?

If you like the styling, then sure. The Kia XCeed has always been a well-rounded family crossover and this facelifted model has only improved the formula. It’s spacious, practical, economical and absolutely rammed to the gunnels with technology. Also, Kia’s styling updates make the XCeed look sharper, while the new GT-Line trim adds some extra kerb appeal.

Looking at it from a more sensible perspective, though, we’re not sure the XCeed makes much sense when compared with the Ceed Sportswagon and Proceed Shooting Brake. The estates share the same platform and technology, but they have more space inside and bigger boots. It’s classic case of form over function, so our advice is to pick the Ceed that suits the amount of stuff you need to carry.

It’s also worth noting that some rival SUVs are more fun to drive, more spacious and more cost-effective to run – without losing anything in the style stakes.

What we like

The interior is a nice place to be. It’s well-trimmed, it’s comfortable, it’s quiet and Kia’s 10.25-inch infotainment system look great and is easy to operate. There’s also a surprising amount of space, with lots of legroom in the back and one of the largest boots in its class. It’ll do a good job of protecting you and your family in the event of an accident.

What we don’t like

The driving experience leaves a little to be desired but, if you’re considering a car of this sort, that’s unlikely to appear near the top of your priority list. Kia’s estimations for the plug-in hybrid model’s fuel economy figures are also very optimistic. You’ll get around 60mpg in the real world, not 200mpg.