2012 Kia cee’d on sale from £14,395

2012 Kia cee'd arrives in the UK

As expected after the 2012 Kia ce’d debuted at the Geneva motor show in March, the new cee’d is going on sale from 1st June.

The ‘old’ Kia cee’d moved the bar a lot higher in terms of perception and ability, and made it on screen as the Top Gear car for their SIARPC (the cee apostrophe dee, as Clarkson refers to it). Now Kia are pushing the cee’d more upmarket with some decent quality materials and proper, grown-up options.

The 2012 cee’d sits lower and is longer (and a bit narrower) than the old cee’d, offering a more sporty stance, and a new set of engines – two petrols and two diesels.

The 1.6 litre petrol engine gets direct fuel injection and offers 133bhp and can be had with the option of Kia’s new dual-clutch ‘box, with the 1.4 litre offering a less appealing 98bhp, no dual-clutch ‘box option but 47mpg and 139g/km.

But it’s the diesel engines that will be the big seller, with the 1.6 litre with ISG (stop-go_ probably the moist appealing. With 126bhp it can be had with a regular six-speed auto and can, depending on spec, offer as low as 96g/km. The 1.4 litre diesel offers 89bhp and 69mpg with emissions as low as 109g/km.

The new Kia cee’d comes in four trim levels, thoughtfully called 1, 2, 3 and 4. All include stuff like AirCon, electric windows, daytime running lights, iPod ceoonectivity, Bluettoth, Hill Start and adjustable steering.

Jump up to the ‘2’ trim level and you can add 16″ alloys, cornering lights, more chrome, Cruise and parking sensors with the ‘3’ trim level adding Privacy Glass, auto lights and wipers, Climate and touchscreen SatNav.

At the top of the new Kia cee’d tree sits the ‘4’ Trim with 17″ alloys, leather, heated steering wheel, electronic parking bake and engine stop-start button, with the enhanced ‘4 Tech’ trim adding panoramic sunroof, electric driver’s seat and Parallel Parking Assist which includes front parking sensors, Lane Departure Warning and Adaptive Xenons.

The new Kia cee’d goes on sale on 1st June with the 2013 cee’d SW (estate) and 2013 pro_cee’d (3 door) on sale at the end of 2012.

2012 Kia cee’d Photos

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2012 Kia cee’d Video

2012 Kia cee’d range – Price and spec