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We're big fans of the XCeed, which is why it beat the Ford Focus Active in a twin test in 2019, then two years later it came out ahead of the Citroen C4 \u2013 but behind the Mazda CX-30 in a triple test. We liked its roomy cabin, zesty 1.5 T-GDi engine, comfortable ride and the refinement too. What makes the XCeed even more appealing is the availability of a plug-in hybrid powertrain, which can slash your running costs if you don\u2019t tend to do a lot of long-distance motorway driving. And on top of that is the fact that even if you buy one of the earliest XCeeds delivered new to its UK owner, it\u2019ll still have at least three years\u2019 warranty still to run, which puts it on a par with many new cars.<\/strong><\/p>\n There was a time when cars were in easily defined segments, such as saloon, estate, coup\u00e9 or hatchback. But in recent years the boundaries have become blurred. Take the Kia XCeed for example; it blends elements from the hatchback and SUV sectors to create what its maker called a CUV, or Compact Utility Vehicle.<\/p>\n In theory the XCeed offers the best of both worlds: the practicality of a five-door hatch with the raised seating position of an SUV. In reality, the interior doesn\u2019t offer much more space than the regular Ceed on which the XCeed is based. Nevertheless, there\u2019s still plenty to like about this Kia.<\/p>\n The XCeed arrived in UK showrooms in September 2019, with a choice of 118bhp 1.0 T-GDi or 138bhp 1.4 T-GDi petrol engines, while for those who preferred diesel there was a 134bhp 1.6 CRDi.<\/p>\n Trim levels were 2, 3 and First Edition, and prices started at \u00a320,795. A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) was added to the range in January 2020, priced from \u00a330,695; three months later an Edition trim level came along, sitting between 2 and 3.<\/p>\n In August 2022 an updated XCeed went on sale with a refreshed exterior design and an upgraded interior. From this point there were just two powertrains: a 158bhp 1.5 T-GDi petrol unit and the 1.6 GDi PHEV, and the trim levels were also revised; they now consisted of 2, 3 and GT-Line S.<\/p>\n None of the powertrains is weak and the transmissions are all pretty slick, so we wouldn\u2019t suggest that you avoid any XCeed derivative. It helps that cars with an automatic transmission have a smooth-shifting dual-clutch set-up rather than a CVT (six-speed for the plug-in hybrid, seven-speed for the 1.4 T-GDi and 1.5 T-GDi).<\/p>\n Sometimes we\u2019d suggest that you avoid entry-level trims, but there\u2019s no need to here because even the 2 comes with LED headlights, 16-inch alloys, an eight-inch touchscreen, automatic headlights, reversing camera, keyless go, air-conditioning and cruise control.<\/p>\n The 3 adds 18-inch wheels, navigation, privacy glass, heating for the front seats and steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, automatic wipers and rear parking sensors. The 4 came with heated rear seats and a powered tailgate.<\/p>\n The XCeed is almost like a jacked-up small family hatch rather than a full-on SUV, which puts it directly up against the Ford Focus Active. That\u2019s a car that is good value and dynamically accomplished just like the regular hatch, but there\u2019s no plug-in hybrid option available.<\/p>\n The Kia\u2019s dashboard is clearly laid out and easy to get on with. Cabin space is good, although tall people might want more legroom in the back. Boot space is good at 426 litres, or 1,378 litres with the back seats folded, but the batteries There's no shortage of XCeeds for sale on the second-hand market, but diesels are rare.\u00a0Only about one petrol-engined XCeed in 20 is an auto, while there\u2019s no shortage of plug-in hybrids.<\/p>\n To check prices on a specific\u00a0model head over to our\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>valuation tool<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n All XCeeds need to be serviced every 12 months or 10,000 miles. Routine maintenance costs are the same regardless of which engine is fitted, so you can expect to pay \u00a3150 for the first and third services. The second and fourth services are priced at around \u00a3250, while the fifth service is the biggest of the lot, at \u00a3280 or so.<\/p>\n Brake fluid needs to be renewed every two years and the coolant every 10 years or 100,000 miles; the costs for these jobs are included in the relevant service price.<\/p>\n The petrol engines have timing chains, but the diesel has a cambelt that has to be replaced every 16 years or 160,000 miles, for around \u00a3500. Service plans are available to help spread the cost over a year, and these plans are also transferable between owners, so check if there\u2019s one on any XCeed that you\u2019re thinking of buying.<\/p>\n Kia\u00a0has a pretty good record when it comes to issuing recalls, and sure enough, the XCeed has never been the subject of one. Since the XCeed was launched in 2019, Kia has issued 15 recalls across its entire model range, much of which is affected by at least one campaign. However, unlike most car makers, whose recalls often affect multiple models at a time, most of Kia\u2019s recalls are aimed at just one model.<\/p>\n Some of the recalls cover auto emergency braking glitches (Sorento), faulty electronic handbrakes (Soul EV), fuel-pump maladies (Stinger) and airbags failing to work properly (Soul). Several other glitches have hit the Sorento, including problematic automatic gearboxes, short circuits in the heater, and fuel leaks, but so far the XCeed has a clean bill of health.<\/p>\n In this year\u2019s Driver Power new-car survey, the Ceed came 10th out of 75 entries, with the XCeed two places behind. There were high scores for practicality and boot space, along with interior and exterior design and quality. Infotainment and value also got the thumbs up, along with the safety systems, running costs and infotainment. Owners don\u2019t rate the driving experience particularly highly.<\/p>\nHistory<\/h2>\n
More reviews <\/h4>\n
Car group tests<\/h5>\n
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In-depth reviews<\/h5>\n
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Road tests<\/h5>\n
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Which one should I buy?<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nAlternatives to the Kia XCeed<\/h2>\n
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\nin the PHEV really eat into boot space, which is cut to just 291 litres, or 1,243 litres if the back seats are dropped flat.<\/p>\nPrices<\/h2>\n
Running costs<\/h2>\n
Recalls<\/h2>\n
Driver Power owner satisfaction<\/h2>\n