Kia XCeed hatchback - MPG, running costs & CO2

The Kia XCeed was launched with conventional petrol and diesel engines, with the diesel getting 48-volt mild hybrid technology that gives efficiency a small boost. You can’t buy the diesel anymore; Kia has now withdrawn it due to dwindling diesel sales and to push its hybrid models.

A plug-in hybrid Kia XCeed is also available at the top of the range, fitted with a 1.6-litre petrol engine, 8.9kWh battery pack and electric motor for an EV range of around 30 miles. You’ll need to keep the battery topped up to see the best fuel economy figures; drive with the battery depleted and you’ll achieve up to 40mpg or so.

Kia XCeed MPG & CO2

The standard XCeed offers decent (if not class-leading) fuel-efficiency figures, close to those of the Ford Focus Active. The smallest 1.0-litre T-GDI petrol can manage up to 47.1mpg with CO2 emissions of 136g/km, making it fairly expensive for company-car drivers but reasonable for private buyers with a low or medium annual mileage. However, this engine isn’t being offered with the facelifted XCeed to begin with.

The larger 1.5-litre T-GDI can return up to 46.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 137g/km when fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox. The seven-speed automatic improves efficiency slightly, returning fuel economy of up to 45.5mpg and emissions of 142g/km.

It’s the plug-in hybrid that makes the best choice for company-car drivers; its 32g/km CO2 output means Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) will cost about a third of the petrol and diesel models. The XCeed Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is an expensive choice for private buyers, but the 33-mile range is commendable and it’s said to manage over 200mpg. Bear in mind that you’ll need to regularly charge the battery to get anywhere near its official economy figures. Long motorway journeys that rely heavily on the petrol engine won’t be particularly economical either, as is the case with the majority of plug-in hybrids.

Every conventionally powered XCeed is taxed at the standard VED (road tax) rate, with the PHEV model qualifying for the lower discounted rate.

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Insurance groups

Insurance groups start from just 12 for the 1.0-litre petrol engine in '3' trim, with the '2' version of the same engine placed in group 15, presumably because it has less safety kit fitted. The 1.6-litre diesel is in group 15, while the 1.5-litre petrol sits in groups 18 or 19 depending on the gearbox chosen. PHEV models are in group 18 too.

Warranty

Kia's generous warranty has been key to the brand’s success and its seven-year/100,000 mile warranty also covers the XCeed. It certainly looks appealing next to the three-year/60,000-mile cover offered with the Focus Active and Volkswagen T-Roc.

Servicing

Petrol versions of the XCeed need servicing every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes soonest. The diesels suit high-mileage drivers better, needing attention every 12 months or 20,000 miles, potentially saving hundreds of pounds a year if you rack up miles quickly.