Kia Ceed Sportswagon estate review

It's hard to believe this is only the third generation of Kia Ceed Sportswagon estate, because the practical model has matured into a real contender to the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer, SEAT Leon ST and even the venerable Volkswagen Golf Estate. That's not to mention the Skoda Octavia Estate, which could be considered the Ceed Sportswagon's closest rival.

While not exactly daring in its design, the Ceed Sportswagon is rather swoopy compared to the angular Octavia Estate, especially following its facelift towards the end of 2021. It now has a sharper, more aggressive look, with distinctive LED daytime running lights that sit separately from the headlights for a cleaner appearance. Like the Skoda, a long rear overhang, elongated roofline and roof rails make it hard to believe it's based on a humble hatchback. A 115mm increase in length has allowed engineers to increase the boot volume to 625 litres.

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Interior quality has gone in the right direction, too, almost matching the class leaders for soft-touch materials and a sturdy feel. The 'floating' infotainment screen looks good, is intuitive to use and comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard.

In fact, there's lots of desirable kit such as sat nav with TomTom maps and traffic information, a JBL stereo and heated windscreen. The entry-level ‘2’ grade has cruise control, 16-inch alloy wheels and an eight-inch touchscreen, while ‘2 NAV’ cars get a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen and sat nav. The flagship ‘3’ trim adds larger 17-inch alloy wheels and privacy glass, dual-zone climate control and even a fast charger for portable devices.

Two petrols and a sole diesel form the standard engine range, while a flagship plug-in hybrid petrol was introduced in mid-2020 but isn't yet offered for the facelifted car. The PHEV cost the most to buy and was the most efficient model in the lineup, with a pure-electric range of up to 29 miles and claimed fuel economy of up to 188.3mpg.

Our recommendation is the entry-level 1.0-litre T-GDI with 118bhp, which is smooth for a three-cylinder engine and has plenty of power in urban driving. It can return up to 53.3mpg and is the most affordable option for both business and private buyers. The 1.4-litre T-GDI   has now been replaced with a 1.5 T-GDI petrol and it's probably worthwhile if you plan on filling the Ceed Sportswagon with people and luggage. It takes power from 138bhp to 158bhp, helping it accelerate up to speed. A 1.6-litre CRDi diesel is also available for high-mileage drivers, averaging up to 62.8mpg.

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It's too early to say how reliable the latest Ceed Sportswagon will be, but a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty is likely to reassure buyers. They should also be unlikely to need it if Kia's second place in our 2021 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey is anything to go by.

Improvements in the Ceed Sportswagon's design could see Kia head further up the manufacturer rankings, because customers should find practicality, design and technology have all gone in the right direction, making it an impressive all-rounder.