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In-depth reviews

Kia Ceed review - Reliability & safety

"Kia’s seven-year warranty and lots of standard safety kit mean the Ceed does well here"

Carbuyer Rating

4.2 out of 5

Owners Rating

3.5 out of 5

Read owner reviews
Reliability & safety Rating

4.5 out of 5

The Ceed should be an easy purchase based on the remote chances of it going wrong and a pretty strong safety record. Reassuring performances in our Driver Power owner satisfaction survey and a seven-year warranty mean you’re unlikely to be left stranded, or reaching into your wallet unexpectedly.

Kia Ceed reliability

Unfortunately the Kia Ceed didn’t feature in our 2024 Driver Power list of the top 50 models on sale, but the Kia brand performs well overall. It came an impressive third place out of the top 32 brands as rated by owners – one place ahead of premium manufacturer Porsche. Reliability itself wasn’t anything to write home about, with around 24% of owners reporting an issue with their Kia in the first year, which is fairly average, however Kia’s impressive warranty goes a long way to making up for this.

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Other things that Kia owners liked about their cars were value for money, their infotainment systems, low running costs, and practicality. Kia performed well in all categories, with only the cars’ powertrains and engines ranked outside the top 10 in 11th place. It’s safe to say Kia owners are a very happy bunch.

What owners said about the Mk3 Kia Ceed…

Pros

Cons

  • “The engine is smooth and quiet, the ride is comfortable, and it’s also very easy to drive. Ideal.”
  • “All-round visibility is very good, especially with the rear camera.”
  • “The performance is excellent for a 1.0 litre.”
  • “Excellent quality inside and out. Very impressive.”
  • “The build quality is disappointing, and I’m convinced that this will limit the lifespan of the car.”
  • “The Lane Keep Assist is really intrusive. It’s so bad, I have to switch it off before every journey.”
  • “The sat-nav is really poor, with inaccurate mapping, instructions too late and incorrect information.”

Tell us what you think about your car, leave an owner review or take the full Driver Power survey…

Safety

Euro NCAP has crash-tested the third-generation Ceed, and it scores four stars as standard. Both its predecessors scored five stars on less stringent tests, and this new car offers the maximum five-star rating if you choose the optional safety pack.

For this new model, more safety kit has been added, with driving assistance technology including driver attention warnings, lane-keeping assistance, auto-dipping headlights and autonomous emergency braking fitted as standard.

The Ceed is also the first Kia to get lane-following assistance, which not only matches the speed of the vehicle ahead on the motorway, but also detects road markings to help you stay in the middle of the lane.

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Which Is Best?

Cheapest

  • Name
    1.5T GDi ISG 138 2 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • RRP
    £23,105

Most Economical

  • Name
    1.5T GDi ISG 138 2 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • RRP
    £23,105

Fastest

  • Name
    1.5T GDi ISG 138 2 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • RRP
    £23,105

Andy is Carbuyer's managing editor, with more than a decade of experience helping consumers find their perfect car. He has an MA in automotive journalism and has tested hundreds of vehicles.

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