New model from Kia a perfect marriage of the best SUV and hatchback traits
As an addendum to the already enlightened Kia Ceed range that includes the Ceed five-door hatchback, Ceed Sportswagon, and ProCeed five-door shooting brake, the new Kia XCeed, just launched in Marseille this week, is a new urban crossover utility vehicle (CUV) offering something different from Kia Motors.
Described as a combination of compact SUV practicality with the sporty packaging and engaging handling of a hatchback, it is not quite an addition to the heaving SUV market, but a likable, slightly taller version of the Ceed hatchback.
Nevertheless, it offers comparable levels of space for occupants and luggage to the SUV range. Added to that the enjoyment you get from driving, it surpasses expectation with all the traits of the hatch to the fore.
Kia hails its sporty handling and a comfortable, assured ride, while providing a more commanding view of the road ahead than a conventional hatchback.
Advanced safety, connectivity and infotainment features make it one of the most high-tech cars in the CUV class. There is a selection of petrol from the three-cylinder 1.0-litre and 1.4-litre and a 1.6-litre diesel engine to choose.
“The Kia XCeed addresses the growing desire for cars which offer more emotion and dynamism than an SUV, both in terms of the way a car looks and drives,” Emilio Herrera, Chief Operating Officer for Kia Motors Europe, told us at the launch on Monday.
“Yet these customers don’t want to lose the practicality that a larger car offers them. Our new CUV meets these needs, with a distinctive and modern design wrapped around a spacious, versatile body. Merging the strengths of both hatchback and SUV, the Kia XCeed offers something refreshing and different for European consumers.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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