Kia Ceed

{{anchor|ED|first}}First generation (ED; 2006)

Miklós Kovács 5-door hatchback 5-door station wagon (Cee'd SW) | Kia Forte/Cerato (TD) | Hyundai i30 (FD) | Hyundai Elantra (HD) | Petrol: | 1.4 L Gamma CVVT I4 | 1.6 L Gamma CVVT I4 | 2.0 L Beta II CVVT I4 | Diesel: | 1.6 L U CRDi-VGT I4 (turbo diesel) | 2.0 L D CRDi-VGT I4 (turbo) 6-speed manual 4-speed automatic 4250 mm (Pro cee'd) 4470 mm (cee'd SW) 1450 mm (Pro cee'd) 1530 mm (cee'd SW) The Cee'd was designed in Frankfurt, Germany, with Miklós Kovács leading the design team, while the concept car was designed by Pontus Fontaeus. The cee'd is developed on the same platform as the Hyundai i30. The first generation was available with a choice of four engines (two petrol and two diesel), five trim levels and either manual or automatic transmission.

There were three trim levels available: LX, EX, TX. The flagship TX trim was equipped with semi leather seats, Michelin 225/45 tires with 17 inch alloy wheels and rear parking sensors. All versions have six airbags as standard, active front headrests, height-adjustable headrests, pretensioners, ABS, EBD, BA, and a reinforced structure of the cabin. Upon release on the market, the warranty is one of the most extensive and longest in Europe with seven years or 150,000 km for the powertrain and five years for the entire vehicle.

In September 2009, the facelifted model was unveiled at the 63rd Frankfurt Motor Show. While the five-door and the station wagon were given an updated front and rear design, including the Kia's new corporate grille called the Tiger Nose, technical revisions and minor changes in the interior, the three-door version exterior was not updated.

Approximately 646,300 units of the first-generation Cee'd were produced.

Body styles

Kia Pro_cee'd

The Pro_cee'd is the sports version of the Kia Cee'd, with a 3-door body and a new rear-end design. The concept car was showcased for first time at the Paris Motor Show in 2006. Apart from the 3-door hatchback body, the car is given a lower stance compared to the original 5-door Cee'd as it is 5 cm lower and 5 cm longer. The official pictures of the production version were released in July 2007.

Kia Cee'd Sportswagon

The Cee'd Sportswagon is the station wagon of the Cee'd. It is the only version that features the 2.0-litre CRDi engine. The claimed boot space is 534 dm³ with the rear seats unfolded and 1664 dm³ with the seats folded down.

Pre-facelift

File:2008 Kia Cee'd SR-7 1.6 Rear.jpg|Kia Cee'd (pre-facelift) File:Kia cee'd sw isg EX – Heckansicht, 13. Februar 2011, Mettmann.jpg|Kia Cee'd SW (pre-facelift) File:Kia pro cee'd 2.0 TX Granadagelb.JPG|Kia Pro_cee'd (pre-facelift) File:Kia pro cee'd 2.0 TX Granadagelb Heck.JPG|Kia Pro_cee'd (pre-facelift) File:Kia pro cee'd 2.0 TX Granadagelb Interieur.JPG|Interior

Facelift

File:Kia cee'd 1.4 CVVT LX Facelift front 20100617.jpg|Facelift Kia Cee'd (front) File:Kia cee'd 1.4 CVVT LX Facelift rear 20100617.jpg|Facelift Kia Cee'd (rear) File:2010 Kia Cee'd 3 Estate facelift 1.6 Rear.jpg|Facelift Kia Cee'd SW File:Kia cee'd SW Facelift interior - GMS 2009.jpg|Facelift interior

Safety

The Kia Cee'd earned a Euro NCAP 5 star safety rating for adult occupants for the pre 2009 model. It is also fitted with six airbags (including curtain airbags) as standard even in countries like Ukraine where safety options were usually stripped in comparison with other countries.

The Euro NCAP results also showed that the dashboard can become a threat to the driver and passenger's knees in the event of a front collision, despite having 6 airbags in the car and the Cee'd also scored the maximum available points for the side impact and pole tests.

{{anchor|JD|second}}Second generation (JD; 2012)

Russia: Kaliningrad (Avtotor) 5-door hatchback 5-door station wagon (Cee'd SW) | Kia Forte/Cerato (YD) | Hyundai i30 (GD) | Hyundai Elantra (MD/UD) | Petrol: | 1.0 L Kappa II T-GDi I3 | 1.4 L Gamma MPi I4 | 1.4 L Kappa II MPi I4 | 1.6 L Gamma MPi I4 | 1.6 L Gamma GDi I4 | 1.6 L Gamma T-GDi I4 | Diesel: | 1.4 L U II CRDi I4 | 1.6 L U II CRDi I4 6-speed automatic 7-speed DCT | 4310 mm | 4505 mm (SW) | 1780 mm | 1470 mm (hatchback) | 1430 mm (Pro Cee'd) | 1485 mm (SW) Making its worldwide premiere at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show is the all-new second-generation Cee'd (with internal code JD) which is claimed to be more sophisticated, efficient, refined, better equipped with a more engaging driving experience than the first generation. The second-generation Cee'd is, however, significantly more expensive than the first generation and moves the Cee'd out of the "budget" market as noted by independent reviewers such as Honest John. With the new Cee'd, came Kia's first attempt of a hot hatch with the Pro Cee'd GT.

First shown in June 2015, a facelifted model of the Cee'd went on sale in September of the same year.

Approximately 647,700 units of the second-generation Cee'd were produced.

Pre-facelift

File:Kia cee'd 1.6 CRDi 128 Spirit (JD) – Heckansicht, 11. April 2015, Düsseldorf.jpg|Kia Cee'd hatchback (pre-facelift) File:Kia cee'd sw 1.4 CVVT Edition 7 (EU) – Heckansicht, 26. Dezember 2013, Düsseldorf.jpg|Kia Cee'd SW 1.4 CVVT Edition 7 File:KiaCeedActive interno.jpg|Interior (pre-facelift)

Facelift

File:2016 Kia cee'd sw 3 ISG CRDi S-A 1.6 facelift Front.jpg|Kia Cee'd SW (facelift) File:2016 Kia cee'd sw 3 ISG CRDi S-A 1.6 facelift Rear.jpg|Kia Cee'd SW (facelift) File:2017 Kia Cee'd Interior.jpg|Interior (facelift)

Pro_Cee'd GT and Cee'd GT

Kia released the Pro_Cee'd GT in July 2013, while the 5-door Cee'd GT was released January 2014. The Pro_Cee'd GT is the company's first performance oriented car and the first European style "hot hatch" from a Korean manufacturer. It would act as a halo model for the rest of the range. It is also the first Kia sold in the UK with a turbo-charged petrol engine.

The Pro_Cee'd GT uses a variant of the T-GDi Gamma engine. The engine in the Pro_Cee'd GT is the same as that used in the American market Hyundai Veloster Turbo, but different gear ratios and more aggressive suspension have been used. The torque has also been increased to 265 Nm; though, where the standard T-GDi engine has all of its torque available between 1750 and 4500 rpm, the engine as used in the Pro_Cee'd GT has been altered slightly, having its full torque available between 1750 and 4600 rpm. The engine propels the car from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 7.4 seconds, 0.4 seconds faster than the Veloster Turbo with the same engine (albeit a with a lower tune). The suspension in the GT has been modified over the standard Pro_Cee'd, giving a far more agile and sporting ride.

A body kit has been fitted to give the car a more muscular stance. The rear bumper now includes a splitter and twin exhausts, whilst the front introduces a large air intake with red pinstripe, a gloss black grille with silver GT badge and distinctive LED "Ice Cube" daytime running lights—side skirts are also fitted. The car runs on 18-inch Alloy Wheels over the standard car's 17-inch wheels. The interior gains red accents including an overstitched GT badge on the bottom of the steering wheel, as well as Leather and Suede Recaro sports racing bucket seats and TFT instrument dial, allowing the driver to switch between an analogue speedometer and digital readout with boost pressure and torque meters.

Safety

{{anchor|CD|third}}Third generation (CD; 2018)

August 2018 – January 2026 (Ceed SW) November 2018 – December 2024 (Proceed) August 2019 – present (XCeed) Russia: Kaliningrad (Avtotor) 5-door station wagon (Ceed SW) 5-door shooting brake (Proceed) 5-door SUV (XCeed) Kia Forte/Cerato/K3 (BD) | Petrol: | 1.0 L Kappa II T-GDi I3 | 1.0 L Smartstream G1.0 T-GDi I3 | 1.4 L Kappa II T-GDi I4 | 1.5 L Smartstream G1.5 T-GDi I4 | 1.6 L Gamma II MPi I4 | 1.6 L Gamma II T-GDi I4 | Diesel: | 1.6 L Smartstream D1.6 CRDi I4 | 1.6 L Smartstream D1.6 CRDi I4 EcoDynamics+ (Mild Hybrid) 7-speed DCT | 4310 mm (hatchback) | 4605 mm (Proceed) | 4600 mm (SW) | 4395 mm (XCeed) | 1800 mm | 1826 mm (XCeed) | 1447 mm (hatchback) | 1442 mm (Proceed) | 1465 mm (SW) | 1490 mm (XCeed)

The third-generation Ceed was announced in February 2018 and revealed ahead of the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. The estate version was announced in March and officially revealed at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. The production of the hatchback started in May 2018 and the car became available in June. The production of the estate version started in summer 2018.

A 48 volt mild hybrid diesel engine variant of the 1.6 Smartstream, called the 'EcoDynamics+', was added for the entire lineup in 2020.

Pre-facelift

File:2019 Kia Ceed Blue Edition ISG S-A 1.4 Rear.jpg|2019 Kia Ceed hatchback File:2018 Kia Ceed 3 SW CRDi ISG 1.6 Front.jpg|2018 Kia Ceed Sportswagon File:2018 Kia Ceed 3 SW CRDi ISG 1.6 Rear.jpg|2018 Kia Ceed Sportswagon File:Kia XCeed Leonberg 2019 IMG 0086.jpg|Interior

Facelift

File:Kia Ceed (2021) IMG 7650.jpg|2021 Kia Ceed hatchback File:Kia Ceed (2021) Auto Zuerich 2021 IMG 0433.jpg|2021 Kia Ceed hatchback File:Kia Ceed (2021) 1X7A7288.jpg|Kia Ceed GT File:Kia Ceed (2021) 1X7A7289.jpg|Kia Ceed GT File:Kia Ceed sw (2021) IMG 5804.jpg|2021 Kia Ceed Sportswagon File:Kia Ceed sw (2021) IMG 5806.jpg|2021 Kia Ceed Sportswagon

Proceed

The Proceed is a shooting brake version of the Ceed launched in early 2019 for the European market. As of 2025, it is gradually being discontinued. File:2019 Kia Proceed GT ISG S-A 1.6 Front.jpg|2019 Kia Proceed (pre-facelift) File:2019 Kia Proceed GT ISG S-A 1.6 Rear.jpg|2019 Kia Proceed (pre-facelift) File:2022 Kia Proceed GT-Line ISG facelift 1.5.jpg|Kia Proceed (facelift) File:Kia Proceed GT IMG 6007.jpg|Kia Proceed (facelift)

XCeed

In September 2019, Kia unveiled the XCeed, a crossover SUV based on the third generation Ceed. File:Kia XCeed IMG 3314.jpg|Kia XCeed (pre-facelift) File:Kia XCeed IMG 3689.jpg|Kia XCeed (pre-facelift) File:Kia XCeed (2022) 1X7A6475.jpg|Kia XCeed (facelift) File:Kia XCeed (2022) 1X7A6476.jpg|Kia XCeed (facelift)

Engines

Safety

Sales

The Cee'd became Kia's best selling European model from 2007 to 2011, then it was overtaken by the Sportage, strongly outperforming sales of its predecessor, the Cerato and the previous best selling model, the Picanto — with sales of between 90,000 and 150,000 units per year. In 2008, the cee'd represented 44% of Kia's total sales volumes in Europe. Sales benefited from the innovative seven years' warranty—the first such warranty ever to be offered on any vehicle marketed in Europe.

Concepts

;Kia Pro_cee'd At the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, Kia unveiled the Pro_Cee'd, The Show Car designed by Pontus Fontaeus, and began marketing the model in January 2008. The Pro_Cee'd is mechanically identical to the 5-door model but many body panels (sans the bonnet and front-wings) are new and do not carry over from the 5-door model. The first-generation Pro_Cee'd was often compared to the Audi A3 in terms of its appearance, Auto Express calling it a "bargain Audi A3".

In 2013, Kia released the second-generation Pro_Cee'd. Unlike the previous generation, this car shares no body panels with the 5-door model. The new Pro_Cee'd has been continually praised in reviews for its looks, with a more coupé-like appearance, more sporting stance, lower suspension (by 40 mm) and a smaller front grille. The car has, however, gained some criticism; it excels at comfort and refinement like the standard Cee'd, but its suspension and steering are not considered at all sporty, its setup favouring the aforementioned comfort.

In 2017, Kia released a concept for the third-generation ProCeed. This time as a shooting brake version of the Ceed.

;Kia Ex_cee'd

Kia's Ex_cee'd cabriolet concept car premiered at the 77th Geneva International Motor Show in 2007 and was designed by Pontus Fontaeus. Based on the three-door Cee'd hatchback (Pro_cee'd), the Ex_cee'd shares the same platform, but features different exterior panels and an electric folding fabric roof.

;Kia Eco_cee'd Kia revealed a concept of its Pro_cee'd line, with improved aerodynamics and mild hybrid engine tuning to their diesel engine, under the name "Eco_cee'd". The concept models were fitted with ISG (Idle Stop&Go) and regenerative braking.

;Hybrid version Kia previewed a hybrid Cee'd concept at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, and operates an evaluation fleet of in Europe—with the hybrid models featuring an electric motor, powered by a high-voltage battery mounted behind the rear seats.

In popular culture

On 27 June 2010, the Kia Cee'd was revealed as the new reasonably priced car for the "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car" segment of the top-rated UK television programme Top Gear, where presenter Jeremy Clarkson incorrectly and persistently pronounces the name as "Cee-apostrophe-d" and describes it as "the only car with an apostrophe in its name." The version used had a kerb weight upwards of 1,263 kg, and was priced at . The car was eventually replaced in Series 20 by a Vauxhall Astra. Top Gear dented several Cee'ds in a game of car rugby in 2013.

Motorsport

The Kia Cee'd has been homologated for TCR-specification series and is manufactured and supplied by Austrian company STARD. Kia will run a factory-supported team in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship in 2017.

The Pro Cee'd serves as an official safety car in Poland's Kia Lotos Race, a racing organization created by Kia Motors Polska and Grupa Lotos.

Outside Europe

The Cee'd was being initially available only in the markets of Europe, Israel and South Africa.

In Russia and Kazakhstan, the first two generations of Cee'd were sold alongside the Kia Forte.

Kia began selling Cee'd models in Morocco since 2010. As of 2020, Kia still sells Cee'd models in Morocco, alongside the Kia Cerato.

In 2014, the Pro_Cee'd GT was being sold in Israel, Australia and New Zealand. In 2015, Kia Australia announced that the Pro_Cee'd GT would no longer be offered in 2016, registering just 746 units over the two years on sale.

Reception

• Auto Express – New Car Honours – Special Honour for seven-year warranty
• Autocar – 'Idea of the Year' for Cee'd seven-year warranty
• What Diesel Car? – Hatchback of the year
• Towcar awards 2007
• Camping Fritid (Danish Camping magazine, from DCU) – Camping car of the year 2007
• UK survey, Cee'd ranked in first place in the Driver Power's Compact Family category to beat out Volkswagen, Toyota, Fiat and other notable competitors in the segment. Driver Power is Auto Express's car owner reliability and satisfaction survey which presents the frank and honest views of drivers in the UK.
• Top Gear named it runner up in their car of the year award for 2009 (broadcast 3 January 2010). They then named it as their new "reasonably priced car" from series 15 to series 20.
• German auto magazine ACE Lenkrad, Kia Cee'd surpassed the Toyota Auris and the Volkswagen Golf.
• German auto magazine Autobild, Cee'd was rated higher than the Toyota Auris, Citroen C4 and Honda Civic.
• Austrian auto magazine Autotouring (2007.4); Cee'd was rated above Toyota Auris, Volkswagen Golf, Mazda 3.
• Danish auto magazine Motor, Kia Cee'd is the first car to ever earn the 6-out-of-6 rating.
• Swedish magazine Vi Bilägare found in the yearly long-distance test (one year, 40 000 km; 25,000 miles) that Kia Cee´d had the highest second-hand value among all cars the magazine had tested through the years.
• German car magazine Autobild tested the Kia Cee'd during 100,000 km (60,000 miles). Just a few flaws, ranked as high.
• France's motoring publication L'Automobile Magazine, The Kia Cee'd won a 2009 quality/reliability survey in the compact-car category.

Notes

References

References

1. "The new Kia Ceed".
2. (8 June 2016). "Kia Motors Slovakia celebrates its 10th anniversary". SME.
3. "How Many Left?".
4. "How Many Left?".
5. "Kia Proceed review".
6. Lopez, Jose Antonio. (2025-07-07). "KIA XCEED to Receive 2nd Facelift with Star Map Headlights".
7. Marshall, Robin. (19 April 2007). "Kia plants a Hungarian cee'd". [[The Budapest Sun]].
8. Hildebrandt, Roland. (29 June 2009). "Erwischt: ''Kia cee'd'' bekommt ein Facelift".
9. (13 July 2009). "Frischer ''Kia cee'd'': Erstes Bild vom Facelift freigegeben".
10. link. (28 September 2007)
11. link. (28 September 2007)
12. "For safer cars | Kia Cee'd". Euro NCAP.
13. "Где собирают Киа Сид для России и Европы".
14. (16 January 2015). "KIA Cee'd 2012 - Car Review - Honest John". honestjohn.co.uk.
15. [http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/kia-pro-ceed-gt-2013-06-24] {{webarchive. link. (20 February 2014)
16. Leo Wilkinson. (28 June 2013). "Kia Pro Cee'd GT review". Telegraph.co.uk.
17. "Kia pro_cee'd GT - Technical Specification - Kia Motors UK". kia.co.uk.
18. "АВТОТОР приступил к производству нового поколения KIA Ceed".
19. "MADE IN EUROPE: THE INNOVATIVE NEW KIA CEED".
20. "48V mild-hybrid power and Kia's new intelligent Manual Transmission for Ceed model family".
21. "Kia Proceed axed after 16 years on sale {{!}} Autocar".
22. "New Kia Ceed Specifications {{!}} Kia Motors UK".
23. "The New Kia XCeed Specifications {{!}} Kia Motors UK".
24. "Kia Ceed Sportswagon Specifications {{!}} Kia Motors UK".
25. "Kia ProCeed Specifications & Features {{!}} Kia Motors UK".
26. "Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog » Europe". Best Selling Cars.
27. Kia global sales announcements for {{usurped
28. Sales, ModelKia Car SalesKia Model. (29 January 2014). "Kia Ceed European sales figures".
29. (22 December 2013). "Kia Europe Sales Figures".
30. (10 August 2009). "'New-look' for best-selling Kia cee'd range". Kia Media Site.
31. "Sales Results {{!}} IR Library {{!}} Kia Global Brand Site".
32. Roosevelt Joseph. (29 February 2008). "Kia pro_cee'd: Wheels of desire". Telegraph.co.uk.
33. Hilton Holloway. "Kia Procee'd Review - Autocar". autocar.co.uk.
34. "Kia Pro_cee'd Review - Auto Express". Auto Express.
35. Top Gear. "Car review: Kia Proceed 1.6 GDI S driven - road test - BBC Top Gear". BBC Top Gear.
36. "2008 Kia ECO ceed". ZerCustoms.
37. "Kia Debuts Cee'd and Soul Hybrid Concepts in Paris". Worldcarfans.
38. "Kia cee'd gasoline-electric hybrid | Kia-World blog :: Kia Owners Forums". Kia-world.net.
39. (18 September 2008). "Car reviews | Kia cee'd hybrid | Kia sows hybrid cee'd | by Car Enthusiast". Carenthusiast.com.
40. link. (16 April 2014 - Top Gear)
41. "cee'd Technical Specification | Kia Motors UK". Kia.co.uk.
42. Beissmann, Tim. (29 June 2010). "Kia cee'd Top Gear's new Reasonably Priced Car | Car Advice | Reviews". Car Advice.
43. (31 October 2013). "Car rugby part 1/2 (Series 19, Episode 4)". Top Gear.
44. "STARD officially unveils K:Force Kia Cee'd TCR". STARD.at.
45. "Kia Lotos Race". Kia Motors Polska.
46. "Ceed Awards | Kia Motors UK". Kia.co.uk.
47. (15 April 2009). "24 HOUR NEWS CHANNEL ::::::::::::::::::::: YTN (와이티엔)". Newswire.ytn.co.kr.
48. Chosun.com. (3 July 2007). "Digital Chosunilbo (English Edition) : Daily News in English About Korea". English.chosun.com.
49. "New award for Kia Cee'd in the Netherlands - Kia Forum". Kia-forums.com.
50. Stich, Christian. "Punktlandung". Autotouring.at.
51. [http://www.autobild.de/artikel/dauertest-kia-cee-d_1030581.html Der cee'd ist garantiert solide]{{in lang. deAUTO BILD 2009
52. [http://www.samar.pl/__/__la/en/__ac/sec,4/new/52137/__Kia-cee%E2%80%99d-wins-French-quality-reliability-survey.html Kia Cee’d wins French reliability survey] {{webarchive. link. (19 September 2012 2 April 2009. SAMAR)