Kia XCeed Review 2024

If you don’t need anything more practical than a conventional family hatchback but want something a little more SUV-like, the Kia XCeed is a good choice.

It’s got a slightly higher seating position than the Kia Ceed and its raised suspension copes well with bumpy roads. In true Kia form, it represents good value for money, although certain high-end models push closer towards proper SUV territory. Still, a transferable seven-year warranty and an extensive list of standard equipment combine to help the XCeed make a strong case for itself on the used market.

In terms of engines, before the facelift we'd say the 1.0-litre petrol does a decent enough job for an entry-level engine. The diesel is fine (and very efficient for high-mileage drivers) but not outstanding, while the 1.4 or 1.5-litre engines offer a good blend of overtaking power and efficiency. 

As of 2022, we'd recommend going for the 1.5-litre petrol. It offers enough performance for most buyers' needs and doesn't break the bank when it comes to thirst, tax or the list price itself. The plug-in hybrid commands around a £6,000 premium - it only comes in 3 trim - but isn't noticeably faster or nicer to drive, so unless you're a company car user or plan to make full use of plugging it in and running in EV mode, we wouldn't bother. 

Generally-speaking, we'd say the mid-level 3 spec offers the best blend of kit and price, but we'd understand if the nicer-looking GT-Line S appealed, so long as the price is right. 

There are plenty of stylish small SUVs that are a similar size to the Kia XCeed. Obvious competitors are the Ford Focus Active and Mazda CX-30. Both are more enjoyable than the XCeed to drive, while the CX-30 has a more premium interior. There’s also the Volkswagen T-Roc, which has the desirable Volkswagen badge but isn’t as well-equipped for the cash, while the Toyota C-HR is a hybrid alternative with a more striking design.

The Kia XCeed’s cabin is certainly a step up from the dank and dark interiors of older Korean cars. It’s actually a bit nicer than the Ford Focus Active in terms of quality, while it’s got more soft-touch materials and glossy finishes than the Toyota C-HR.

We wouldn’t go as far as saying the XCeed feels premium inside (even the Volkswagen T-Roc isn’t that plush), but it does give the impression that it’ll wear well over time.

Higher-spec Kia XCeed models get cloth with faux leather seats which add a touch of class, while the GT-Line S has proper hide covering its seats, and we like the yellow stitching on the early First Edition models. Little things like the sliding armrest on the front centre console storage box, chrome-effect trim and perforated leather on the wheel and gear knob on sportier trims manage to make the XCeed feel like a more upmarket offering.

As standard, the Kia XCeed comes with an eight-inch media system that does without sat-nav but does feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, meaning you can use navigation apps on your phone instead (they’re usually better than in-built systems, anyway).

This is functional rather than fancy. It’s perched on the dash, flanked by two air vents and looking a bit like a tablet that’s been glued in as an afterthought. It’s well-placed for glancing at during driving although, relying solely on its touchscreen for navigating menus, it’s not the safest system to use on the move.

For a more upmarket infotainment experience, look for a Kia XCeed 3 or above, which come with a 10.25-inch display and navigation. This is no easier than the smaller system to use on the move, but its menus are laid out logically and you can split the screen into three (great for having access to the radio and navigation at the same time). It’s quicker to use than the standard system and has sharper graphics, while its bigger screen helps the XCeed feel like a more premium car.

The Kia XCeed First Edition came with a 12.3-inch screen in place of conventional dials. A cut-price version of Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, this looks pretty swish but its customisation options are limited. Only the GT-Line S trim has this for new buyers. Other tech highlights include a premium JBL sound system for these two models and wireless phone charging. It’s a shame they’re not even offered as options on other trim levels.

As part of the facelift in 2022, USB-C connections for front and rear passengers were also added. Of course, there's also Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections. 

Facelifted cars have connectivity including the ability to integrate your Google or Apple diary to the touchscreen to receive appointment reminders (and locations for the sat-nav), while enhanced connected serves and an updated Kia Connect app brings live traffic data, weather forecasts and live parking information. You can also create two user profiles if there is more than one driver. 

The Kia XCeed does a good impression of being a spacious car, particularly up front where there’s plenty of room for a pair of tall adults and loads of handy storage areas. There’s a big cubby box underneath the central armrest, two generous cup holders between the front seats and a roof-mounted sunglasses holder. Even the door bins are usefully large.

Things aren’t so great in the back where there’s no noticeable difference in space between the XCeed and the Ceed hatchback on which it’s based. Headroom is rather limited for taller adults, especially on cars with the panoramic sunroof fitted. Those over six foot will find legroom isn't massively generous either, and fitting three in the back will be a squeeze.

Still, access is easy thanks to the slightly higher seating position than the standard Ceed while the doors open usefully wide. This’ll help when fitting child seats, too - as will Isofix points which are fitted to the outer rear seats.

The Kia XCeed's boot space is adequate rather than impressive. It’s quite shallow because of that sloping roofline, while it has quite a high lip which could be a nuisance if you’re loading bulky items. It can carry 426 litres of luggage which is more than the standard Ceed and the Ford Focus Active (although this is available as a more practical estate model as well), but slightly less than the Volkswagen T-Roc.

If you need more boot space, you might be disappointed to find there isn’t a sliding rear bench on the Kia XCeed, but the rear seats split 60:40 (40:20:40 on First Edition and GT-Line S models) and fold down easily, providing up to 1378 litres of luggage space. An electric tailgate is yet another feature that was only offered on First Edition models.

On the plus side, most Kia XCeed models come with a space-saver spare wheel, which isn’t something you can take for granted these days. The First Edition model is an exception as it uses one of those annoying tyre repair kits instead.

If you're planning to squeeze the Kia XCeed into your garage, note that it's 4395mm long, 1826mm wide and 1495mm high.

If you're looking to buy a used Kia XCeed, you'll have the choice of three petrols: a 1.0-litre, and a 1.4 that was later replaced by a more powerful 1.5-litre unit. There's also a diesel with two power outputs. As of 2022, your choice became limited to a mild-hybrid 1.5-litre petrol and a 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid. 

We really like the buzzy little 120PS 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol. It’s an eager three-cylinder unit that packs just enough punch, accelerating to 62mph in a perfectly acceptable 10.9 seconds. It’s combined with a six-speed manual gearbox which is pretty decent, if a bit woollier than the gearchange you’d find in a Ford Focus Active. The clutch takes a bit of getting used to in all of the petrols, though, with a tricky to judge biting point. 

If you need a bit more performance, the four-cylinder 140PS 1.4 petrol has a bit more oomph for national-speed-limit driving, covering 0-62mph in 9.1 seconds when paired with the manual transmission. A seven-speed dual-clutch auto is also available, adding an extra tenth of a second to the acceleration time - not that you’ll really notice the difference. This is a pretty good auto gearbox and takes some of the pain out of city centre driving, but it can occasionally get a bit flustered. 

High-mileage drivers should look for a used Kia XCeed powered by the 1.6 CRDi diesel engine, available with 116 or 134PS. Both feel quite gutsy with plenty of mid-range torque, but you might struggle to find one. They were quite expensive to buy new and, as sales were slow when new, you’ll pay a premium on the used market now.

If you're buying a new Kia XCeed, you'll get a more limited choice of the 139PS 1.5-litre mild-hybrid or a 141PS 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid. 

The 1.5-litre engine engine has a 48-volt mild-hybrid system which allows engine-off coasting up to 77mph and an improved stop/start function. It regenerates energy while slowing down or braking, although you can feel it pull back which makes cruising at a constant low speed a touch trickier. 

Once out of town it offers pretty good performance, despite getting a little noisy at higher revs. You have a choice of six-speed manual or dual-clutch automatic transmissions, and both work well so it comes down to personal preference which will work best for you.

The plug-in hybrid has a modest 8.9kWh battery, but it still manages a decent 30 miles of electric range on a charge, but performance isn't exactly sparkling with a 0-62mph time of 11 seconds. It wouldn't be our pick given the price increase, unless you can benefit from low company car tax. 

Being a small three-cylinder engine, the 1.0-litre petrol motor makes quite a distinctive noise. You’ll notice it, especially if you’re darting around town and working the engine hard, but we wouldn’t describe it as annoying. It just adds character.

The 1.4-litre is a more grown-up engine but still sounds a bit thrashy at high revs. The solution here is to change gear earlier - something you can do in the 1.4 thanks to its extra low-rev shove over the 1.0-litre. And of course, the 1.6-litre diesel is a little grumbly like all diesels, but soon settles down at higher speeds.

The softer springs and chunkier tyres (particularly on the 16-inch wheels) help refinement as well as ride quality. There’s not much in the way of noticeable road noise, although the XCeed’s increased height does mean there’s a tad more wind noise than in the Ceed hatch. It’s a very comfortable cruiser, though, and soon settles down into a refined long-distance companion once up to speed.

The 1.5-litre mild hybrid and 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid both get a bit noisy when you rev them out. Keep the pace modest and they're reasonably quiet, and of course the hybrid will run silently in electric only power with gentle throttle. 

There’s a whole heap of the latest active safety technology available on the Kia XCeed and most of it is standard across the range. With a new XCeed, you only get blind spot collision and avoidance tech if you buy the GT-Line S - it's not even an option for the remainder of the line-up.

The Kia XCeed 2 has features like the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (City), which uses a camera and sensors to detect an impending low-speed collision with another car and alert the driver. If you don’t respond, it can apply the brakes to mitigate the impact. With all facelifted Xceed models, this also looks out for cyclists and pedestrians.

It also gets Hill-start Assist Control - which will prevent you from clumsily rolling backwards during a hill start - and a Driver Attention Warning which will tell you off if you’re showing signs of drowsiness or inattentiveness. Lane Keep Assist will nudge you back into your lane if you stray, while Lane Following Assist - standard on automatic First Edition models only but added to all facelifted models- can use vehicles ahead to control acceleration, braking and steering when you’re in stop/start traffic.

If a crash can’t be avoided, you’ll find plenty of airbags to keep you safe, while Isofix points on the outer rear seats will keep your young ones secured in place.

The Kia XCeed hasn’t been crash tested by Euro NCAP, however the standard Ceed’s four-star rating applies here. That means it’s a pretty safe car to travel in, but by no means the safest in its class. 

Kia is a very dependable car brand, ranking eight out of 29 as a brand for reliability in the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index.

The Kia XCeed comes with a seven-year manufacturer warranty, while we're not aware of any common issues. Servicing should be affordable, too.

The Kia XCeed shouldn’t be much more to insure than the standard Ceed and certainly no more expensive than rivals. The cheapest will be the 3 model with the 1.0 T-GDi model, as this falls into group 12. The priciest will be the First Edition models which, with the 1.4 engine, are classed as group 16. If you’re concerned about the cost of insurance, it’s always worth shopping around for quotes.

Should you fancy the plug-in hybrid model, it falls into the 15E rating for insurance.

The Kia XCeed will cost £180 a year in tax in the year after the first registration. That’s a flat rate that’ll also apply to rivals, except for hybrid alternatives like the Toyota C-HR which’ll save you £10 a year.

You could also look at the plug-in hybrid XCeed, too, which costs just £10 in the first year to tax and enjoys a £10 discount in the subsequent five years as it's classed as an alternative fuel vehicle.

There’s no properly basic entry-level Kia XCeed sold in the UK. The most affordable Kia XCeed 2 comes with things like 16-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights. There’s also an eight-inch touchscreen media system (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) and even a reversing camera. In truth, you probably don’t need much more.

The XCeed 3 is packed with desirable ‘nice to have’ features and won’t cost a great deal more on the used market. Standard kit includes 18-inch alloy wheels, a 10.25-inch navigation system and privacy glass. It’s a very comfortable choice, with heated front seats (with half faux-leather upholstery), a heated steering wheel and power-adjustable lumbar support (for the driver and front passenger).

Kia loves a special edition model. Look for an XCeed Edition for things like premium paint (Lunar Silver, Quantum Yellow or Blue Flame), 18-inch alloy wheels and privacy glass, although it’s not as well kitted out as the Kia XCeed 3.

The Kia XCeed First Edition, meanwhile, is an appealing choice for used buyers. Standard kit includes a panoramic sunroof, yellow detailing on the seat upholstery, an electric tailgate and a swish 12.3-inch TFT supervision cluster display. It also gets a JBL premium sound system and a wireless phone charger. This model is loaded with safety kit, too - ranging from a Blind Spot Collision Warning to Smart Cruise Control (on models fitted with the DCT automatic gearbox).

The GT-Line S combines all the elements of the lower trims, so you get 18-inch alloys and panoramic glass roof. It also comes with a 12.3-inch digital main instrument display, black leather and suede upholstery, and wireless mobile phone charger. The 10.25inch infotainment touchscreen is aided by an eight speaker JBL premium sound system. And this trims gains added safety tech with Blind Spot Collision Warning and an Intelligent Speed Limit Warning.