Kia XCeed review

Interiors are a point of strength for Kia at the moment, being among the most sensible and easy to use of any mainstream carmaker right now. And the XCeed’s is no exception. There are enough premium-feel materials to make it a pleasant place to be, and the infotainment systems are simple to get to grips with thanks to their crisp, modern graphics and logical menu layouts. Well done Kia.

All trim levels get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility as standard. Base-spec ‘2’ models get an eight-inch main screen, while ‘3’ grade and up welcomes a 10.25-inch version. Upgrade to the top-spec GT-Line S trim and you’ll also get a 12.3-inch digital driver display thrown in. It’s clear enough, but if your budget doesn’t stretch to it don’t worry, the manual dials are fine. 

The niche that Kia has squeezed the XCeed into means there are compromises on the practicality side though. Specifically in the rear seats, where the sloping roofline makes things rather claustrophobic, and with the chunky rear pillars which don’t allow for great visibility out the back. All models do come with reversing cameras and Smart Park Assist, but surely that’s very much an attempt to cure a self-made problem.

Despite the coupé-style roof, there is still decent luggage space – 426 litres with the seats up. That’s 31 litres more than the Ceed, but if it’s boot space you really need – the Ceed Sportswagon estate manages 625 litres and is far easier to load.

You may be wondering ‘is that the same in the plug-in hybrid?’ To which the answer is a resounding ‘no’: the location of the battery at the rear of the car eats into boot space massively, dropping it down to 291 litres. Yup, that’s a third of the luggage capacity lost. Ouch. You really need to want those 30 miles of leccy range.

What’s also curious about the plug-in hybrid is that you can’t pair it with the fanciest trim. Weird. Maybe it’s a chip shortage thing. Anyway, GT-Line S brings luxuries like black leather and suede seat upholstery, plus a panoramic sunroof. Only you can decide if your raised not-a-hatchback-nor-SUV needs to be this plush.