Kia Ceed 1 1.6 Auto 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The cee'd 1 1.6 Auto has a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an automatic gearbox and offers decent acceleration, getting from 0-62 mph in 11.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 116 mph. The engine's maximum power output of 124bhp at 6300 rpm and 114lb-ft of torque means that the cee'd offers plenty of grunt.

Comfort and handling are also good thanks to the cee'd's fully independent rear suspension.

The design of both the exterior and interior of the car are stylish and this makes the car an attractive proposition. Inside the cabin, the layout of instruments is logical and organised with a large central speedo using orange displays. These are both easy to spot and stylish, offering an attractive and practical feature. The rev counter and fuel/temperature gauge use the same design to maintain congruency and audio controls are even mounted on the steering wheel to help drivers operate their stereo safely whilst driving.

Standard equipment on this model offers tinted glass all round, trip computer, air-conditioning with glove box cooler, electric front windows, MP3 connectivity and a built-in stereo with CD player. The choice of a metallic paint finish is also available for an extra £435.

The cee'd is as practical as any other five door hatchback in this class and offers good storage solutions and plenty of interior space.

The boot has a capacity of 340 litres with the seats up, expanding to 1,300 litres when they are folded down and there are also storage spaces and cup holders between the driver and front passenger seat to ensure the available space is used to its full potential. The size and shape of the car also means there is plenty of headroom.

The finish and fit of the cee'd are of a high quality and this means reliability is high. A seven year warranty is also offered as standard and that means driver confidence is likely to be high.

The car also comes with a wide range of safety kit - something which helped the model achieve the full five star rating in the NCAP crash tests. This includes: six airbags, active headrests, which help reduce whiplash injuries, an anti-lock braking system and electronic brake force distribution.

Priced at just £14,595, the low price of this model is one of the main benefits to buyers - especially as it is coupled with a seven year warranty.

Unfortunately, the value of the cee'd is somewhat diminished by the relatively high running costs and fuel consumption levels reach just 42.8 mpg on the combined cycle with carbon emissions of 158 g/km putting the cee'd into road tax band G. Insurance premiums fall under insurance group 15 which is fairly reasonable but do little to counteract the other motoring costs associated with this model. The diesel is a much better bet for those on a budget.