2020 Kia XCeed 1.0 T-GDi Six Speed Manual - Drive, Interior and Exterior. Subscribe. In profile, the car’s relatively long bonnet flows into the A-pillars anchored aft of the front wheels, lending the car a sporty, swept-back silhouette. While the wheelbase remains the same as other models in the Ceed line-up (2,650 mm), the Kia XCeed’s front and rear overhangs are extended over the five-door hatchback model by 25 mm at the front (to 905 mm) and 60 mm at the rear (to 840 mm).
The Kia XCeed sits on a choice of 16- or 18-inch machined aluminium alloy wheels, shod with high-grip 205/60 R16 or 235/45 R18 tyres.
At the rear, new tail-lights emit a slim, highly-technical LED light signature which, when viewed from certain angles, appears to spear forward into the shoulders of the car. The heavily-creased lines running horizontally across the tailgate and rear bumper give the car a wider, more stable posture.
The Kia XCeed’s ground clearance is 172 mm on 16-inch wheels and 184 mm on 18-inch wheels, a rise of up to 44 mm over the Ceed five-door hatchback. Wheel arch and side sill cladding and silver roof rails lend the car a tougher, SUV-like presence, with the metallic valance in the rear bumper enhancing this effect.
With the car’s longer rear overhang creating a longer boot, luggage capacity for the Kia XCeed is rated at 426 litres (VDA), 31 litres more than the Ceed and only slightly less than the best-selling compact SUV in Europe. With the rear seats folded down, luggage capacity grows to 1,378 litres. Versatility is also assured thanks to the available 40-20-40 split-folding rear seats, Smart Power Tailgate, and two-step boot floor that can be moved up or down to provide either more space or a hidden underfloor storage compartment.
The Kia XCeed provides access to a wide range of active driver assist and safety technologies. These include Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Blind-spot Collision Warning, Forward Collision Warning with car and pedestrian detection, Intelligent Speed Limit Warning, Smart Parking Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and High Beam Assist. The Kia XCeed’s Driver Attention Warning advises drivers to take a break if the system detects signs of fatigue. Finally, Lane Following Assist (LFA) is also available – Kia’s ‘Level Two’ autonomous driving technology which controls acceleration, braking and steering. LFA can track vehicles and road markings ahead to keep the car in-lane and a safe distance from any cars in front.
The steering hardware remains unchanged over the Ceed, though the electronic control unit (ECU) governing the power steering motor has been retuned to deliver a quicker initial response to the driver’s steering inputs. The result is that drivers can enjoy similarly quick steering responses and comparable levels of body roll to the standard Ceed five-door hatchback. The level of assistance provided by the power steering motor has also been boosted, delivering subtly lighter overall steering to reduce driver fatigue on longer journeys and at low speeds.
Three turbocharged gasoline direct injection (T-GDi) engines are on offer. The three-cylinder 1.0-litre T-GDi engine produces 120 ps and 172 Nm torque, while the four-cylinder 1.4-litre T-GDi engine produces 140 ps and 242 Nm torque. The high-power 1.6-litre T-GDi engine found in the Ceed GT and ProCeed GT is also available, as the most powerful in the XCeed line-up. With a 204 ps power output and 265 Nm torque across a broad range of engine speeds, the muscular 1.6-litre T-GDi engine perfectly matches the car’s ability to thrive in a variety of driving situations. The 1.6-litre T-GDi enables the Kia XCeed to accelerate from 0-to-100 kph in 7.5 seconds when equipped with the seven-speed double-clutch transmission, and 7.7 seconds with the six-speed manual.
The Kia XCeed is also available with a choice of two Smartstream power units – the cleanest diesel engines ever produced by the brand, and the most fuel efficient in the range. The 1.6-litre Smartstream engine is offered with either 115 ps or 136 ps.
Except for the 1.0-litre T-GDi, all engines can be paired with a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed double-clutch transmissions. The 1.0-litre engine is paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Idle Stop & Go is fitted as standard to all models.
A low-emissions plug-in hybrid powertrain will be launched into the Kia XCeed range in early 2020, combining an 8.9 kWh lithium-polymer battery pack, a 44.5 kW electric motor, and an efficient 1.6-litre ‘Kappa’ four-cylinder GDI engine. Paired with a six-speed double-clutch transmission (6DCT), the powertrain transmits up to 141 ps and 265 Nm to the front wheels.
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