Cerato given European touch
What a difference a designer makes.
A good one, at least, and Kia's luring of Audi car-crafter Peter Schreyer has been inspired.
Last week Schreyer's eye was evident inside and out of my test car, the Cerato hatch.
It's a vehicle I would enjoy owning and showing off to friends.
Admittedly, I had the high-spec model, the SLi, which sells for $24,040 (manual) and $26,240 (auto).
But the cheaper Si variant - $20,240 (auto) and $22,240 (manual) - cuts it for classiness too.
Unlike the Cerato sedan, there is no base S model, which accounts for the sedan beginning at $18,990.
Both Cerato hatch models are bargains and especially good are the auto variants, whose six speeds help to provide outstanding 7.7L/100km fuel use, just a little more than the manual.
Among popular auto rivals that also have 2.0-litre petrol engines, the Ford Focus consumes 8.2L/100km while the Mazda3 and Mitsubishi Lancer each use 8.3L/100km.
However, the i30 2.0-litre auto, made by Kia's stablemate Hyundai and having similar mechanical underpinnings, sips 7.6L/100km.
The Kia is one of the biggest hatches in its class, providing a sense of roominess and 385 litres of cargo space, matched only by the Focus.
The Cerato's 115kW engine doesn't sound all that refined when pushed hard but it does the job, providing smart 0-100km/h times of 9.1sec. (manual) and 9.8sec. (auto).
While the exterior looks like a classy European hatch, the stylishness of the interior is particularly impressive.
In the past, a buyer might have been swayed towards a Korean car by the generous features provided in the cabin.
But often no amount of extras could disguise the cheapness and blandness of the materials and designs.
The latest products from Kia (and Hyundai) have contemporary-feel cabins, a factor in the surge in buying of mid and top-spec variants, unheard-of in the past for Korean cars.
The quality and design achievements are timely for both brands as we enter an era when a rush of Chinese marques will initially sell on extremely low price tags.
The Cerato hatch is rare in its class in providing in even its entry model the safety and fun of hands-free Bluetooth streaming for phones and iPods.
The provision of cruise control, a full-size spare wheel, a five-year warranty and three sets of steering wheel-mounted buttons also set the car apart from many rivals.
The buttons, which can operate the audio, phone and cruise control functions, add to the feel that not much has been left off the "basic" model.
Also found in the entry variant are a six-speaker audio, mirror-mounted indicators and a 60:40 split rear seat.
The extensive safety features include six airbags and stability control.
However, all of this generosity does not extend to alloy wheels. There are 15-inch steels instead.
The SLi adds 17-inch alloys, parking sensors, a rear diffuser, trip computer and air-conditioning which allows a specific temperature to be set.
Also included are alloy pedals and black fabric-and-suede seats with red stitching that look smart while providing support and comfort. The top-spec auto comes with steering-wheel paddles for making clutchless-manual shifts, a feature associated more with expensive sports cars.
The ambience of the cabin is enhanced by a good ride and low levels of noise intrusion while the handling is sure and steady.
Hard-to-find downsides of the Cerato are that - unlike its Hyundai i30 cousin - it is not offered as a wagon, diesel or ultra-low-priced 1.6-litre petrol variant.
The Cerato's colour choices include the usual silvers, blues, whites and blacks but also the more exotic Spicy Red, Racing Red and, aptly for this juicy offering, Sweet Orange.
The colours include the usual silvers and whites but also Spicy Red, Racing Red and, aptly for this juicy offering, Sweet Orange.
