Kia Ceed Sportswagon 1.6 GDi PHEV 2020 UK review
Should I buy one?
Perhaps - but only if you understand that to get anywhere near its claimed 188mpg economy figure, you’ll have to use it primarily for short hops around town so you can make the most of its 35-mile electric-only range. You’ll want to ensure you can reliably charge at home, too, because using the petrol engine to do so will eat into any fuel savings you might have previously achieved. But the same goes for any PHEV, really.
Of course, for those approaching the Ceed Sportswagon PHEV from a company car point of view, there’s the added advantage of heavily reduced benefit-in-kind tax that cars of this type offer. And that’ll stand regardless of whether you actually use it with the battery topped up or not.
But if you are sold on the idea of a plug-in hybrid as your next car, you’d do well to consider the Skoda Superb iV, too. It’s vastly more practical and comfier and its electrified powertrain generally feels more cleverly integrated and powerful than the Ceed’s. But then so it should: not only is it bigger than the Kia, but with prices starting at £33,590, it’s a few thousand pounds pricier, too. I know where my money would go.
Kia Ceed Sportswagon 1.6 GDi PHEV '3' specification
Where Oxfordshire, UK Price £29,995 On sale Now Engine 4 cyls, 1580cc, petrol, plus electric motor Power 139bhp at 4000rpm (system output) Torque 196lb ft at 4000rpm (system output) Gearbox 6-spd dual-clutch automatic Kerb weight 1614kg Top speed 106mph 0-62mph 10.5sec Fuel economy 188.3mpg CO2 22g/km Rivals Hyundai Ioniq PHEV, Skoda Superb iV PHEV
Will it be third time lucky for Kia’s Europe-only hatchback - or are established rivals from Ford, VW, Seat and Honda still the better buy?
www.autocar.co.uk





