Kia XCeed review - crossover appeal

It’s funny, the things you latch onto about a new car.

Take the Kia XCeed with which I spent lockdown. There’s much to like - its bold looks, eye-catching and comfortable interior, generous equipment - but what proved to be the highlight for me was the hands-free, gesture-free powered tailgate.

You might think it’s an unnecessary frippery but every time I staggered back from the supermarket, laden with bags, to find the boot springing open at my approach I gave thanks to the Korean god of car specification.

It’s just one feature that cements my opinion that the XCeed is the best of the Ceed range.

Positioned between the regular Ceed and the larger Sportage, the XCeed is a crossover in a similar vein to the “SUV-inspired” Ford Focus Active or Toyota Corolla Trek. However, unlike those, which are jacked-up and body-clad versions of standard estates, the XCeed’s body is completely different from the standard Ceed Sportwagon. There’s a clear similarity with others in the range but in keeping with the crossover vibe, the XCeed is a bit chunkier, a bit more aggressive and a bit more rugged.

The XCeed is also a little larger in every direction - offering decent passenger space and a larger boot than regular Ceeds (although not as big as the Ford or Toyota’s). But beneath the bodywork (an eye-catching Quantum Yellow on our test car) it is largely indistinguishable from the standard car. That means for all its tough posturing, this is a strictly two-wheel-drive affair and while the suspension is a little taller than a standard Ceed it’s still more for show than any genuine rough road use.

As well as bringing added ride height, the XCeed’s suspension is softer than the regular hatchback’s, supposedly for a more comfortable SUV-like ride. Our test car never quite achieved that brief. At higher speeds it is less noticeable but around town there is a jiggle to the ride that never fully goes away. It’s possible that is down to our top spec model’s 18-inch alloys as previous examples on smaller wheels have felt more settled.