The outgoing Kia Cerato’s cool looks and great handling capabilities charmed many new buyers to the South Korean Company. It’s had such a successive debut that many will be shocked to know that it holds the title of best-selling Kia in the entire world. With the debut of new Cerato 5-door, the number of new Kia owners is bound to increase even further. It will be available in two trims; a composed EX and sporty inspired SX.
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| Kia Cerato 5-Door |
Its European inspired design consists of a sophisticated hatchback profile, large wheels and aggressive posture. Swept headlights stretch deep into the front fenders while the windshield and broad A-pillar’s give the front end a sleek and muscular appearance. LED positioning lights add a premium look to the front fascia. Moving around the vehicle, the large 18-inch wheels fill the wheel wells on the Cerato SX. The EX rides on standard with 16-inch alloy wheels. Around back, the rear door glass opens to reveal 670 litres of usable cargo space. LED tail lights complete the premium feel of the exterior while twin chrome exhaust tips give the Cerato’s rear an athletic look.
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| The 207hp GDI engine |
The sporty SX Cerato utilizes a 1.6-liter GDI turbocharged four-cylinder powerplant. Power output is pegged at 201hp and 264Nm of torque. This makes the SX version the most powerful Cerato to date. Married to the engine is a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The composed EX Cerato comes with a 2.0-liter GDI engine producing 173hp and 209Nm of torque. The engine is married to a six-speed manual as standard. The 5-door Cerato rides on a sport-tuned suspension with a McPherson strut setup in front and a multilink rear design. Power is planted to the road by standard 205/55R-16 tires or 225/40R-18 tires that are fitted on the SX.
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| Side look |
Inside, the Kia Cerato 5-doors features premium and soft touch materials. Large, easy-to-read white-on-black gauges settle deeply into the instrument cluster. Chrome is visible around the AC controls and infotainment buttons. Loaded as standard to all Cerato’s is an infotainment system (UVO eServices) with rear camera display and Bluetooth®, leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio and cruise control buttons, FlexSteer™, tilt and telescoping steering column, power windows, and LED positioning headlights with fog lights. The SX trim ups the stake with standard 18-inch alloy wheels, dual chrome exhaust tips, and LED tail lights.
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| Loaded interior |
It also comes with an aggressive front with a larger bumper, grille openings and black gloss grille inserts. It also comes equipped with larger front brakes, alloy sport pedals as well as front and rear seats with carbon fiber-style accents. Additionally, both EX and SX trim levels offer optional HID headlights, sunroof, heated steering wheel,10-way adjustable power driver’s seat, heated front seats and cooled driver’s seat, heated rear outer seats, leather seating surfaces, SmartKey with push-button start, electric chromatic rearview mirror and dual-zone automatic climate control.
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| European inspired profile |
Verdict: The new Cerato Saloon and 5-door ups the competition in its class by introducing plenty of new toys as standard. Whether it has what it takes to face its rivals such as the Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cruze and Toyota Corolla will be revealed when it makes its Kenya debut. But at least one thing is for sure; this is the best Cerato Kia has ever made