2016 Kia Cerato: More car for your money

A little-known fact about the Kia Cerato is that its stunning design was inspired by European sports sedans and it was styled at Kia’s American Design Center in California. Now you know why this is the most stunning car in its class. Available as a sedan, hatchback or coupe, the Cerato is in its third generation, and sits on an all-new chassis that is longer, wider and lower than the old model. And with available features that are straight out of luxury cars, it is also the best value in its class.

Available as a 4-door sedan or a 5-door hatchback, the Cerato offers the choice of either a 128 hp 1.6-litre MPI or a 159 hp 2.0-litre MPI engine, both mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic with paddle-shifters that make it very competitive when compared to its Japanese rivals. The 2-door Cerato Koup has a more sporting streak, available with either the 159 hp 2.0-litre MPI or a 200 hp turbocharged 1.6-litre GDI engine.

Opening the wide doors reveals a very spacious cabin that features high-quality materials and soft-touch surfaces, with chrome rings around the a/c controls and carbon fibre-like textures on the dash and seats. Optional leather upholstery completes the feeling of being in a much more expensive car. There is good headroom and legroom in the front as well as in the back, even in the coupe. The boot volume is abundant for a car this size, while a 60:40 split-folding rear seat can increase luggage space further. There are also several cup-holders for both front and rear passengers, as well as door pockets and many other storage spaces.

The Kia Cerato has a whole bunch of premium features available as standard or as options, such as HID headlights, LED running lights, LED tail lamps, fog lamps, 4.2-inch colour information screen in the gauge cluster, cooled front seats, power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory, keyless entry, smart key with push-button start, power windows, dual-zone automatic a/c, rear a/c vents, cruise control, mirror-mounted indicator lights and a sliding front armrest.

Further optional tech features include either a standard stereo head unit or a 4.3-inch touchscreen, AUX and USB ports, stereo buttons on the steering-wheel, Bluetooth phone and audio, cooled glovebox, rear camera back-up display, front and rear parking sensors, front and side-curtain airbags, stability control, ABS brakes, hill-start assist and more.

The base model rides on 15-inch wheels, while mid-range models get 16-inch alloy wheels. The top models get optional 17-inch alloy wheels. The top-spec turbocharged Koup gets 18-inch alloy wheels.

The Cerato is also impressive when it comes to ride quality and high-speed stability. The ride is remarkably smooth yet without any unexpected floatiness. The car is stable at very high speeds, even in crosswinds. Body-roll is well-controlled and handling is pretty good.

AlJabr Automotive, the Saudi dealer for Kia, is currently offering the Cerato at attractive prices. Prices for the 4-door sedan start at SR 49,900 or SR 799 per month. Prices for the 5-door hatchback start at SR 59600 or SR 949 per month. And prices for the 2-door Koup start at SR 63,500 or SR 999 per month. You can find out more at www.kia-sa.com.