Kia Cerato Si 2016 Review

Kia Cerato Si
Road Test

Representing real value in the Australian motoring marketplace landscape has not always delivered the key to success it probably should. In a notoriously suspicious domestic market, cars from ‘non-traditional’ origins have had to earn their stripes to gain buyer traction. One model that has done it via tenacious improvement is the Kia Cerato. Does it deserve the mainstay status it is well on the way to achieving? Here we take a close look at one of the small hatch category’s up and comers.

The Kia Cerato in its current guise – there’s an update model in the wings – has been around since 2013. Since that model’s workmanlike start the car has carved a niche in the small car category, making its mark in a significant manner, hovering around sixth position on the sales charts.

That takes it from interesting also-ran to serious player, and Kia is well aware of the car’s increasing importance to both branding and indeed overall sales status. After all, that puts it ahead of some very mainstream offerings. Yes, the car has market attention.

When you consider that Australia’s best-selling car in 2015 was the Toyota Corolla with 42,073 sales – followed by the Mazda3 (38,644), the Toyota Hilux (35,161), and then the Hyundai i30 (32,306) – you can see that the Cerato has its work cut out for it. Three of the four top sellers are smack bang in its category.

The Cerato's price is relatively keen and there's no doubt this has been influential in bringing many to the Kia showroom. Another attraction has been the range of specification levels on offer. The hatch version of the car (there’s a two-model sedan as well), is available in four levels. The entry-grade S model comes in at $19,990, the S Premium $24,990, the subject of our test, the Si, adds another $2000 at $26,990 and the full-fruit SLi is priced at $32,990. All prices are exclusive of on-road costs.

The Si comes in pretty highly spec'ed with a 7.0-inch touchscreen which includes satellite navigation and reversing camera. Equipment highlights also include 16-inch alloy wheels automatic headlights, rear air conditioning outlets, keyless start, leather trim highlights and faux carbon-fibre accents throughout the cabin.

But the real win for those willing to dig that bit deeper is the performance gain provided by the direct-injection 2.0-litre engine, which ups performance over the entry models to 129kW. That’s a lift of 19kW over the Cerato models priced below the Si which are plumped with a pretty mundane older, multi-point injected 1.8-litre powerplant.

And that engine makes a pretty big difference in real-world running. Power delivery is linear and traffic pace is easy to match from idle to redline. It all gets a little harsh when pushed, however, the engine note a little harsh at full-throttle openings. All that’s telling you is that it's getting the job done. Power is very adequate high in the rev range, but the car allows a fair bit of under-bonnet racket through to occupants under load and acceleration.

The six-speed automatic boasts nicely spaced ratios and changes are relatively quiet and efficient, but not seamless. A pass mark here, no better or worse than many of the car’s competitors. A manual box is only available in the bottom spec level S.

Ride is good and road noise is nicely isolated. Low-speed damping (a bugbear in many cars of this ilk) is nicely controlled and bumps and undulations are dealt with well. This is a big plus when one considers the car’s natural habitat. This one is highly likely to get suburban runabout duties and that often relegates a car to pretty much utilitarian and unloved status.

Think ice creams inside, bumped rims and late servicing intervals. There is nothing to suggest this car won’t roll happily through that second-family-car maelstrom with aplomb, and the seven-year warranty will open many eyes. It’s a sign of real commitment to product from Kia and it deserves congratulations on that front.

Handling is pretty neutral, but there is a tendency to understeer when pushing into corners hard. A sports car it ain’t, but that’s a criticism that’s a little unfair. It doesn’t pretend at sporting pretensions.

As mentioned, this is a small car. Not the smallest of small cars, but a small car nonetheless. Got all that? There’s good room in the front, with TARDIS-like use of space. It’s a comfortable and welcoming place to be for all but the basketballers amongst us.

In the back there is room for two adults – three kids at a pinch – but there will regularly be that vehemently held ‘centre seat argument' from the offspring and, it has to be said, there will be fairly good justification for it. There’s not a whole lot of room there. Head room is pretty good and the fold-out armrest sports a couple of cupholders when two-out in the rear. Neat.

Interior lighting is very well thought out, instruments are of high quality and offer easy visibility. There are puddle lights which illuminate the ground beneath the front doors when opened. This may sound a little over the top and gimmicky, but having lived with them, we can vouch for how nicely reassuring it is, especially for older folk, to visually plan your footing when getting out of the car at night.

Interior fittings are well put together and soft-touch surfaces abound. Tidy is a word that comes to mind. It’s not a super-luxurious place to be, but it’s not like the inside of a filing cabinet either, which used to be pretty standard going among cars in this category. There are useable and smart storage spots dotted around the car, a good-sized centre bin in the console and doors offering very practical internal cutaways.

Luggage space is 385 litres, which is adequate. Think two large suitcases and a few ancillaries and you’ll be around the mark.

The Cerato pleasantly passed the Labrador test we apply to many of our cars up for review. Our test mutt Milly happily sat in the rear with enough room to be fully upright and see out easily, and also take that well-earned, post-run-at-the-beach, kip. Of course, toting your terrier requires removal of the parcel shelf, but that’s a five second job. Put simply, a happy dog makes for a happy drive. The opposite can mean a roadtrip nightmare. Take our word for it.

As well as the use of high-strength steel in the body, active safety technology includes a stability control system that subtly provides 'corrective' steering inputs in tricky road conditions. There's also six airbags, anti-lock brakes, traction control and hill-start assist.

The fact that it not only mixes it with cars of the ilk of those we mentioned earlier, but also outsells things like the Focus, Lancer and Pulsar are testament to the car’s market appeal. Couple that with that remarkable seven-year warranty, and it places the Cerato in pretty elite company.

Indeed, the days of the domestic market failing to trust cars from newer geographic origins are over. And rightly so!

2016 Kia Cerato Si pricing and specifications:
Price: $26,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 129kW/209Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 180g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP

Also consider:
>> Ford Focus (from $20,290 plus ORCs)
>> Mazda Mazda3 (from $20,490 plus ORCs)
>> Toyota Corolla (from $19,490 plus ORCs)