SPY PICS: All-new 2025 Kia Cerato shapes up

The redesigned 2025 Kia Cerato has been spotted testing deep in the Arctic Circle ahead of its global reveal later this year or in early next.

Shroud under a cloak of heavy camouflage, the new Cerato looks noticeably bigger than its predecessor and adopts a similar fastback silhouette to the related Hyundai i30 Sedan, with which it will share its platform and majority of its powertrains.

The two models will take on radically different looks, however, with the Kia prototype clearly fitted with vertical headlight clusters as per the flagship Kia EV9 and recently facelifted Sorento SUVs, while the rear-end flaunts a thin full-width lighting signature similar to that of the smaller Kia K3.

Unable to be hidden are the new alloy wheels, which again remind us of the i30 Sedan, and while we can’t specifically see them in the images, hiding under the bonnet is an updated 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine most likely hooked up to a six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.

The inevitable warmed-up Cerato GT replacement, meantime, will come with the same 1.6-litre ‘Smartstream’ turbo-petrol four as the i30 Sedan N-Line – in place of the old ‘Gamma’ 1.6T.

Crucially, however, it will be paired with the Hyundai Group’s latest eight-speed torque-converter auto instead of the previous model’s (and i30’s) clunky seven-speed dual-clutch unit… at least according to our insiders.

We’re yet to hear of anything to do with a hybrid powertrain for Kia’s answer to the top-selling Toyota Corolla, but there’s little doubt it’s in the pipeline and likely to be launched in Europe before making its way Down Under a year or so after the standard petrol variants.

Within the cabin you can expect to see a radically redesigned interior inspired by the EV6, EV9, Sorento and Seltos, meaning we’ll be treated to the new dual-screen arrangement and a much more modern dashboard at the very least.

The new digital instrument cluster and infotainment system will undoubtedly feature crisper graphics, more information, greater configurability and faster processing times, along with the very latest small-car safety systems.

All this extra size and modernity will inevitably inflate the Cerato’s bottom line when it’s introduced here, where prices are likely to start from around the $30,000 plus on-road costs, rising to about $40,000 for the flagship GT.

Photos: Automedia

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