2023 Kia XCeed [UK]

After selling over 120,000 units in Europe, Kia's highly successful XCeed compact crossover has received a series of product enhancements for 2022. These include a bold new exterior design, an enhanced interior, and new 'GT-Line' and 'GT-line S' trim levels. These changes make the XCeed an even more enticing proposition in the popular C-Crossover segment. The XCeed has been a hugely popular car for Kia in the UK, accounting for 10 per cent of total Kia sales in the country during 2021, and more than half of all Ceed sales over the same timeframe. The new XCeed integrates a series of design changes alongside a competitive powertrain line-up that includes turbocharged petrol and plug-in hybrid versions. Both the exterior and interior have been enhanced to better match the sporty urban nature of the XCeed and make it an even more distinctive member of the Ceed model family.

DESIGN AND PACKAGING

Stylish, expressive, and modern in appearance, the new Kia XCeed builds upon its predecessor's iconic design. A product of the brand's European design centre in Frankfurt, Germany, the XCeed's updated design has been crafted under the direction of Gregory Guillaume, Vice President of Design for Kia Europe. The new Kia XCeed features new LED headlamps and a revised grille, front bumper, and innovative air intake design. By creatively integrating the fog lamps into the headlights, the designers were able to include air curtains on either side, which guide air smoothly around the wheels to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency. At the rear, LED taillights emit a slim, highly technical light signature which, when viewed from certain angles, appears to spear forward into the shoulders of the car. The heavily creased lines running horizontally across the tailgate and rear bumper give the new XCeed a wider, more stable posture.

Intelligent powertrain packaging and everyday usability

The XCeed was engineered from the start to accommodate new hybrid powertrains. This means that the adoption of a plug-in hybrid powertrain has had a minimal impact on packaging, with the structure adapted from the start to contain the powertrain's battery pack. The 8.9kWh battery pack is located alongside the 37-litre fuel tank beneath the rear bench, unlike many other plug-in hybrid vehicles, in which the battery pack takes up valuable cargo space. The XCeed Plug-in Hybrid provides 291 litres of luggage space, and up to 1,243 litres with the split-fold rear seats folded down. There is a dedicated space beneath the boot floor to store the charging cable when not in use. A Towing Pack is fitted as standard, a rarity among cars in the plug-in hybrid class. A braked trailer of up to 1,300kg can be towed with the XCeed PHEV.

DYNAMICS

With the introduction of the 'GT-Line' and 'GT-line S' models, Kia brings sporting appeal to the XCeed with an evocative new design. It speaks directly to those customers who balance their heart and head, choosing a practical, spacious, safe family vehicle with eye-catching design. 'GT-Line' and 'GT-Line S' specifications have been introduced across the Kia line-up over recent years to deliver a sporty ambience and the emotional connection to movement that is inherent in Kia's DNA. The new 'GT-Line' and 'GT-Line S' specifications feature a series of sporting touches that differentiate them from the baseline model. An edgy tiger nose design frames the new front grille, while a sporty lower air intake and side bumper cladding add a more aggressive look to the front end. Air curtains finished in dark chrome help to feed air through the front of the car, contributing to the car's high aerodynamic efficiency. At the rear, striking new 'honeycomb' shaped LED taillights and a sporty body-coloured lower diffuser complete the revamped model and separate the XCeed 'GT-Line' and 'GT-Line S' from anything else on the street. The new models ride on sleek, machine-finished 18-inch alloy wheels to give an athletic appeal, while body-coloured sills and gloss black mirrors further boost its active and dynamic appearance.

ENGINES

The new Kia XCeed is offered with a fast-revving, turbocharged petrol engine, while an advanced plug-in hybrid powertrain enables drivers to benefit from extensive emissions-free mobility. The four-cylinder 1.5-litre T-GDi engine produces 158bhp and 253Nm of torque and is paired to a six-speed manual transmission. It can hit 60mph in 8.7 seconds and has a top speed of 129mph. Grade '2' models have CO2 emissions of 137g/km and can achieve 46.3mpg on the WLTP combined economy cycle. Move up to 'GT-Line' and '3' specifications and fuel economy of 44.8mpg is possible, with CO2 emissions of 141g/km. At the top of the new XCeed range is the 'GT-Line S' which also manages 44.8mpg on the combined cycle, with CO2 emissions of 143g/km. The engine is fitted with a gasoline particulate filter to further reduce tailpipe emissions, ensuring the XCeed goes beyond the requirements of the Euro 6d RDE2 standard. The manual gearbox is a six-speed unit, light and compact with a short, slick shift. It offers a wide spread of ratios and long final drive to help bring down fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

CUTTING EDGE PLUG-IN HYBRID POWERTRAIN

A highly efficient plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain option is also available in the new Kia XCeed, combining an 8.9kWh lithium-polymer battery pack, a 44.5kW electric motor, and an efficient 1.6-litre 'Kappa' four-cylinder GDi petrol engine. Paired with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (6DCT), the PHEV transmits up to 139bhp and 265Nm of torque to the front wheels, while drivers will also benefit from an all-electric range of 29.8 miles, equating to 36.6 miles of city driving. This will enable drivers to complete most daily drives and short commutes solely on electric power. Recharging the battery pack using a 3.3kW charger takes 2.15 hours. Equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, the XCeed PHEV '3' model emits just 32g/km of CO2 and achieves a combined drive cycle figure of 201.7mpg under the latest WLTP regulations. With a maximum speed of 99mph, the XCeed PHEV can complete the 0-60mph dash in 10.6 seconds. The powertrain is paired with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (6DCT), allowing drivers to shift gear for themselves, ensuring a more enjoyable drive than other hybrid vehicles equipped with electronic continuously variable transmissions (e-CVT). Traditional e-CVT hybrids convert a portion of engine output through the electric motor, resulting in power losses from energy conversion. Kia's 6DCT differs by allowing the full output of both the engine and motor to be transferred in parallel through the transmission, with minimal loss of energy.

Source: KIA