Kia Cerato

[KezR33]

A little while back I posted a thread asking for help about my girlfriend buying a new hatchback.

We've test driven a heap, and we've decided upon the Kia Cerato for the following reasons:

• Its very good looking (for a hatch).
• Its cheap: $19,000 for the base or $23,000 for the top of the range (we'll be getting the top of the range).
• 6 spd auto gearbox - most hatches had a 4spd and didn't feel as smooth, plus they revved quite a bit higher when doing 100kph.
• Most powerful car of its class, AND its still more efficient than most with the same sized engine - it was very zippy.
• 5 year unlimited km warranty.
• Interior was simple, neat and the backseats folded down cleverly to provide a huge space for such a small car.

I honestly loved the car. We test drove quite a few: the Lancer, Impreza, Focus, Cruze, Corolla, etc. It was the best looking of the bunch, drove better than the rest and its so much cheaper!

The only concern is the fact its a Kia. So my question is, has anyone owned or driven a Kia before? I've never dealt with one, but it seems like the Kia and Hyundai (both Korean and owned by the same company) have improved their image a lot in the recent years.

Any input would be great, cheers.

[iplen]

Hyundai are really well built cars now, possibly better that Toyota ATM, and my feeling is Kia is probably not that different, they just have not had the chance to really prove it yet. But you have to bear in mind that you are paying less money because of that risk factor, and you will pay 3-4k less, and get 6-7k less back on it.. Sister has a Cerato sedan and loves it.

[Socrates]

My parents have owned Kia's Optima and Rio new since 05.

0 problems, only thing i don't like is the lack of modern features.

[GTR-N1]

How well do the Ceratos corner and brake?

I just recently talked my 85yr old Mum into getting a Mazda 2 Genki (after downsizing from a Maxima GV). It only has 4 forward gears tho'

Oh well, at least she can now get it into the carport without banging something & it corners/brakes/changes down to overtake just fine.

[KezR33]

How well do the Ceratos corner and brake?

For day to day driving it was fine. We didn't push it on the test drive. In fact the only car we didn't like in that regard was the Focus which at the slightest pressure would brake so hard it'd often activate ABS.

[GTR-N1]

Yes I'd believe that about the Ford. My sis' has a Focus too and it's had intermittent problems with the auto trans. > stuck on gears - wont change gears - searching etc.

[boiracer]

Hyundai are really well built cars now, possibly better that Toyota ATM, and my feeling is Kia is probably not that different, they just have not had the chance to really prove it yet. But you have to bear in mind that you are paying less money because of that risk factor, and you will pay 3-4k less, and get 6-7k less back on it.. Sister has a Cerato sedan and loves it.

like this guy said, korean cars are much better than they used to be......but in saying that. the old round mid to late 90's excels are still kicking strong. i know many peeps that have them. they are a terrible car, but dam do they keep running even with neglect.

they are becoming good looking cars, and you cant beat the value for money on them....and as far as reliability goes no car these days seems better than the next....just dont get a BA falcon, i see those on the side of the road alot

[25GTT]

dont know about the Cerato but Kia Sorento is an amazing 4wd. Although i did not end up buying one, i was EXTREMELY impressed with the vehicle and the price tag at the time. I did see however the more recent model prices have gone up due to their popularity.

Beautiful car.. except for the badge, which is such a shame.

[Stinky Rooster]

For day to day driving it was fine. We didn't push it on the test drive. In fact the only car we didn't like in that regard was the Focus which at the slightest pressure would brake so hard it'd often activate ABS.

I just bought the 2012 focus and I gotta say, you had to be doing something wrong. The brakes need to be more grabby, if anything, and ours will be copping some slotted rotors and quality pads at the first brake service.

We drove the kia, and was put off by the build quality, ended up going for the extra spend just on that. The kia we drove had the most amount of squeaks, rattles and knocks I have heard in a new car since test driving a lada niva back in the early 90's. The mitsu almost put me to sleep, and the corolla should have come with a free brown cardigan and a bowling hat. As for the holden cruze? A daewoo with a yank engine? Yeahnah.

Oh, and the kia isnt even close to the top of the tree power wise. The cerato is rated at 115kW / 194nM while the focus petrol 2.0lt is 125kW / 202nM. Not an earth shattering difference, I know, but dont always believe everything the salespeople tell you

[KezR33]

It wasnt a salesman that said that, it was an online review. Most likely at the time it was written it was the quickest.

As for the Focus we weren't doing anything wrong, how do you get applying the brakes gently wrong? it's ironic because of all the cars we test drove the Focus was by far the worst, and every Kia we looked at was immaculate. We test drove 3 different ones and looked at dozens.