Home › Kia › Kia Ceed 2016

Kia Ceed 2016 review

Hatchback Diesel

Kia Ceed 2016 — front three-quarter view

Overview

The second-generation Ceed, codenamed JD, was facelifted for the 2016 model year, with UK deliveries of the revised range starting on 1 October 2015, so cars on 65-plates onward are facelift cars. The facelift brought new 1.0 T-GDi petrols, the uprated 1.6 CRDi diesel, a seven-speed DCT automatic and the new GT-Line trim, with Euro 6 across the range. The 1.6 CRDi 134 GT-Line manual cost £20,995 when new, and the diesel was uprated from 126 bhp to 134 bhp for the facelift, so power is the easiest way to tell a facelift car from an earlier one.

Its 1,582cc D4FB turbodiesel makes 136 PS and 280 Nm with the manual gearbox, reaching 60 mph in 9.8 seconds and 122 mph flat out. Official economy was 72 mpg combined on the old NEDC test, with 102 g/km of CO2, which put it in VED Band B at £20 a year for cars registered before 1 April 2017, and the 53-litre tank gives a long range between fills. The six-speed manual is standard and the seven-speed DCT dual-clutch automatic was optional, with 300 Nm and slightly lower economy.

Practicality is strong for the class. The boot holds 362 litres with the seats up and 1,318 litres with them folded, and the five-door hatch is a genuinely roomy family car. GT-Line pairs the diesel with sports styling inside and out, and the car carries a five-star Euro NCAP rating from the 2012 test, which the facelift retained because the structure was unchanged. Kia gave it the famous seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty when new.

As a used buy, the checks are familiar diesel ones. The DPF blocks on cars used mainly for short urban trips, so favour cars with regular longer runs, and test the DCT carefully for low-speed judder and harsh pull-away if you buy an automatic. Clutch and dual-mass flywheel wear is reported on manuals, and EGR valve trouble is a known diesel issue. No DVSA recall number has been verified for the JD Ceed, so check the specific car on the GOV.UK recall checker by registration. Watch the dating traps too: a 126 bhp car advertised as a 2016 is a pre-facelift car or old stock, and any listing showing 1,598cc or 114 bhp is a mislabelled 2018 CD-generation car.

UK price from: £20,995

Specifications

Engine	1,582cc D4FB turbodiesel, 4-cylinder
Power	136 PS (134 bhp) @ 4,000 rpm
Torque	280 Nm (manual; 300 Nm DCT)
0-60 mph	9.8 seconds (manual)
Top speed	122 mph
Fuel economy (NEDC combined)	72 mpg
CO2 emissions	102 g/km
VED band	Band B (£20/year)
Gearbox	6-speed manual (7-speed DCT optional)
Boot space	362 litres (1,318 litres seats folded)
Kerb weight	1,364 kg
Fuel tank	53 litres
Insurance group	14
Euro NCAP	5 stars (2012 test)

Features

362-litre boot, 1,318 litres with rear seats folded
1.6 CRDi 134 with 72 mpg combined (NEDC)
GT-Line sports styling inside and out
Seven-year / 100,000-mile Kia warranty when new
Optional seven-speed DCT automatic gearbox
Five-star Euro NCAP safety rating (2012 test)
Euro 6 diesel, ULEZ compliant

Common parts & prices

Part	Price (GBP)	Notes
Front brake pads (axle set)	£30	Typical UK pattern-part retail estimate, parts only excl. fitting, not catalogue-verified
Front brake discs (pair)	£72	Typical UK pattern-part retail estimate, parts only excl. fitting, not catalogue-verified
Clutch kit (manual, incl. release bearing)	£200	Typical UK pattern-part retail estimate, parts only excl. fitting, not catalogue-verified
Battery (12V)	£105	Typical UK pattern-part retail estimate, parts only excl. fitting, not catalogue-verified
Wiper blades (front pair)	£18	Typical UK pattern-part retail estimate, parts only excl. fitting, not catalogue-verified
Oil filter	£8	Typical UK pattern-part retail estimate, parts only excl. fitting, not catalogue-verified

Prices are typical UK aftermarket/OEM guide prices and may vary by supplier.

Pros

Strong 72 mpg economy from the uprated 1.6 diesel
Long seven-year warranty when new shows Kia confidence
Roomy, well-built family hatch with a big boot
GT-Line looks sharper than the standard car
Cheap to run and cheap to buy now

Cons

DPF hates short trips
DCT versions can judder at low speed
Cabin feels dated next to newer rivals
Pre-facelift 126 bhp cars are sometimes mislisted as 2016 facelift cars

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Kia Ceed a facelift or a pre-facelift car?

Facelift cars started UK delivery on 1 October 2015, so cars on 65-plates onward are facelift cars. Check for the 1.0 T-GDi engine, the seven-speed DCT or GT-Line trim to confirm a facelift car.

What is the difference between the 126 bhp and 134 bhp 1.6 CRDi?

The pre-facelift 1.6 CRDi made 126 bhp and 260 Nm, while the facelift car makes 134 bhp and 280 Nm. A 126 bhp car advertised as a 2016 is a pre-facelift car or old stock.

How big is the boot on the 2016 Ceed?

362 litres with the seats up and 1,318 litres with them folded. Some sources quote 380 litres for pre-facelift cars, so the 362-litre figure is the facelift figure.

Is the 1.6 CRDi reliable?

The engine is generally strong, but the DPF blocks on cars used mainly for short urban trips, and clutch and dual-mass flywheel wear is reported on manuals. DCT automatics can judder at low speed, so test one carefully.

Is the 2016 Ceed ULEZ compliant?

Yes. The facelift 1.6 CRDi is Euro 6, so it is compliant with London ULEZ and clean air zones. Verify the individual car on the TfL checker by registration, as always.