After selling over 120,000 units in Europe, Kia’s highly successful XCeed compact crossover has received a series of product enhancements including a bold new exterior design, an enhanced interior and a new GT-line trim that brings the emotions of the Ceed GT to the popular model. These changes will make the XCeed an even more enticing proposition in the popular C-Crossover segment. The new XCeed integrates a number of design changes alongside a competitive powertrain line-up that includes mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, petrol and diesel 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 wider Ceed model family. 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. The exact UK specification, technical data and pricing information for the new XCeed will be revealed nearer the on-sale date. The inclusion of a sporty, GT-line specification for the first time, combined with a petrol engine that produces 204ps, offers an exciting and dynamic driving experience.
As one of the most high-tech cars in its class, the new XCeed is a flagship model for Kia thanks to its latest technologies including advanced safety, connectivity and infotainment systems. Designed to improve everyday usability, enjoyment and occupant safety, these updates continue the XCeed’s legacy as a technology leader within the C-Crossover segment. As with other members of the Ceed model family, the new XCeed will be manufactured at Kia’s high-tech production facility in Zilina, Slovakia, with sales commencing in September 2022. The new crossover will once again come with Kia’s seven-year,150,000 kilometre warranty. As a sustainable mobility solutions provider, Kia introduces the new XCeed with a wide range of efficient and electrified powertrain options. The XCeed Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) delivers an all electric range of 48km, equivalent to 60 km of city driving, while other fuel-efficient powertrains are also available, from fast-revving, turbocharged engines to innovative mild-hybrid systems, ensuring the XCeed is equipped for every modern lifestyle. This dedicated sporty model captures the imagination and evokes an emotional reaction by appealing to customers who want the rational benefits of a larger vehicle without compromising on their sense of style or sportiness. A standout model in the XCeed range, the GT-line defies expectations with its unique sporty design and GT-inspired performance.
The GT-line has been introduced across the Kia line-up over recent years to boost performance and the emotional connection to movement that is inherent in Kia’s DNA. The addition of GT-line to XCeed is an exciting new development for one of the brand’s most popular model families. With the introduction of the GT-line, Kia brings sporting appeal to the XCeed, stirring an evocative visual and driving experience by elevating this popular model to a whole new level. It speaks directly to those customers who balance their heart and head; choosing a practical, spacious, safe family vehicle with eye-catching design and incredible performance. The new model rides on sleek, machine-finished 18-inch alloy wheels to give an athletic appeal, while body-coloured sills, gloss black roof rails and mirrors further boost its active and dynamic appearance. The new GT-line specification features a series of sporting touches that differentiate it from the baseline model. An edgy tiger nose design frames the new front grille, while a sporty lower air intake and side bumper cladding adds a more aggressive look to the front end. Air curtains finished in dark chrome help to feed air through the front of the car to reduce drag and enhance aerodynamic efficiency. At the rear, striking new hexagonal shaped LED tail-lights and a sporty body-coloured lower diffuser complete the revamped model and separate the XCeed GT-line from anything else on the street.
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 vehicle’s wheels to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency. The new XCeed rides on dedicated 18-inch alloys designed specifically for CUV-segment appeal. At the rear, targeted refinements include a new diffuser with a gloss black skid plate and a discreet ‘exhaust-look’ design for a refreshed sporty look across the XCeed range. In profile, the XCeed’s relatively long bonnet flows into the A-pillars aft of the front wheels, lending the car a sporty, swept-back silhouette. While the wheelbase remains the same as other models in the Ceed line-up at 2,650mm, the XCeed’s front and rear overhangs have been extended over the five-door hatchback by 25mm at the front (to 905mm) and 60mm at the rear (to 840mm). The only body panels carried over from its five-door hatchback sibling are the front doors.
The new Kia XCeed is powered by a range of fast-revving, turbocharged petrol engines, the majority of which feature mild-hybrid technology, while an advanced plug-in hybrid powertrain enables drivers to benefit from extensive emissions-free mobility. Three turbocharged petrol direct injection (T-GDi) engines are available in the refreshed XCeed line-up. A three-cylinder 1.0-litre T-GDi engine delivers 120 ps and 172 Nm of torque, while a four-cylinder 1.5-litre T-GDi engine produces 160 ps and 253 Nm of torque. A high-power 1.6-litre T-GDi engine, the same unit found in Ceed and ProCeed GT models, is also available for the most powerful XCeed variant. With a 204 ps power output and 265 Nm of torque across a broad range of engine speeds, the muscular 1.6-litre T-GDi engine perfectly matches the car’s ability to thrive in a variety of driving situations. It can accelerate from 0-to-100 kph in 7.5 seconds when equipped with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Ideal for those who regularly cover long distances, the new XCeed is also available with a frugal diesel mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) powertrain. This 1.6-litre diesel engine can be paired with a six-speed manual transmission to deliver 136 ps and 280 Nm of torque, or 320 Nm with the seven-speed dual-clutch version. The six-speed manual gearbox is available on the 1.0- and 1.5-litre petrol variants along with 1.6-litre diesel models, while the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is a choice for the 1.5-litre T-GDi, 1.6-litre T-GDi and 1.6-litre diesel versions. The XCeed plug-in hybrid 1.6-litre model is only available with the six-speed dual-clutch box. A highly efficient plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain option is once again available in the new XCeed, combining an 8.9 kWh lithium-polymer battery pack, a 44.5 kW electric motor, and an efficient 1.6-litre ‘Kappa’ four-cylinder GDI engine. Paired with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (6DCT), the PHEV transmits up to 141 ps and 265 Nm to the front wheels, while drivers will also benefit from an all-electric range of 48km, equating to 60km of city driving. This will enable drivers to complete the majority of daily drives and short commutes solely on electric power.
The new Kia XCeed’s advanced suite of infotainment, connectivity and safety technologies ensures it remains one of the most comprehensively-equipped cars in its class. Its features are designed to make driving safer and less stressful while providing total ease of operation. Drivers can opt for a fully-digital 12.3-inch Supervision instrument cluster that benefits from a number of new graphical themes which alter in response to the selected driving mode; ‘Eco’, ‘Normal’ or ‘Sport’. With a high-definition 1920×720 digital display, vehicle and engine speed dials are displayed in pin-sharp clarity, while a multi-function display communicates turn-by-turn navigation instructions, audio information, in-depth trip information, vehicle diagnostics alerts and pop-up notifications linked to the car’s various active safety and driver-assist technologies. The new XCeed’s 10.25-inch touchscreen navigation system features Bluetooth multi-connection as standard, enabling occupants to connect two mobile devices at once, while Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality are also standard. Depending on vehicle specification, XCeed users can also choose between a 5.0-inch DAB-radio system or an 8.0-inch audio display touchscreen system featuring wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The new XCeed also benefits from the latest version of Kia Connect, a system that links drivers to the world around them by providing invaluable information via the in-car touchscreen or through the Kia Connect app. Featuring Kia Live services and accessed through the vehicle’s infotainment system, Kia Connect uses its own eSIM card to retrieve and update live data during a drive. This includes live traffic information, weather forecasts, points of interest, and details of potential on- and off-street parking (including price, location and parking availability). Drivers can use Kia Connect to plan journeys in advance by sending navigation data via smartphone to the vehicle before a journey, while users can also access the app to locate their vehicle, ideal in large car parks or in surroundings that are unfamiliar. Enhanced connectivity also gives third party calendar integration so users can link their Google or Apple diary to the audiovisual display and ensure they never miss an appointment. Furthermore, if a destination has been saved in any meeting invitation, it can be used to start the navigation from inside the vehicle for an intuitive and safe customer experience. The latest variant of Kia Connect adds the personalised user profile function allowing the customer to create two customised user profiles. This feature enables users to back-up their in-vehicle Kia Connect preferences via the cloud and transfer settings from one vehicle to another.
