Our Kia Ceed SW provides ample proof that lower-medium estate cars are no longer fairly utilitarian boxy wagons, the workhorses of photocopier technicians.
The well-equipped, level-three specification Ceed’s cabin is a pleasant place to be, day or night, with driving in the dark made less distracting by a Saab-like feature that blacks out the infotainment screen at the touch of a crescent moon button.
The car’s European design and development regime pays dividends with a pliant but firm ride, while I prefer the precise Sport steering setting from a choice of three different modes.
Long-haul company car drivers in particular will appreciate the Ceed’s refined motorway cruising as the legal limit equates to around 2000rpm, which edges fuel consumption up towards 60mpg.
However, Kia’s 126hp 1.6-litre diesel engine has a fairly gruff exhaust note as you move up through the well-spaced six gears, while you need to be precise when selecting first as the gearbox mechanism is weighted to the right and notchy when warming up. On a couple of occasions I have chugged off in third.
