Kia Cerato: new small sedan officially breaks cover

By David Zalstein | July 30th, 2012

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The all-new Kia Cerato sedan has been officially revealed in three images from the Korean car maker, with the third-generation small car taking big steps forward over the outgoing model.

Kia says the 2013 Kia Cerato will be manufactured with an all-new bodyshell structure and is longer, lower and wider than the current car, with an extended wheelbase.

The new car’s sleeker profile, LED daytime running lights and tail-lights and chrome window trim are joined by improved quality, upgraded equipment, more cabin space and a revised engine line-up that Kia says will deliver class-leading fuel economy.

The all-new Cerato sedan will go on sale in Korea later this year, following the car’s official debut at the 2012 Los Angeles motor show in November, before appearing in Kia dealerships in Australia in early 2013.

Once complete, the Kia Cerato range will again feature the sedan, hatch and Cerato Koup variants, with the second and third body styles to join the local line-up before the end of next year.

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Smart US

very nice… i think the best looking small sedan around… very very nice
Marcel

Awesome – great design once again by Kia,s western led design team.
Deserves to do well Ike the rest of Kia,s renewed range.
DK

Mondeo back??
- Phunken
  
  Not sure how it could resemble Mondeo slabby backside… look more like Audi A4, with its soft contour, and subtle bootlid spoiler…
- Phunken
  
  More Audi soft contour than Mondeo slabbyness
Crummydore

Purely based on design, KIA’s on a winner – again!
Mc3

The design looks rather odd in most angles..
- Sumpguard
  
  How? It looks brilliant.
  
  Though it probably looks odd compared to your sanggyong!
  - Noddy of Toyland
    
    Each to their own Sumpguard, your love of Kia doesn’t mean you should refute Mc3 and his views.
    - Sumpguard
      
      I actually think the Soul is awful and the carnival is in desperate need of an update, so I’m not blinded by the brand.
      
      However this is a fantastic looking sedan and I suspect sometimes people hate for the sake of hating. There appears to me to be a resentment to all things Korean by some people. Just my observation.
      
      I don’t understand how this looks “odd in most angles”. At least qualify the remark (if you can).
Rightindicators

Design is considerably better than the current generation model.
Robin_Graves

L-O-N-G wheelbase, looks good tho.
Norm

It doesn’t express the “boldly go where budget hasn’t gone before” attitude of the Sportage or Rio.

I thought KIA were really onto something by pushing the boundaries a bit. I hope they don’t back away from that across their range.
Perky

Looks like a much more upmarket car than the current one.

Kia just keeps getting better and better
Aus_poppa

In a sense, and even a bit by its looks, this is really a Kia Elantra. However as Kia have done a lot of work on adapting their suspension and driving dynamics to Australian conditions this could be a very welcome addition to the “small cars” – but really now medium cars – category, especially as we won’t be getting the European only Cee’d.
MichaelLock

I like it….a lot. Would like to see the interior as I hope Kia have kept their reserved looking driver orientated cockpit layout like the Optima.
Basil Exposition

Looks like a winner.
JP

Definitely looks like a mondeo from the rear.
My father has the current Cerato hatch. Interior looks very, very similar to my Mark 6 Golf.
Right down to the dark colours……
carl

Looks really great and i love that crease line on the side near the base, gives it a really sporty look.
carl

Looks really great and i love that crease line on the side near the base, gives it a really sporty look.
ray

I love it! just awaiting the specs
Sumpguard

I’m proud to be a KIA owner!

If it drives as good as it looks this will be another winner.
42 = The Answer

I think they’ve nailed the design side. Time to get cracking on the handling and performance
c1ee

Wow, I can’t fault it one bit. Takes my breath away
Schn

I thought I saw one in Melbourne the other day from the rear, then I looked at the badge, it was a Ford Focus sedan. Still, good design.
- Phunken
  
  Don’t insult Kia with a Ford’s uncohessive design direction. The Focus erratic design details trying to be trendy but just look like a grand dad in a track suit ala John Howard.
  - Ramjet
    
    Julia Gillard in a Kia sounds like your thing? Both very ordinary.
  - Rocky, Colt, Tom tom
    
    The Focus as your ‘erratic design details trying to be trendy’ example isn’t a great one. The new Ford Fusion, however, is the epitome of your description.
Michael Todd

I am really pleased with the design. Rumors were the new Cerato would be a baby Optima. But its not. And that’s a good thing.
After seeing this i anticipate the hatch will be completely amazing.
Loft

Looks good but I think I prefer the look of the new i40 better
Vins

not too bad but look like Elantra though
Ted

I have been saying this for some time now, but this confirms it – what are Toyota and Mazad going to do ! The soon to be released Corolla may be a hit, but soon as the new Cerato is released then Toyota will be chasing. The current Maxda 3 is getting old, and the next model will take this on I guess..
Noddy of Toyland

I thought a smaller Renault Fluence, especially around the side.
- Guest
  
  The rear more like Ford Focus sedan
Gry

Very nice design… great proportions… now if they could only work on that KIA emblem badge…
- Doctor
  
  Yeah, I’ve recently thought that the badge falls short of the cars’ design.
Goodfa

Kia is definetely the most improved brand in the last 5 years.

5 years ago I would have laughed at anyone who suggested I would be interested in buying a Kia now.

Good work Kia.
Alex

Looks much more premium. Me gusta.
GIG

Looks really good, but I’m very happy with my Mazda 3 sedan.
DK

The 2013 Mondeo
Jon

Don’t forget that these pics were taken with special lighting angles to accentuate the curves.
Be hard pressed to see it like this in real life.
I’m surprised how many people say ” great car, looks great, deserves success” just on the basis of a few studio photos.
What’s under the skin is what counts more imho.
YoLex

Why can’t Lexus look like this??
Guest

Good overall design from KIA. Looks very European-ish with a hint of Audi for the rear light cluster & a Coupe-like Silhouette of the VW CC. The New Cerato has a much cleaner design execution than the Hyundai Elantra’s fussy Fluidic Sculpture design. The Schreyer designed grille further adds an elegant front to the whole design concept. Methinks if the major Japanese brand don’t up their game & upscale their specifications while keeping their value quotient, they’re really in trouble. The new Civic been bashed for it’s cost-cutting design while the CR-Z is made to look overpriced by the Hyundai Veloster.