Kia cee’d Sportswagon being assessed for Australia

When Kia unveiled the cee’d at the Geneva motor show this year, many of us were disappointed at the vehicle’s European-only focus. Given the car is built in Slovakia, its potential for an Australian release has always seemed unlikely. Nonetheless, with the Kia cee’d Sportwagon now unveiled and with limited options available in Australia for a similarly-sized and practical car - the Hyundai i30cw is no loner available - there may exist a business model in the future to launch the cee’d locally.

Measuring 195mm longer (4505mm) and 15mm taller (1485mm), the Kia cee’d Sportwagon offers up to 39 per cent more cargo capacity than the standard hatchback (with the rear seats upright). Given its height advantage, 21mm (front) and 2mm (rear), headroom is increased.

In Europe the cee’d Sportwagon is available with two petrol and two diesel engines. The most popular model is expected to be the 1.6-litre turbodiesel with 94kW of power and 220Nm of torque. It takes a rather long 11.2 seconds to go from standstill to 100km/h but manages to use just 4.3 litres of diesel per 100km on average (European cycle).

Kia Australia says the cee’d range, which now also includes a three-door pro-cee’d, is currently not on its agenda but is being assessed. Kevin Hepworth, Kia's head of public relations, told CarAdvice, “The cee’d has always been a model of interest to Kia Australia, but to date there have been some well documented hurdles to bringing the car to Australia.There has been a continuous process of assessment and that is continuing in light of the global financial situation and availability of models of interest.”

Would you like to see the Kia cee’d range in Australia?