Apart from those gripes I am very interested in buying one next year. (Hopefully when the 6 speed auto is available) Maybe that will come in around the Australian tennis open.

Korea is the new Japan – nothing wrong with keeping the Japanese honest. Maybe one day we’ll stop thinking Made In Japan means the only they have the best quality. The Hyundai-Kia juggernaut just keeps on rolling along.

I guess Australians dont read up on the quality surveys coming from the country who’s tough enough to have lemon laws (who are they protecting by not having them here too???) and who remembers the systematic concealmeant by Japanese giant Mitsubishi and all their quality control cover ups over the last 20 yrs???

Good on ya Korea – pity Australia cant come up with something like this to keep our industry going and people in jobs. As long as the car makers here insist on the big 6 or 8 instead of a nice efficient 4.

And to all those going on about the 05 Accord – a very nice car to copy off!

I’ll be waiting for the new Mazda 3 review as well. Perhaps CA can do a comparison of the Cerato, Mazda 3, and Lancer? That would be great!

Yes,had they put alloy wheels as standard equipment then nothing in Autralia beats it given price, equipment, engine output, looks, warranty.

Bravo Kia and salute to you for sponsoring the Australian Open tennis championship

GOOD JOB Kia. My only wish: replace the steel wheels with alloys and guaratee you will sell a lot more

As we all know this car was designed by Mr Schreyer. So this isn’t a replica design from any other manufacturer, its a design by someone who knows what they are doing! Schreyer previously designed the TT, Bettle & A5.
I personally have driven the vehicle, and let me tell you, for the price it is a very nice car. Yes it is still a KIA, but this is something which consumers will get used to by time. Remember when Honda first came into AUS, it was the crapest Jap car around. Now we could call HONDA one of the best…
Anyway my point here is, the new Cerato will go on sale next week & from my point of view, this car will sell. The price is not a set back as it has all of the features a VW GOLF comes with PLUS rear parking senses at a lower cost.

Ps CA this is a great review – keep up the good work!!!

HOWEVER, with the higher diff ratios used to achieve better fuel consumption in many cars from about 2000-ish, the 5 speed manuals should be 6 speeds.
1st and reverse gears are often too high for hilly terrain, stop start/ heavy traffic and towing, autos are a far better choice for this type of work.

Buyers be ware !

Hyundai/ Kia, FFS, get out of the stone ages and provide 6 speed manuals in these larger cars.

Its simply NOT cheap enough, quality/class wise yes, a massive improvement for them, BUT gut felling the all new too Mazda3 is going to blow it out of the water.

MAZDA3 will only be a few $k more at the max., and WELL worth spending the extra coin for vastly superior.

Go on to say the new Mazda3 WILL be the BEST car in its class.

The new Cerato for mine is about equal to the current Mazda3, but alas you dont think that the Japanese are just going to sit still and let Koreans catch up do you?

Cheers

F-0

PS/ Now that BIGT’s updated Corolla has proven to be a expensive update on the base, its off the list.
Leaves but 2 vehicles for me, the haonda City and new Mazda3

for starters, it doesnt look like a kia! AND the specs of the engine, combined with its claimed fuel economy figures ( http://www.kia.com.au ) are extremely impressive!!

Shame about the hideous hyundai elantra dash and that god awful steering wheel.

but great effort kia!!

( are kia still owned by Hyundai?? )

KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA

Kia and Peter Schreyer have clearly made a beautiful effort with this car. It looks sounds, it got a good review, it doesn’t automatically mean that CA are advertising it!!!

I agree with HAL

As for the Cerato, it looks good. What does it matter that elements of one car look similar to another – I couldn’t give a rat’s tossbag. If a car looks good, then it looks good, as this one does. Doesn’t mean that it’s suitable for me, but it’s a good attractive, reliable option for those who can’t afford a more expensive car. It also seems that Kia are getting better quality-wise too, which can only be a good thing.

Why do some bloggers here get so worked up over how many reviews Car Advice do on one particular make or another? It’s ridiculous – to me they seem to be reviewing each manufacturer’s offerings when they get access to them. It’s no coincidence that Kia are releasing the Cerato in Aus at the same time that the Aus Open is on, so big deal? That’s just capitalising on your marketing opportunities – smart thinking really. And CA are reviewing the car as it has become available. There is no conspiracy here people, so just chill.

Seems like great value for money, and thankfully, as someone else noted, there’s substance underneath the style. Toyota should very definately be worried.

Now, can anyone tell me, does Hyundai own Kia?