I am looking at buying a new car next year and my choice is a toss up between Cerato and Cruze. I hope Kia makes at least a 5 speed auto available maybe even a 6 speed.

one thing that swings back to the Kia is that the top of the line SLi is only a little bit more expensive than the std. one esp. with the safety pack and very very much cheaper than the i30 fully optioned which pushes $30k

The Cerato does seem to have the better 2L engine of the group though.

No trip computer on base model……PASS

Need a hatch, the sedan is not all that liked in the market

Cheers

F-0

or how come the Pontiac G8 is available for $28k and yet here you pay close to $50k for the same Holden SS V8 when the car is made here!

different markets are different markets

in Korea they only have the 1.6 until recently!

it’s always been this way… we often pay more for less and that’s the price of living in a market of only 1 million cars a year for 20 million people

Also 10year/100,000mile powertrain warranty

Finally “available 2.4-liter inline-four comes with an impressive 173 horsepower”

As usual not for Oz…

Cheers

F-0

there’s no keyless entry push button start with the audi style key?

it’s on the overseas one but i guess they removed it here

This is my first Kia and is a work commuter only.
It is well kitted and the reversing sensors are more useful than I expected (something I would never have considered if it had been an option) The engine is quite linear but works best in the mid ranges. Still learning the capabilities on the handling front, the ESC is interesting and not too intrusive, works well in the wet and gives good warning.

The cruise control has glitched a couple of times – not setting or not resetting. I’ve read elsewhere similar issues with i30s.

It is well screwed together with not a squeak or a rattle.

My only gripe is no driver seat lumbar adjustment or thigh tilt adjustment.

I agree, the mute button is great. I have one on my Punto. handy both for turning to mute to hear the wife talk…. or for putting the music back on so I can’t hear her talking :)

SteveC

Japan took 40 years to make it. Hyundai took 20 years. China will take 10.

The Japanese and Koreans have often bought their talent from Germany and Italy and France (let’s not forget Nissan).

How they make their cars I don’t really care. If it takes a German to head up a good Kia well so be it.

By the same token I don’t think a Corolla or Civic or Mazda 3 are great cars to emulate. Have you driven a new Corolla? A $38k Civic Si from England?

No I believe you should examine a car on it’s own merits and it’s own price. When I drive a Kia do I aspire to be in a Corolla? Hardly.

I’d be the 1st to admit I’m wrong. I thought my mother buying a Carnival would be the worst decision of her life. But it takes someone without prejudices to consider a Kia, like my mother. I have prejudicies but I have changed my mind and I am open to Koreans or Indians or even Chinese cars.

Hell I drive an Aussie car and I hate them. If you won’t park your prejudices there’s no point even reading about Kias let alone driving them because all you do it troll places like this.