Comments on: KIA Cerato – Long Term Update

By: John Downey

John Downey — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:33:39 +0000

Cerato looks great. Seems to have good engine but where is the 5 speed auto as in the USA. An where is the auto up and down drivers power window. Both would really make this a real contender to the Holden Cruze. Why wasn’t the SLI version used to do the crash test. If it had with its Stability Control maybe the Cerato would have been given a 5 star rating not 4 as has been published. It has not been tested in Europe or the USA yet so maybe they will test a better version and give a better rating.

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.

By: Tony

Tony — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 03:52:59 +0000

the 4 star rating is a bit disappointing but i’d rather wait for confirmation from the US NHSTA

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

By: FrugalOne

FrugalOne — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:16:32 +0000

The sister-co. i30 is a better vehicle and incs. the saftey pack as std.

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

By: No 5 star ANCAP

No 5 star ANCAP — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:07:57 +0000

4 star ANCAP – very disapointing.

By: Tony

Tony — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:37:23 +0000

it’s easy to sit over here and say how come the 370z is only us$29,990 in the US yet aud$69,990 here

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

By: FrugalOne

FrugalOne — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:41:52 +0000

CERATO in USA, u can spec. a optional $600 ‘Fuel Economy Package’
“Available on the EX model that upgrades the car to a five-speed automatic transmission, Motor Drive Power Steering, a “smart” alternator, silica tires, and aero enhancements. Rated at 27/36 mpg, Kia says this package makes the Forte the most fuel efficient car in its class that’s not a hybrid or diesel.”

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

By: Tony

Tony — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:02:13 +0000

let me ask this

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

By: MiSli

MiSli — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 01:28:19 +0000

Have done 2500ks in identical speced Cerato to Rose’s long termer.

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.

By: SteveC

SteveC — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:19:07 +0000

Good to hear the Cerato coming along nicely.

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

By: Sumodog

Sumodog — Thu, 28 May 2009 00:58:14 +0000

Tony i am glad your mum likes her Carnival. I ve driven and worked on few Kia’s. Not the Cerato. Don’t do much for me. Corolla and Mazda 3 are much better cars . Sales numbers confirm this is the case for majority of people.When Kia makes an equivalent to 2JZ-GTE or 13B-REW i ‘ll consider it.