Kia Cerato Si Auto road test

Think small cars and there are plenty of household names that spring to mind, such as the Toyota Corolla and the Mazda3. But the compact segment is one of the most hotly contested in the industry, with about 30 offerings from around the world.

Hyundai is the best-known South Korean maker, but its sister brand Kia has been kicking goals of late, even picking up a Drive Car of the Year award. Like Hyundai, Kia's improving quality and trademark value are gaining more attention.

It's no different with the latest newcomer, the Cerato.

What do you get?

Life in a Cerato starts at $19,990 (plus on-road and dealer costs) for the base S model. For that you get Bluetooth, rear parking sensors, cruise control, trip computer and six airbags (dual front, front side and side curtain). The five-year warranty is a plus, as is the full-size spare tyre.

An auto is another $2000. That car comes with a 1.8-litre engine, which is replaced with a 2.0-litre once you go for the Si ($23,990 or $25,990 for the auto) tested here. It adds auto headlights, alloy wheels, reversing camera, smartkey entry with push-button start and various trim updates that make for a classier cabin feel.

There are some touches not expected in a small car, such as the mirrors with puddle lights, and front door handles that illuminate as you approach. If the doors unlocked as you grab the door handle - rather than having to push a button on the front handles - it would be a bullseye.

There's also a leather-clad SLi, which tops out at $30,990 for the auto, bringing many styling touches and other additions such as heated front seats, dual-zone airconditioning and a sunroof.

Inside

As with sister brand Hyundai, the interior presentation of each new model improves in leaps rather than evolutions, and it's no different with the latest Cerato. Dark dash and seat materials look upmarket, and the textured faux-look matte carbon fibre is an interesting touch.

The brand's trademark red illumination interspersed with crisp white dials completes the upmarket presentation.

The only gripe is the small touchscreen, which can be fiddly when selecting radio stations.

Seats are comfortable enough without matching some class leaders for side support, and space up front is good. There's reasonable storage, with a deep centre console, overhead sunglass holder, small compartments and broad door pockets. Once you familiarise with the semi-hidden button to release the glovebox, it's a handy aperture.

The rear isn't as adult friendly as some in the class, such as Holden's Cruze, but there's respectable legroom and headroom that's OK for all but taller folk. Pop the boot and it springs open, making it easy to access if your hands are full. The cavity is sizeable.

On the road

The Cerato's cabin is impressively quiet at speed, with only the engine revving higher bordering on unwanted din.

Suspension, too, achieves a good blend of control and competence. While the Cerato isn't as sure-footed on the limit as some standout rivals (the Ford Focus and Mazda3, for example), it's well controlled and deals with adverse situations well.

Mid-corner bumps, for example, are dealt with quickly, and there's a decent level of comfort at the same time.

That dynamic prowess is let down mainly by steering that feels flat and lifeless through corners, something more noticeable through the longer curves.

The adjustable weighting is gimmicky rather than a genuinely useful feature, with the Sport setting adding weight rather than feedback.

Brakes feel solid and effective, and the 16-inch tyres grip well enough before ultimately letting out a yelp.

Under the bonnet

While the base Cerato makes do with a 1.8-litre engine (the same used in the Hyundai i30 and Elantra), the Si we tested gets a more powerful 2.0-litre. With 129kW it's one of the more powerful in its class, rewarding at higher revs. Take off from standstill and there's perky response, with a willingness few sub-$30,000 small cars can rival. The engine can get a bit buzzy about 5000rpm, but at least it delivers the goods.

The response from lower in the rev range is also above average, without being as fruitful as its outright punch. Most of the time, though, it's more than enough to get the around-town or hill-climbing job done.

The six-speed auto is an honest if uninspiring unit; it's generally in the gear you want and responds well to throttle input, but it doesn't have the smarts to intuitively pick the driver's every move.

But the trade-off is higher fuel use. Consumption is towards the thirstier end of the small-car spectrum, claimed at 7.4 litres per 100 kilometres. Around town with the occasional freeway burst it averaged just below 10L/100km.

Verdict

The thing likely to turn some away from the Cerato is the badge. Kia doesn't have the pull and small-car heritage of brands such as Toyota, Subaru and Mazda.

Which is a shame, because the Cerato deserves attention from those looking for a quiet, comfortable, well-equipped and well-presented four-door.

The Details

Price: $25,990, plus on-road and dealer costs

Country of origin: South Korea

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl petrol

Power: 129kW at 6500rpm

Torque: 209Nm at 4700rpm

CO2 Emissions: 177g/km

Transmission: 6-sp man or 6-sp auto, FWD

Weight: 1319kg

Safety: 6 airbags, stability control

Pros: Punchy engine; elegant and spacious cabin; plenty of equipment; quiet and composed; five-year warranty.

Cons: Not as frugal as some; dull steering detracts from dynamics.

Fuel use: 7.4L/100km (below average)

Performance:  98kW/tonne (very good)

Boot: 482 litres (good)

Resale: 49 per cent (good)

The Competitors

Nissan Pulsar St
Price $25,990 plus on-roads
Engine 1.8-litre 4-cyl petrol; 96kW/174Nm; CVT auto, FWD
Fuel use/CO2 emissions 6.7L/100km, 160g/km
Safety 6 airbags, stability control
Pros Great back-seat space and comfort; large boot; CVT helps lift average engine; relatively frugal.
Cons Plain cabin; front seats need more support; no split-fold rear seats.
Our score 3.5/5

Ford Focus Trend Sedan
Price $24,590 plus on-roads
Engine 2.0-litre 4-cyl petrol, 125kW/202Nm, 6-sp auto, FWD
Fuel use/CO2 emissions 6.6L/100km, 154g/km
Safety 6 airbags, stability control
Pros Strong engine; relatively frugal; clever interior; good road manners.
Cons Auto only for sedan; lots of buttons makes the interior fussy.
Our score 4/5

Hyundai Elantra Elite
Price $25,590 plus on-roads
Engine 1.8-litre 4-cyl petrol, 110kW/178Nm, 6-sp auto, FWD
Fuel use/CO2 emissions  7.1L/100km, 169g/km
Safety 6 airbags, stability control
Pros Functional interior; long list of features; frugal; five-year warranty.
Cons Steering can feel dead mid-corner; suspension stifles dynamic ability.
Our score 3.5/5