The Kia Ceed range seems to be growing all the time; besides the hatchback, there’s now a choice of the Kia Ceed Sportswagon estate, the Kia ProCeed shooting brake (a more coupe-like estate) and the Kia XCeed crossover, plus plug-in hybrid versions of the latter and the Sportswagon.
Not only is the Kia XCeed’s SUV-like styling on trend but it now gets a fashionable plug-in hybrid option too. With a petrol engine and an electric motor, most plug-in hybrids offer zippy acceleration and the promise of MPG figures so high you’d think they were typos. As the combined CO2 emissions are super-low, too, they’re a good choice for company-car drivers. We say ‘most’ offer zippy acceleration because the XCeed PHEV actually feels a little sluggish. It uses the same powertrain as the Kia Niro and Hyundai Ioniq, neither of which are particularly quick, and the plug-in XCeed is also noticeably heavier than the petrol-powered model. Comfortable overtakes require planning and commitment, and the Sport mode does not really improve proceedings.
Kia says it’s possible to return almost 200mpg but, like all plug-in hybrids, you’ll only get close to this if you mostly use battery power and drive at city speeds. You’ll get up to 36 miles of electric-only range from a full charge (slightly less if you spec bigger alloy wheels), while the XCeed PHEV’s 32g/km CO2 figure means business users will face a tax bill that’s almost two-thirds lower than that of a petrol or diesel. Clever touches like the option of driver-only air-con can eke out a little more range, The Kia Ceed range seems to be growing all the time; besides the hatchback, there’s now a choice of the Kia Ceed Sportswagon estate, the Kia ProCeed shooting brake (a more coupe-like estate) and the Kia XCeed crossover, plus plug-in hybrid versions of the latter and the Sportswagon.
Not only is the Kia XCeed’s SUV-like styling on trend but it now gets a fashionable plug-in hybrid option too. With a petrol engine and an electric motor, most plug-in hybrids offer zippy acceleration and the promise of MPG figures so high you’d think they were typos. As the combined CO2 emissions are super-low, too, they’re a good choice for company-car drivers.
We say ‘most’ offer zippy acceleration because the XCeed PHEV actually feels a little sluggish. It uses the same powertrain as the Kia Niro and Hyundai Ioniq, neither of which are particularly quick, and the plug-in XCeed is also noticeably heavier than the petrol-powered model. Comfortable overtakes require planning and commitment, and the Sport mode doesn’t really improve proceedings.
Kia says it’s possible to return almost 200mpg but, like all plug-in hybrids, you’ll only get close to this if you mostly use battery power and drive at city speeds. You’ll get up to 36 miles of electric-only range from a full charge (slightly less if you spec bigger alloy wheels), while the XCeed PHEV’s 32g/km CO2 figure means business users will face a tax bill that’s almost two-thirds lower than that of a petrol or diesel. Clever touches like the option of driver-only air-con can eke out a little more range, too.
Two trim levels are available - ‘3’ and First Edition - and both feel upmarket enough to justify the top-of-the-range prices. There is plenty of standard equipment, including a 10.3-inch touchscreen, and the areas you’ll touch regularly are soft and tactile. Space is good in the front but rear-seat occupants have a little less kneeroom than in petrol and diesel versions because of the bulky battery packs. Boot space is also heavily affected; you get just 291 litres compared with the 426 on offer in other XCeed models.
The Kia XCeed PHEV offers a decent electric range and lower tax costs
Kia’s headline-grabbing 188.3mpg figure is more of an indication of what’s possible rather than what you’ll get on a daily basis. You’ll get close to that figure if you keep the 8.9kWh battery topped up and limit your driving to short trips around town but the petrol engine does most of the work at higher speeds, so a diesel engine will still be more economical for higher-mileage drivers.
Plug-in hybrids are worth considering for company-car drivers; the XCeed PHEV’s 10% Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax liability means costs will be substantially lower than the 31% BiK rating of the cheapest petrol engine. Private buyers will pay slightly less in tax than petrol or diesel models at £140 rather than £150 per year.
Kia’s seven-year warranty is one of the best in the business, which will work in the XCeed’s favour versus some of its rivals if you are planning to keep it for a few years. Service plans are also available and, judging by the firm’s calculator, you will pay £379 for two years’ servicing, £489 for three years and £879 for five years. MoT tests can be added for £35 each.
We’re used to PHEVs with plenty of power, but the Kia XCeed PHEV makes do with 139bhp, a 10.6-second 0-62mph time and a 99mph top speed. It’s not quite the slowest model in the range, but it feels heavy - blame the 171kg of extra weight over the diesel.
If you’re not bothered about the XCeed PHEV’s lack of pace, it’s still worth considering. Kia’s experience in plug-in hybrid systems means the two power sources work together seamlessly, which helps smoothness and refinement. We’re also glad Kia uses a great dual-clutch automatic gearbox for its hybrids, rather than a CVT, which can be noisy.
Kia’s been on a roll with its interiors recently and the XCeed PHEV has a stylish and well-appointed cabin. A Peugeot 2008 has more flair but the XCeed’s interior could easily be a BMW or Audi design. A 10.3-inch touchscreen takes centre stage, and it’s surrounded by plenty of soft-touch materials and the latest tech. When you’re driving alone, all air vents except the drivers can be turned off to save energy.
The PHEV is quite expensive, but you do get a good array of standard equipment. There are two trim levels; ‘3’ is the cheaper of the two and includes privacy glass, LED headlights, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone air con, sat nav and a reversing camera. The First Edition model has bigger alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, a powered tailgate, wireless phone charging and automated parking assistance.
Plenty of kit and an upmarket feel make the Kia XCeed PHEV’s interior a highlight
Like all new Kia models, the XCeed PHEV comes with a very generous seven-year/100,000-mile warranty, but Kia doesn’t suffer too many reliability problems anyway. In our 2020 Driver Power survey, the brand finished second out of 30 manufacturers and a slightly lower than average proportion of owners reported problems in the first year. The XCeed is too new to feature, but the Ceed came 18th place out of 75 cars ranked, and third overall for its infotainment system.
It’s likely that Euro NCAP won’t test the Kia XCeed, but the Ceed got a four-star score (five stars with a safety pack). The XCeed PHEV in ‘3’ trim gets high-beam assist, lane-keeping, emergency braking with pedestrian protection and speed limit recognition. Top-spec First Edition also features blind-spot monitoring and cyclist detection.
The Kia XCeed should prove safe and a seven-year warranty!
Given that the Kia Niro offers a decent amount of interior space and a large boot, it’s disappointing that the company hasn’t managed to package the batteries very well in the XCeed. Front space is good and rear space is reasonable, but there is a little less kneeroom on offer because the rear seats are pushed further forward than in petrol and diesel versions.