Enlarge imageKia
Cee’d EcoDynamics
Model/Engine
size: 1.6-litre
Fuel: Diesel
Fuel
economy combined: 67.3
mpg
The new Kia
cee’d EcoDynamics comes with Intelligent Stop & Go (ISG) which brings its
emissions down to 110 g/km CO2 – so should you consider this car?
If you’ve
stayed away from the Kia brand so far then you should think again, because as
well as being very economical, the cee’d is a very good car; it’s smooth,
quiet, easy to drive, and good value for money.
So what
about the ISG? It’s the first technology to carry the EcoDynamics name – but
Kia says this is just the start of the EcoDynamics technologies, which will
eventually include hybrids and even fuel cells.
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ISG is
currently only available on the 89bhp 1.6-litre CRDi unit in mid-range 2 trim,
although it may be more widely available in future. It results in the emissions
dropping from 119 to 110 g/km CO2.
Various car
companies are now introducing some form of stop/start system on their cars.
It’s a relatively easy and cheap way to get emissions down.
So does
Kia’s ISG system work? Yes. Is it simply a case of stopping the car and the
engine cuts out, and then restarts when you move off? No. Certain parameters
have to be met. Here’s the guide from Kia about using ISG. No apologies about
reproducing the entire length of this, just so you understand what’s involved!
To stop the
engine in ISG mode
1.
Decelerate to below 3mph.
2. Shift
gear lever to neutral position.
3. Release
the clutch pedal.
In ISG mode
the ‘Auto Stop’ indicator on the instrument cluster will be illuminated.
Please
note: You must reach a speed of at least 6mph since the last time ISG was
operated for the system to work again.
Auto Start
To restart
the engine from ISG mode
- Press the
clutch pedal.
The ‘Auto Stop’ indicator on the instrument
cluster will turn off when the engine restarts.
The engine
will also be restarted if
- The brake
pedal is pressed.
- The air
conditioning fan is set on MAX.
- The air
conditioning fan is ON for several minutes.
- Your
vehicle speed is above 3mph.
ISG is
disabled if:
1. The
driver’s door is open.
2. The
driver’s seatbelt is unfastened.
3. The
bonnet is open.
If you
stall the engine, the ISG system will restart the engine upon pressing the
clutch pedal and shifting to neutral.
ISG is
automatically switched off if:
1. Your
battery is too weak (75% state of charge required).
2. The
battery temperature is below 2 degrees C.
3. The
engine temperature is too low.
Phew. So
there are lots of factors governing the operation of the ISG. We guess that’s
why they call it Intelligent. And remember, despite all the above rules and
regulations, the system does work most of the time!
So apart
from the ISG, what else do you need to know?
The cee’d
is perfectly pleasant and easy to drive, helped by new suspension improvements,
however it doesn’t have the dynamics of class-leaders such as the Focus.
Steering is light but with good feeling, and the ride is firm but not
uncomfortable.
It also has
a redesigned interior, and overall the quality of the cee’d product is excellent.
Equipment levels are good, including a new six-speed gearbox, with different
specs to provide extra kit if desired. Interior space is adequate, although the
boot is not quite as large as that of a Focus or Golf.
Uniquely, it
comes with a seven-year warranty period, or 100,000 miles, which is excellent. At
£14,195 it represents good value for money, and promises low running costs.
However resale values are likely to be lower than mainstream rivals.
Any
downsides? Well Kia is making a huge song and dance about the new grille, but
we don’t think it looks much better than the old grille – in fact the same goes
for the facelifted front end styling in general.
There’s
also the badge – Kia still won’t appeal to everyone - and although the cee’d is
supposedly a European car, we’re still not sure about this name.
In summary,
if you want a perfectly acceptable Astra/Focus sized-car, that’s easy to drive,
at a lower price, with low emissions, and a huge warranty, then consider the
Kia. But remember that although the cee’d EcoDynamics has lower emissions on
paper, this will only translate to lower emissions in practice if you drive in
urban areas on a regular basis. If not, consider the cee’d 1.6-litre CRDi model
with more power - 113bhp – for the same price.
Fuel economy
extra urban: 72.4 mpg
Fuel economy
urban: 60.1 mpg
CO2
emissions: 110 g/km
Green rating:
VED band B - £35
Weight: 1376
Kg
Company car
tax liability (2009/10): 13%
Price:
£14,195 (From £11,595 to £17,495)
Insurance
group: 4
Power: 89 bhp
Max speed:
107 mph
0-62mph: 13.5
seconds
