Kia Xceed 2019 first drive

Despite its SUV pretentions, the Xceed feels very Ceed-like the moment you climb behind the wheel. Not only is there the same solid but slightly dour fascia, the moderate increase in ride height doesn’t translate to an off-roader's commanding view of the road ahead. In truth, there’s very little detectable difference, the brightly coloured trim inserts of our test car aside.

Given its remit, target audience and the claims made about its tweaked suspension, the Xceed doesn’t ride with the assured fluency Kia would have us believe. It’s softer than a standard Ceed - although that car is firmer than most in the sector - but there’s still an underlying firmness to the Xceed, particularly at low speed. On the plus side, it improves the faster you go and the Xceed does at least deal with bumps quietly, issuing little more than a muffled thump even when dealing with a particularly torn and scarred piece of Tarmac. How much of this is down to the hydraulic bump stops is hard to tell, but there’s no doubt the Kia almost always manages to round the roughest edges off the worst imperfections.

This sense of refinement extends to the rest of the car, which suffers from very little wind noise or, on the roads of our French test route, tyre noise. Even the engine plays its part, and while the 1.4-litre petrol sounds a bit gruff when worked hard, it never becomes an intrusive presence.

That said, with 178lb ft of torque at 1500rpm, this isn’t an engine you need to work hard, which is a good thing because it feels a little flat beyond 4000rpm, where there's little in the way of meaningful acceleration. Performance is brisk enough on the road and, if you make use of the reasonably precise six-speed manual gearbox to shift up early and surf the turbocharged torque, the Xceed is a reasonably effortless performer, mushy clutch action aside.

Of course, this isn’t a car that’s going to get you hot under the collar at the first hint of a corner, but it’s far better than you’d think. There’s a fluency to the chassis as it carves through corners with impressive poise, and its electrically assisted steering has been recalibrated for quicker response and provides a feeling of keen agility as you pitch the Xceed into a bend. It doesn't offer much in the way of feel, but it delivers decent weight and natural rate of response as you wind lock on.

The incredible march of the SUV in all its forms continues, and the Kia Xceed is better than many. By recognising its role as a road car first and foremost, it manages to deliver on the road thanks to its well-executed dynamics that blend handling composure with decent refinement. 

Crucially, by combining more distinctive looks, a bigger boot and an improved ride with the current Ceed’s improved quality, interior ambience and infotainment, the Xceed makes a case for itself as practical, well-equipped and hassle-free (think of that seven-year warranty) ownership proposition. That said, at around £2000 more than the equivalent Ceed, the Xceed does lose some of the standard model’s value-for-money appeal.

Kia Xceed 1.4 T-GDI specification

Where Marseille, France Price £24,095 On sale Now Engine 4 cyls, 1353cc, turbocharged, petrol Power 138bhp at 6000rpm Torque 178lb ft at 1500-3200rpm Gearbox 6-spd manual Kerb weight 1270kg Top speed 124mph 0-62mph 9.4sec Fuel economy 47.1mpg CO2 115g/km Rivals Nissan Qashqai, Ford Focus Active, Toyota CH-R