A green Korean

Feb 8 2010 Alistair Coull & Val Jessop

ECODYNAMICS ... you couldn't miss the psychedelic lettering on the hatch's boot. It lets you know, loud and clear, that Kia has entered the race for the super-efficient, super-clean car.

It also informs you that the new look cee'd with the special badging isn't a hot hatch.

That said, the 1.6-litre diesel cee'd felt nippy around town, along country lanes as well as on the motorway. Its performance certainly belied the official 0-62mph in 13.1 seconds and it felt livelier.

The cee'd was launched three years ago and so a major upgrade so soon is unusual but perhaps indicative of the determination of the Korean company.

In just three years Kia intends to be one of the world's top three manufacturers for actual quality - and among the top five for perceived quality within five years.

Judging from the way the cee'd already seems to have won its way into the hearts of the European motorist, it looks as though it is on the right track.

Some 17,000 UK customers have already given the cee'd (despite the odd name) their full approval. Now, with an even more modern look - and offering green credentials into the bargain - it seems the Europe-designed and built hatchback cannot fail to succeed.

EcoDynamics is Kia's new green philosophy for all sorts of fuel-saving and emission-reducing technology which will be expanded to include alternative-fuel vehicles - hybrids, electric cars and even fuel-cells. At the moment EcoDynamics is focussing on reducing the environmental impact of cars powered by the internal combustion engine.

The 1.6 diesel cee'd is the first Kia model to wear the Eco badge and for the first time gets the Intelligent Stop and Go (ISG) technology which Kia hope to have fitted to 85% of its cars by 2014.

The ISG turns off the engine when the car is stationary in traffic and the driver slots into neutral and takes the foot off the clutch pedal. The engine immediately fires up as soon as you touch the clutch.

It's a totally unobtrusive system and you almost become oblivious to it - it is so seamless.

And the good thing about it - apart from reducing emissions (down to 113g/km) and reducing fuel returns - is that it engenders the feel-good factor.

Just sitting in a semi-silent world at the lights (well, you can't block out all the external road noise) has a calming effect.

The Korean hatch provides good space for five and the 'tweakings' made to the suspension improve ride and comfort, while benefiting handling and cornering.

Steering is not as impressive as in the Ford Focus and VW Golf, but still quite acceptable though more feedback would be welcome.

Re-engineering and restyling the cee'd alone makes it more attractive to buyers but add in the green credentials and it becomes even more desirable. The Korean is a smart and modern-looking hatchback with tax-beating emissions of 113g/km and returns some quite amazing fuel figures.

With a combined fuel return of 67.3mpg, together with Kia's amazing seven-year warranty, the green cee'd is be a tough one to beat.

- Val Jessop

THE Kia cee'd has only been around for three years or so, so it wasn't really ready for a mid-life makeover.

But since it first arrived on our shores there's been new versions of the iconic VW Golf, the Vauxhall Astra and the new Ford Focus will enter the sales arena soon. So Kia decided it was time to act.

What they've done is graft on a new grille, plus new lights and bonnet which has dramatically changed its looks.

The rear lamps feature LEDs, while inside their's a new centre console, new four-spoke steering wheel and new struts in front of the gear lever which makes it look like an Audi A3.

The quality of plastics on the dashboard has been improved to keep pace with rivals and the model grade structure has changed from GS and LS to 1, 2 and 3. All are well equipped with even entry-level models getting air con, remote locking and six airbags.

The ride has been fiddled with to bring it closer in tune with European roads.

The main change, however, is there is now a 'green model' in the line-up.

Called EcoDynamics, it teams a 1.6-litre 89bhp turbodiesel engine with Stop-Start technology .

Kia isn't doing that much different from other car makers, but it is doing it at the right price, with the right build quality, and with the right warranty.

To achieve 67.3mpg overall, and in addition to the Stop-Start system which cuts both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, the Korean firm has fitted a set of low-resistance tyres, and installed a six-speed manual gearbox in place of the five-speed unit.

Nothing revolutionary, just common-sense tweaks that get the best out of the 1582cc diesel powerplant.

But, as part of the overall package, which costs £14,500 in the middle 2 trim, it becomes something of a great deal. And seven years' or 100,000 miles of cover is still an industry leader that looks even better value in the depths of a recession.

With a top speed of just 107mph, the cee'd EcoDynamics takes 13.1 seconds to reach 62mph. Don't get the impression, though, that this is some kind of lumbering tank. Kia has endowed the car with lively handling, a light touch to the electric power steering, and driving/cornering dynamics you can trust.

This model comes only in 2 specification, which means only a handful of comfort and convenience items are added to the well-equipped starter kit. These include powered and heated door mirrors, a centre armrest that incorporates a modest storage box, and rear cupholders.

All cee'ds get a trip computer, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, outside temperature gauge (very useful right now), five headrests, and lumbar support for the front seats with the driver's fully adjustable, and remote central locking.

The EcoDynamic's rear seats split 60/40, and fully folded afford something like 1,300 litres of luggage room, although the standard hatch boot space is very good, at 340 litres.

- Alistair Coull

FAST FACTS

Kia cee'd 1.6 CRDI EcoDynamics

Price: £14,500

Mechanical: 89bhp, 1,582cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox

Max speed: 107mph

0-62mph: 13.1 seconds

Combined mpg: 67.3

Insurance group: 4

CO2 emissions: 110g/km

BiK rating: 13%

Warranty: 7 years/ 100,000 miles