Pity this was replaced by a significantly more expensive vehicle made in Mexico! Just turned 12 months. - Safety features outstanding - found on 40k cars these days. - Drive very good for basic vehicle. - Engine - underwhelming but does the job - 6 speed sports - auto gearbox - very good but gets let down by the engine. - Reliability - no rattles,… Read more
issues. - Warranty - 7 years + 2 year dealer (9) - Quality - Solid and better than a Toyota base model as far as finish. (interior)
If you can get a low KM (less than a couple of years old) of this rental car spec you will not go wrong. If want excitement then it is probably not the one but you will pay for that.
I have a 2022 model purchased brand new from a big dealer in Sydney, it came with some imperfections that we didn't notice until we got home (2.5hours south of Sydney) and could give it a proper look, we raised these issues straight away for warranty and these still havnt been resolved and its 2025! They only offered once a bad review was written… Read more
and asked us to take it down but then they didn't actually do the work, they just went back to ghosting us and palming us off when calling to follow up. I also own an i30 which I bought brand new also, so im comparing brands here... the Hyundai I30 is older and has heaps more ks than the kia and it still drives better, has had less issues and the Kia paint is already worse than the i30 even though I've had it professional ceramic coated twice now, the leather in the seats is already deteriorating, just the overall quality has nothing on the i30 which is a couple of years older and had a tonn more ks on it. The phone charger doesnt work very well and the phone heats up so bad it feels like it'll catch fire and comes up with a heat warning on the phone, ive also asked for this to be looked at under warranty but have not been sucessful, the rotors are already needing replacing (break pads are fine) the rotors shudder when breaking. The converter sounds like its engaged for way too long when going up gears too. Warranty through Kia has been impossible where i had 1 warranty issue with the i30 and Hyundai fixed it promptly. Let's talk services, ibgot it serviced at my local Kia 1st service was $220, next service which was the most basic service cost me $453!!!! They unplugged my dashcam and didn't tell me so I was driving around with no dashcam and they also pressed buttons on it so when i did notice it had been unplugged and plugged it back in it wouldn't connect to my phone and then they didn't know how to fix it so I was left to find a technician elsewhere to set it back up. Overall Kia has no customer service, they make it impossible to claim repairs under warranty and thier services are sub par and very expensive. I would not recommend, the quality isnt that great tbh, im really disspointed.
Reviews with attachments
Faulty paint job - brand new car – We went to pick up our brand new Kia Cerato, after waiting 9 months, only to find the paint job faulty on hatch. We did not take it home & after further advice from 3 panel beaters they advised us definately not to accept it being fixed (that’s all Kia had offered to do). 2 staff members even admitted they have had other cars with the same… Read more
problem. They did not care about us being now without a car. Head office would not accept any responsibility, despite obviously their quality control not being up to standard and said the dealer had to handle. Berwick KIA didn’t even try to locate another replacement which I found online. The didn’t offer a more expensive car to make us happy. And when we went there to get our full money back, the manager did not even have the decency to come out to see us. We received No apology, nothing!!! Absolutely beyond disgusted how they handled the whole situation.
- +8
Kia's most entertaining hatchback isn't really a hot hatch – For an affordable hatchback, I was taken back by how well the Cerato GT was built. Sure, there are plenty of hard plastics found on the interior, but that’s really it when it comes to what you would expect in a more affordable hatchback. The exterior exhausts, panel gaps, welds and wiring looms are all examples of accuracy and precision - a… Read more
testament to Kia’s improved build quality.
The interior construction in modern-day Kias like the Cerato GT are extremely solid, with no movement of the centre console, squeaks or rattles found within this cabin.
Buttons are nicely damped, offering a soft press rather than a plastic-like click. Additionally, stitching is accurate, leather is of a high grade and the screens look crisp and bright.
The Kia Cerato GT Hatch starts from $36,990 drive away, however if you want this exact launch spec, you’ll need to cough up an extra $520 for Runway Red paint.
For a similarly equipped and priced Mk8 VW Golf, you will be paying a lot closer to $40,000 to drive away. $37,510 gets you all the possible upgrades you could imagine with the Cerato, with the main difference being you’re buying a 7-speed automatic paired with a 1.6L turbo four cylinder.
Additionally, you have a sunroof, heated/cooled seats, GT-specific steering wheel and seat, upgraded alloy wheels, sports exhaust pipes, multi-link suspension and Michelin Pilot Sport tires.
In short, the Cerato GT is one of the best value sports-orientated hatchbacks that you could rely on using day to day, with all the possible creature comforts you’d need in a daily driver.
For those looking to keep the Cerato GT for a long time, Kia has you covered. Instead of your run of the mill 5-year warranty, you’re getting an extra 2-years, bringing the warranty period up to a 7-years/Unlimited Kilometre warranty.
You also have a capped price servicing program, which covers you for 7 years or up to 70,000km of driving. The total servicing cost for the Cerato GT over this period comes to a total of $3,234.
I was actually not at all disappointed with the Cerato GT’s sound profile both outside and inside the cabin.
Starting with engine and exhaust noise, I was pleasantly surprised with the raspy and hot hatch-like sound this hatch produced. The 1.6L turbo four cylinder sounds angry under heavy acceleration, with purpose rather than sounding too strained.
In every hard shift of the dual clutch transmission, you get a nice little burble between shifts, reminiscent of VW’s DSG ‘fart’ from their more powerful and more expensive GTi.
The upgraded JBL audio system brings a much needed depth, clarity and power over the standard system.
There’s even a speaker in the boot, which helps evenly spread the audio throughout the cabin.
The larger than standard Cerato brakes fitted to the Cerato GT do a great job for 90% of your driving needs, with these brakes being the difference between a warm hatch and a hot hatch.
You get upgraded front brakes, to help slow down the faster GT, with a strong initial bite and excellent response.
Power is sourced from a 1.6L turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 150kW and 265Nm.
That translates to around 109kW per tonne, which is square in warm hatch territory, rather than hot hatch territory (usually in excess of 120kW per tonne).
The dual clutch transmission takes a second to engage, after that there’s another delay from the turbocharger. Only after a few moments, while you wait for revs to build above 3,000rpm, the power surge starts, and you feel all 150kW power the Cerato GT as you’d hope it would.
It’s not lightning quick, but it’s respectable and it doesn’t feel like you’re lacking power in this trim. It’s usable power, that you can have fun exploring, without having to stress about over-exceeding the local speed limit.
The 7-speed dual clutch transmission is the major difference, aside from the engine, compared to the rest of the Cerato range.
It needs a slight adjustment to make it a perfect match for daily use. The slight lag before engagement when in reverse and driving off the line can get a little frustrating.
A major surprise with the Cerato GT was the upgraded multi-link suspension set-up. The Cerato GT felt solid, with amazing amounts of follow through in sharp corners.
With a capable set up like this, you can corner harder, with greater precision and road feel. Despite the larger wheels and stiffer suspension, the Cerato still is comfortable. I would put that down to not just the suspension, but also the GT sports seats which do a great job of holding you in place and providing additional support.
The Michelin Pilot Sport tires are grippy and are a welcomed overkill set of rubber for what the Cerato GT has to throw at them. It’s a great tire option and a major plus in this price bracket.
Claimed combined fuel efficiency is 6.9L/100km, costing you around $70 a tank.
I saw that fuel economy figure cross 10L/100km around town, especially when I was trying to make the most of the Sport mode, dual clutch transmission and all 150kW.
Sadly, I wasn’t as impressed with the Cerato GT’s interior as I hoped I would have been. It’s not flashy, but perhaps more importantly, it is usable and easy to navigate.
I would have preferred a little more design flair in here, like something similar to the Hyundai i30 Sedan. Instead, there’s a far more practical approach to the Cerato’s interior.
I appreciate the easy to navigate hard buttons, the large 10-inch touch screen infotainment and the space that this interior provides. There’s nothing that’s been added in here for the sake of design - form follows function inside the Cerato GT.
502L of boot space is available with all seats folded up, with more available when you fold the second row in a 60/40 split.
It’s part of the practicality of a large hatch like this; you have a cavernous amount of space, and more if you need it when transporting bulky items. It makes for not just a convenient daily driver, but also a spacious road trip companion.
It’s competitive in price, warranty, features and performance, which would have me recommend the Cerato GT for the top of your list when cross-shopping with other mid-range, ’warm’ hatches.
*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.
- +8
A sensible daily driver option if you need more rear seat room – What was immediately apparent about the Kia Cerato Sedan was its great build quality. Compared to the Hyundai Venue I had on loan at the same time, the Kia felt solid and taut, compared to its Korean cousin. Both inside and out, it’s hard to fault this Kia for poor build quality. Sure, it’s a little cheap with the materials used (this is still… Read more
a $30,000 car after all) - but that only influences perceived quality, the actual production is up to scratch here.
Priced from $31,690, the Cerato Sedan Sport + represents fair value for money.
For the price, you have everything you need for a comfortable daily driver. With heated leather seats, a large 10.25-inch centre infotainment display, radar cruise control with active steering assist, it has everything you need and more.
Overall, the Cerato Sedan with its styling, added space in the second row (compared to the hatch) and features is a hard-to-beat proposition on paper.
Sadly, the lack of an emotion evoking design applied to the exterior and interior where the Cerato, in its sedan configuration, sees form following function. While this sedan may be practical, its flat design language isn’t going to be turning many heads.
The Cerato Sedan comes with a 7 year/Unlimited kilometre warranty and 7 years of capped price servicing which totals $2,939. Services occur every 12 months or every 15,000km.
With a solid build quality, the Cerato returned few squeaks and rattles during my drive.
Sound isolation from outside noise was certainly impressive for the price, with a surprising lack of road and wind noise emanating into the cabin.
Listening to music and podcasts wasn’t exactly immersive, however, the sound isolation in the Cerato made up for the lack of clarity and power in the speaker department.
The Cerato Sedan is a light car, so pulling up to a stop isn’t a challenging task for this car.
The brake feel was predictable and progressive, there was nothing out of the ordinary here. With four disc brakes, the braking ability certainly matched my expectations of a non-performance car like this one.
The Cerato Sport + misses out on Kia’s turbocharged motor, instead it features a 2.0L non-turbo petrol four cylinder. This motor produces 112kW @ 6,200rpm and 192Nm @ 4,000rpm.
The Cerato Sport does drone a little, as it needs to rev out to higher rpms than the turbocharged model to squeeze all the power it can from this motor.
However, the lightweight construction and responsive 6-speed automatic gearbox means I never felt the Cerato was down on power for daily driving.
The 6-speed automatic transmission was a fantastic breath of fresh air in a CVT dominated market.
This is a traditional torque converter automatic, providing the experience you’d hope for. There’s no weird rev hang, oddly placed shifts or odd jerks at low speeds.
The new Cerato feels taut. It was a strange conclusion to come to, but that’s the truth.
Around the suburbs, the Cerato is quick to react, yet unphased by rough sections of road. Heading through corners, the Cerato uses its lower centre of gravity to remain flat through these sections. That’s until the comfort-orientated suspension begins to lean harder, since you can’t have it all in non-adjustable suspension like this.
Drive modes are offered in the Cerato Sedan Sport +, but these won’t do a whole lot to help with handling and suspension. Instead, these are far more in tune with the engine and gearbox, if anything.
To fill the Cerato up from empty, expect to pay close to $70. You might be visiting the pump a little more often than you would in a turbocharged alternative, as combined fuel consumption is around 7.5L/100km.
If you live in a hilly and undulating area like I do, you can see that fuel consumption hits as high as 11L/100km.
The Cerato interior wasn’t made for the wow factor. Instead, it was created with practicality in mind.
Headlining the features is the large 10.25 inch display, and a user-friendly interface that encourages you to use the system, rather than feel like bloatware. A swath of physical buttons and storage space means that the interior isn’t going to annoy you for the sake of design.
It’s not an inspiring space, but it works, and it works well.
Part of the deal you make with yourself when you purchase a sedan is that you’ve concluded you don’t need to haul a lot of large items.
With 434L of cargo space, the Cerato is a practical car. It even has seats that fold, allowing you to place long items through to the second row. Unfortunately, the small trunk opening and even smaller pass through restricts oneself from being able to make the most of this space.
Sure, you can fit bike racks and find other solutions for large items. However, you will have to understand that the boot space in the Cerato Sedan is going to be limited compared to the hatchback.
If you’re in the market for a small sedan, there are a few options.
What the Kia Cerato Sedan offers is a practical, sensible, well built and well equipped vehicle for a reasonable asking price.
It’s for those looking for the most logical and unassuming vehicle, while also driving a premium feeling product. For them, the Cerato Sedan is an excellent choice.
For someone like myself, who likes a little more flair and sporty driving dynamics. The i30 Sedan stood out a little more than this did. If you’re looking for a little more excitement in your drive, then I’d opt for the Hyundai.
*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.
- +2
I purchased this car new 4 weeks ago for $32,000 (Cash). After getting it home I noticed that the Paintwork on the rear hatch (The plastic piece in the center under rear glass) is blotchy & see-through on the drivers side, in my opinion I can see the undercoat through the Silky Silver paint. They parked it directly under a fluro light when I… Read more
picked it up so it was impossible to see it then. The motor has one very noisy tappet/lifter which is super loud when cold but even after it warms up you can still hear it rattling away, but just not as loud. They must have had it running for at least 30 minutes before I picked it up because I didn't hear it then. And it is not injector noise which is what KIA have been telling everyone is the cause of this noise from what I have been reading online. It seems that a lot of the final NEW 2.0lt Cerato's are getting these engine rattles of late.
The timing chain tensioner has a bad rattle when cold as well but it must be just one stiff/sticking linkage in the timing chain because it makes the noise when it grabs or catches on something inside the motor once every revolution of the chain. I pulled out the dipstick the day after pickup when I heard this loud noise & there were tiny bits of metal in the oil so I took it back. The dealer looked but couldn't see any metal on the dipstick & said "leave it & when you bring it in for its 3 month inspection we will drain the oil & change the filter". I reckon it should have been done right there & then. I don't think the Dealer I purchased it from couldn't give a #%^* about any of my vehicles problems.
Also I purchased a Dealer "supply and fit" Dash mat from them, but had to fit it myself because they forgot & didn't have it ready for delivery.
They didn't transfer or cancel my trade-in registration for 9 days after I had taken ownership of this new Lemon. Rear left indicator fills up with water too, & that is just from rain but if you wash it with a normal low pressure garden hose it fills up pretty quickly. Road noise in the cab is bad, & I mean really bad. I just hope that it is the cheap 17" Kumo tyres that it has fitted and if so it might get better with some decent quality tyres. My MN Triton 4x4 with Bridgestone Dueler all terrain tyres has less Tyre road noise in the cab & that's no exaggeration.
The right headlight was weaker than the left one & it was quite noticeable at night, until I belted the back of the light with my hand & then it came good.
The charge port in the center console popped out on the way home from picking it up/Delivery, but that was an easy fix, I just pushed it back in & it hasn't come out again since. The inside of the front windscreen had a stain or is just dirty, but we cannot get it perfectly clean. And yes, this is supposed to be a brand new vehicle. But I am beginning to wonder if it really is & if something untoward has gone on here.
Also you pay $32,000 for one of these "THINGS" but you don't even get a miserly little light in the glove box for that money, no wonder people are buying Chinese vehicles. Also, when I'm a front seat passenger there is a dull chrome strip on the dashboard that the sun reflects off & if I continue to look straight ahead the constant glare from it gives me a headache. I guess this happens because of my height but I might have to paint it with some Matt clear-coat.
I think KIA must stockpile their factory second parts in a warehouse and when it comes time to do a model run-out they must pull them all out again and then put these factory second bits & pieces on the final run of their superseded vehicles just to get rid of them. Otherwise, if they aren't getting rid of their seconds on purpose then how do you explain all of these issues getting through quality control unnoticed? I know that plenty of people have given these cars Rave Reviews but I will never buy another KIA because the one I purchased is a Lemon unfortunately, & although the Salesman was the best I have ever come across, the actual dealership that I unfortunately picked to purchase this "THING" was not the best either.
EDIT: What a joke, New Car less than 2 months old that has done less than 400km and both headlights are now filling up with water (See photos). Also, we only just noticed that the rear right suspension has collapsed by 30mm (measured from center of wheel to guard is 390mm on the left & 370mm on the right) and it is very noticeable if you are following the vehicle. From what I can see under there is that the the shock absorber bump stop is taking all the weight & is crushed up hard against the top mount enough to deform it to the point where it is about to split. So either the spring is weak or it could be that the shock absorber is faulty or both. But at least now I know why the road noise in the cabin is so loud. Will be taking it back to KIA today and will update afterwards.
Still not one word from KIA HQ I notice. So, I may have to publish the name of the dealer & a few more photos, & maybe then I will get a response.
“Great Bar The Friggin Keys” – Love The Car. Comfy = 7 ( firm ride ) Motor = 10 Space includes Boot = 9 Tech Features = 10 Key Remotes = 0 ( both keys failed - $850 to replace 1 ) Kia claims my fault! You have been warned! Show details
Positive reviews
boring in a good way. basic reliable car that does everything we need – We have had a 2017 Cerato hatchback for 7 years, purchased new. Zero issues with it. Basic car, but works well. Kia fixed one minor issue under warranty, which they found during routine service. It is a bit noisy on the road at speed, but nothing too annoying for the price of the car. Show details
Fun, not hot – Despite some glaring omissions, this car is still a good buy and unique at its price point. Don't get it twisted, this car is not a luxury vehicle. It has great features and exciting looks, but simple things are missing that make daily driving frustrating, and interior build quality is very questionable. I recommend this to people who want to have fun, but don't expect too much. Show details
33,000km review – Currently own a MY2022 Kia Cerato GT. Purchased on October 2021. Pros: - Excellent engine that demolishes everything - Solid build quality - Great value (compared to its rivals and what you get) - Ventilated seats! (you don't get that on a Mazda 3) - Absolutely gorgeous design. 2 years on, still absolutely makes my heart stop looking at it. -… Read more
7 year warranty for peace of mind (brought it into the dealers to fix a squeaking sound, turns out it was a bunch of cabling rubbing against each other. Fixed promptly)
Cons: - Road noise can probably give me early onset tinnitus, and is absolutely terrible. Drowning it out with the excellent sound system - DCT is finnicky - Overly stiff suspension. My backside has a tendency to hurt on occasion.
Overall: Excellent value for the price you pay. It is an absolute shame that it is so underrated, and that not many people seem to know about it. Hence the review.
Negative reviews
Atrocious car – Noisiest car I have EVER DRIVEN.Road noise is appalling and gives you a headache. Ride is atrocious for a car with 6000kms. If I was a bird, I wouldn't even sh#t on one. Worst car ever....a 1976 cortina with crook shocks rides better. DO NOT BUY ONE!
Happy & Sad – Brand new. Now done only first 1K Would have absolutely loved this car except for two issues. The roads around my area are not the smoothest and the GT suspension is so hard that it thumps and bumps over the slightest imperfections. Even the speed humps at the local shopping centre almost lift you off the seat if approached at over 5 km/hr. It… Read more
feels like it would have been better with springs, shock absorbers and pump up tyres. Currently it feels like it does not have them. The second issue is the exhaust noise. I have been told that it is artificial and played through the cars speakers. I can't believe that is so and KIA will not confirm. I wear a hearing aid which makes the noise intrusive. Apparently if I change the muffler, I will void the warranty. Now grown up,(over 80) I do not wish my car to sound like a hoon racer. Any suggestions? Cost me $40G on the road and I am already currently thinking of trading it in. On a totally smooth road it drives really well. Quieter and smoother would have made it a better car.
Driver seat – I own 2019/20 cerato the leather drivers seat started wearing away after 9 months Kia replaced the seat but 12 months later it started happening again . After app. 12 months of asking them to repair the seat I have been informed that they will not due to external influences. Which is basically me getting in out of my car wrongly? Show details
Find out how Kia Cerato compares to other Cars
Know better, choose better.
Recent reviews
So far so good. This certainly has the European feel, with the slower steering and the heavier foot pedals. Fuel economy very good. The automatic gear box has no delay when accelerating from stop position which is important. The only negatives is that when you accelerate out of first you have to watch your revs because the change to second is slow. Road noise is a bit high as well. At this stage with 77 K on the clock brilliant value. Show details
Pretty good – All in all the car is really quite good; it's an attractive design, well priced, and does everything you need it to. The car is great on fuel and easy to live with. It's much better priced and has a lot more storage space than the competition in the segment (e.g., Corolla). The drivetrain takes a little getting used to, and specifically the… Read more
programming of automatic transmission. But once you get used to the way it's been set up, it's fine. So far no reliability issues (which is the most important thing)
In sum, a well priced alternative to the Japanese cars in the segment. We're happy after a year of ownership - and it actually continues to grow on you over time.
Bought a 2006 LD Kia Cerato recently. Second hand with 146,000 kms. Full service history – Fantastic car to drive around in. Great fuel economy. Ideal for using as a second car to use. Show details
So good we bought 2! – I purchased my Kia Cerato GT Sedan mid 2020 for $33k. It's been an absolutely amazing car, so much so, we bought another one 2 years later (my wife's car - another sedan). Great fuel economy, comfortable seating, beautiful interior, surprising amount of boot space (sedan), the engine has punch, this car is an absolute pleasure to drive. It's incredible value for money. Highly recommend! Show details
Come on it's got to be European – I have always had German cars,and this little ripper feels a whole lot better. The suspension,steering,brakes and the gear change is perfect. It is no racer,but in a world where comfort and safety is more important it has all it needs. The design is spot on and the space is surprising. The only negative is the lack of rain sensing wipers. This is a great car to look at if you need something comfortable,safe and affordable. Show details
Poor service, services are more priority over faulty engine – I’ve brought my 2020 kia cerato sport+ brand new from the dealership (one owner) 19 February 2020, Drove home from work (1hour drive eachway) and had the engine give out on me with no warning lights or anything, I couldn’t contact kia as of being a Sunday afternoon so as i did I contacted them the next day first thing in the morning, I said to… Read more
them i need my car to be dealt with ASAP as the engine has given up, sounding like it’s about to blow up and needing it done as of needing to pay bills and all they could offer me was to book my car in. you’d think the car would be (reliable) as it has only done just above 104,000km’s with no issues, services all upto date every 15,000km’s ready for its next service in under 1000km’s, you’d assume they would prioritize the major issues first but obviously servicing peoples cars are more priority and having to wait an extra 3weeks to get it looked at, yet again couldn’t assist me, nor no hire car, left me stranded with nothing to use, makes me think of not getting another new car down the track as this is an absolute joke, helpless, recommend not to get a kia as they can’t assist you, until there ready to help you.
2014 yd manual si sedan – Bought Feb 2014 and travelled 109000 km with no problems. Has a GDI motor so has a CRC GDI treatment every year as well as having a catch can fitted. The treatment seems to work very well. Serviced at dealer yearly but also has a 6 monthly oil and filter change running full synthetic. Travels return to Canberra yearly and runs like clockwork.… Read more
Averages approx 7.4 litres per 100km around town and 5.6 to 6.2 litres per 100km on a run. Comfortable reliable and good handling car with a deceptively large boot( with fold down rear seats) decent performance and reasonable fuel economy. Would recommend to others.
Kia Replacement panels do not fit – Recently, my wife had an accident in her Cerato Hatch. The driver's side door was replaced, using a new genuine part. Most annoyingly, it didn't align with the body of the car (see photo). Both the repairer and the insurer (RACQ) say that this is typical of Kia body panels, which have a manufacturer's tolerance of up to 3mm variation. More than… Read more
that, I have been told the design does not allow for shimming or any other kind of adjustment during installation. KIA, YOU NEED TO DO BETTER THAN THIS!
Awesome car for the money – I have had several Kia's and all have proven to be reliable. I bought this Cerato Sedan in July 2021 as a work car that has doubled as our open road car and has covered 40,000 klm in 12 months. I am really pleased with the fuel economy of 6.8 litres average for 10,000 klm. I do not drive for economy yet on road trips of 500 klm each way to… Read more
Adelaide and Mt Gambier the average drops to 5.6 lt/100 on the open road (measured) with the air conditioner going as it was a 32 degree day.
The car handles the rough country roads with comfort and poise the Australian suspension engineers have done an outstanding job. Tyre noise on course bitumen is a bit loud about 70db but a recent change of tyre has greatly reduced the noise such that it is not noticeable.
There has been no issues and our local Kia Dealer OGR in Mount Gambier has been excellent at getting my car done in the time they promised.
60,000 KLM update. The car is still going really well with no problems. The fuel economy has got slightly better at 6.7 L/100. I follow the manufacturer's servicing schedule at OGR Mt Gambier and they have done a great job. I generally travel 500 klm per week so fuel economy is important to me.
100,000 KLM update. The car has still had no warranty issues. The engine took to 60,000 to run in and still doesn't use any oil between services. I still enjoy driving it as it's such a nice vehicle especially on rough country roads where the Australian Suspension Engineers really aced the tune.
Find out how Kia Cerato compares to other Cars
Know better, choose better.
Looks good but you'll change your opinion when you drive it – So I bought this car after owning a Kia Stonic GT 2021 for a little while whilst I ordered the Cerato and had to wait another 6 months. I was happy driving the Stonic and found it had just about everything I would expect apart from blind side monitoring/alert. Couple of little quirks here and there but didn't bother be too much. Once I took… Read more
delivery the sales person told me that there was a recent software update to the car stereo system and so I won't be able to hear anything until I turn up the dial to volume 30 or above. Quite suspicious but at the time I thought Im sure they will release a fix for it. 7 months later and no word of a fix. Next he told me that I could permanently turn off the extremely annoying Lane Keep Assist but once again that was a pack of lies as this resets itself every time you turn off the engine. Once I started driving and noticed the ride quality was quite ordinary, feeling every bump on the road I thought ok maybe its because of its sport tuned suspension but I think its just the fact we have shoddy roads here in Melbourne and these cars aren't built to absorb that very well. Started driving in the rain and I thought being the top of the range Cerato I would expect the wipers to come on automatically just like they did in the Stonic which is around $6000 less but NOOOOO! I was shocked to say the least. So here I am going back to the 20th century and having to constantly turn them on and off or adjust the timing. What a disappointment! Then all of a sudden every time I slow down I hear a clunking noise, is this the DCT? It happens when I moving slow within traffic and the gears go up and down and when I slow down. Once again not happy with the build quality. My 1991 Honda Prelude was built better than this car. First and last time I will be buying a KIA.
Wonderful car – Words cannot describe how it feels to drive this car. i got my kia back in February and it was bascally love at first sight and not to mention the safety features! Kia really has out done themselfs with the Cerato gt Show details
One of the most affordable car on its range – I use it every day to go to work. Never had an issue, even if it's quite new, 2022. 1.6turbo, in the sport mode you can really feel it! A little noisy however for sport cars enthusiastic its a lovely roar. I have done the first free service at 3000km and will do the next at 10k. Capped price services are reasonable. From a relative that service… Read more
cars, compared to othe brands, Kia offer better service for the price, more things are included in the service, for example octane booster.
what a gt – best car i have ever bought. kia got it right for this car. it handles great and really keeps you safe with all the bells and whistles going off all the time. hopefully they will keep making this car. Show details
Great car, plenty of features – I purchased a my22 s model Cerato. There is plenty of features in this base model with some features not in higher models at this time. I live the feel and comfortability of the car. Drives smooth and plenty of power Show details
Impressive and good value. Solid performance – Very good value for money. Very spacious and more important, it has good head space in the back seat, which was not the case in most other similar cars. I am very impressed, considering I was never a fan. 7 years warranty, money well spent Show details
all good except the fuel – I bought this for the missus. The car was delivered at the end of 2021, right before the new year. At first, she wanted Mazda 2, but we took Cerato Hatch S with safety pack after further discussion due to its features and price. In short, Cerato offers larger space for all seats and boot, armrest with aircon and USB charger for the rear… Read more
passenger, adaptive cruise control, larger 8 inch infotainment screen with wireless apple car play, electric parking brake with auto hold, and a larger engine with economic fuel. However, Cerato S only missed push start button as offered in Mazda 2, but we could live with that.
In the paper, Cerato offers more for us, but in practicality, not really.
This car is ok for the daily car, the appearance looks nice inside-out, practicality is amazing. With the large boot space and hatchback, it's just like a small SUV. You can put almost anything. The ride comfort is good, and all of the safety features work as-is.
In summary, these are the positive parts: 1. Complete safety features: AEB, Lane Keep/Following Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross-traffic Alert, Rear Camera, Front/Rear Parking sensor. 2. A lot of additional features: automatic headlamp with auto high beam, electric mirror with auto-folding, rear aircon, rear USB socket, electric parking brake with auto hold. 3. Spacious 4. RON91 5. Value for money.
Now, the negative parts: 1. Only Cerato S uses wireless Apple Carplay. The connection is constantly dropping out. It's so annoying especially during the navigation. Fixing the connection issue during driving is dangerous. I asked the dealer and they only said just update during our first service. We knew this car has this problem, but we do not expect that it happens so often. Kia should do something or replace the wireless with the normal Apple Car Play.
2. Fuel economy is a joke. It's very difficult to get what Kia claimed, which is around 7.6/100km. Most of the time, we got 9 or 10/100. I use the Normal setting and always try to press the accelerator as gentle as possible with slow acceleration. I can only get this number if I use it for a long-distance freeway. Luckily this car still enjoys RON91.
3. The engine seems to be underpowered. I thought 2L with 6 speed auto will be enough, but not really. It feels sluggish. If I press the accelerator deeper to get the momentum, it will drink more fuel. Switching to the sport mode only make it worse. I think this car need to be reconfigured as other cars from different brands could get adequate power with better fuel efficiency.
4. Brake auto hold and Lane Keep Assist are disabled by default. There are no settings to make these permanent. This is quite annoying my other car can set these features on/off permanently. The drive mode always goes back to "Normal".
This is a good car, inside-out. However, it would be way better if Kia can provide updates to overcome the wireless apple car play problem, make this car uses less fuel, and provide an option to make some settings changes permanent. If you are looking for a daily car that provides high practicality with spacious space but you don't want an SUV or wagon, this might be a perfect car for you. But if you want to have a car with good fuel economy, you might need to consider something else.
I have driven this car for around 1,400k. I will update my review in the future if there are some changes to the car.
edited: - I've just realised that the combined fuel economy is 7.6/100km, but the urban fuel consumption is more than 10.x/100km. No wonder Cerato is not good if the majority of your driving is short trips or during heavy traffic. Well, this was my mistake. I didn't do thorough research back then. - Cerato S comes with steel wheels. This is not good either for fuel economy. I hope Kia will put alloy wheels for the base model. - Cerato also lacks of LED headlight, where all of Mazda offers this for all of the cars from the base model.
edited #2, after 9000km and a year later: The car runs great and strong, and it becomes more economical than ever. I once went to CBD from the northern part of Melbourne through M2, and I got 5.9/100km. This car is easy to maintain as well. After a year, I practically haven't spent anything except for petrol and the annual service. Yes the engine came from the previous gen car but it's reliable, although it doesn't give much power. It's a city car, not a racing car. Now we used to set up the autobrake and LKA when starting the car. It's not annoying anymore. So far I'm happy, except the annoying wireless entertainment unit and steel rim.
A brilliant little car – We bought our 2017 Kia Cerato Sport new about 5 years ago. It's a great, and fun car to drive, very practical, and has been a real joy to own. The negatives? I can only think of 3, only 2 of which are the car's fault, and in the broad scheme of things, are only minor. Number 1, is my wife needs a small cushion in her lower back to feel… Read more
comfortable when driving the car. I personally don't have a problem with it myself, so I guess this could be simply a personal preference thing for her. Maybe the addition of a lumbar adjustment on the seats would have helped.
Number 2 is the occasional problem with the fuel filler door being a bit stubborn to open sometimes. My wife still has the odd problem with that, but once again, it's only been a problem for me on the very odd occasion. It seems as though the dealership has permanently fixed this issue a few services ago, however.
Number 3, which I should point out has nothing to do with the car itself, was when we had to replace the battery. We decided to use the genuine Kia battery through our local dealership, mainly for warranty purposes. To cut a long story short, our local dealership (Cairns FNQ) tried to charge us double what I would consider to be a fair and reasonable price for a factory battery. I argued about the price, and got it down to $260, which is still a lot more expensive than what I could buy a good quality battery from a local battery specialist for, which would also have a 4 year warranty, instead of the 12 months that the dealer offered. The dealership trying to blatantly gouge us (they quoted my wife for the battery, and she texted me with the price, after which I promptly hit the roof, lol) is the only thing that has soured an otherwise fantastic ownership experience. I personally feel that they tried to rip her off, based on the fact that she is a woman, and probably would not know what a battery is normally worth.
Would I recommend buying one? 100%. Would I also recommend you watch your factory dealership when they service your car? Again, 100%. As you can probably see, I would absolutely recommend the Kia Cerato, just keep an eye on what your dealership tries to charge you for non scheduled parts.
2011 2.0 SLI manual model – I purchased this car back in 2019. Odometer was about 72,000km. I used the vehicle for Uber 2years. And now it has 190,000km. i had one issue in steering wheel motor. It is called MDPS. There is small circle rubber in the motor. and that was worn out. This is common problem happened on some hyundai model. Since I bougth the vehicle, I maintained… Read more
by myself. I just replaced ingintion coils, spark plugs, engine oil&filter, brake pads, coolant. That’s all. I have never had any big issue. Very reliable. I need to sell the car and buy newer one. I am worried that i can find one as good as mine. Since 8 months ago i can hear noise when I go over speedbump.
I believe it comes from rubber bushing in suspension as it gets old.
And Surprisingly, I have never replaced drive belts and water pump and clutch which is good to know the truth that mechanic rips people off. That why i dont bring to mechanic.
Great Kia GT 2021 – I was looking to trade my Subaru Impreza on the 2021 model, unfortunately I found some minor issues with all the new models. I looked around at other models such as Hyundai, MG, Toyota, then I came across Kia at Harrigan Kia. They had the a Kia GT in the showroom and this car got my attention. I made a lot of inquires into the car as well as going… Read more
online and reviewing the car. All positive result from my inquires resulted in returning to Harrigan Kia and buying the Kia GT 1.6 Turbo. I am absolutely pleased with the car and the performance as well as all the appointments in and on the car. I am currently following Kia on the production of their EV6.
Comfy and good quality – I have been driving Kia Cerato Sports + for more than 2 years (mileage 20,000km per year). Driving is fun and comfortable, even on long distance. The safety feature is extremely helpful, especially the anti-collision feature, where I’m re-learning my distance away for other vehicles. The car external design is really amazing and unique. Overall, it is a good design quality car. Show details
My life, can't live without it – I Use it for commuting to work, and other stuff. I use my car pretty much everyday. No issues in Car and only serviced once till yet as just bought it recently. Show details
Best car I have ever owned – My Cerato is the Bee's Knees. Sporty, cheap to run, goes like a train, easy to keep maintained and a pleasure to drive. I've owned plenty of cars in my time and I can honestly say that my Cerato would be the pick of ALL of them. Show details
Extra Information
ProductReview.com.au has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence our content moderation policies in any way, though ProductReview.com.au may earn commissions for products/services purchased via affiliate links.
For some reason for a few days I was unable to edit my original review so that is why I added this… Read more