Kia Cerato brings the sting

The Kia Cerato gets a new platform under it and some hints of Stinger on it. We take an early look, writes Damien O’carroll. At a glance

The new 3rd generation Kia Cerato isn’t officially here until the first quarter of next year, but we snagged ourselves some seat time in a sedan for a week, just to see if it has picked up any tricks from its impressive cousin, the Hyundai i30.

So, it’s a small sedan. Should I care about that?

Well, yeah OK, no one really cares about small sedans in New Zealand, but that’s not really the point – the Cerato will come in hatch form, but it’s just a few sedans that have landed here early. So don’t think of this as a look at a small car that almost no one will be interested in – think of it as a test of a small car that quite a few people will be interested in when the proper body shape arrives. After all, the mechanicals are identical.

And it is those mechanicals that have brought about the biggest change to the Cerato – despite the outside bits looking quite different as well – just not the engine though, that remains carried over from the

Kia Cerato Sedan Base price: Powertrain and performance:

TBA

2.0-litre petrol inline four, 112kw/ 192Nm, 6-speed automatic, FWD, Combined economy 7.4 litres per 100km.

Vital statistics:

4640mm long, 1440mm high, 2700mm wheelbase, luggage capacity 502 litres.

Ride quality, high levels of equipment, just remarkably pleasant. Abrupt lane assist, flat seats, very dark cabin.

We like:

We don’t like:

DAMIEN O'CARROLL/ STUFF Kia has popped a few vents and intakes on the new Cerato to remind you they also make the Stinger.