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2009 Kia Cerato Revealed

Kia has taken a bold step forward with the announcement of its new small car competitor, the all-new Cerato. Designed to tackle the established competition in its class, the Cerato introduces a wholly new style for the Kia range and offers impressive equ

Mike Stevens

00:3723 January 2009

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2009 Kia Cerato Revealed

With six airbags and an iPod-compatible stereo as standard equipment, plus improved ride and handling and a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, the Cerato will be sure to attract plenty of attention.

The most attention-grabbing element of the Cerato however, is the way it looks. Debuting the new ‘Schreyer Line’ design language penned by Kia’s head of design Peter Schreyer, the Cerato marks a huge change from the look of previous Kia products.

The minimalist design may not be the most dramatic or captivating on the road but it certainly hints at Kia’s European aspirations. The wedge shaped profile and high boot also help to contribute to a low drag coefficient of just 0.29.

The Cerato’s 2.0 litre ‘Theta II’ engine is the most powerful in its class. Featuring Continuous Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) and an aluminium block, the engine produces 115 kW of power at 6200rpm and 194Nm of torque at 4300rpm and can be matched to a five-speed manual or four-speed ‘Sportsmatic’ auto.

The Euro IV compliant engine also features a chain-driven valve train to reduce maintenance costs. Most impressively though, the Cerato scores 4.5 stars in the Australian Government’s Green Vehicle Guide emitting just 186 grams of CO2, with fuel consumption rated at 7.8 litres per 100 kilometres.

Buyers concerned about safety can rest easy too. Standard equipment includes dual SRS front airbags; side front SRS airbags and full-length curtain SRS airbags; active headrests and seatbelt pre-tensioners for front seats; and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution) and Brake Assist.

ESP (Electronic Stability Program) and TCS (Traction Control System) come standard in the higher grade SLi and are available as a low-cost option package on the base-model S. High tensile steel has been used throughout the chassis and body to increase stiffness. Three-point seatbelts are used in all five seating positions too.

On the inside the Cerato presents a fresh, modern, two-tier dash and sporty three-spoke steering wheel. Making use of its larger size the interior grows in all key dimensions, while all doors open wide for ease of entry. The SLi model also comes equpped with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift lever, alloy pedals, steering wheel audio controls, six-funtion trip computer and climate control.

If you have any reservations about the level of equipment included in the new Cerato, take a look at the value for money in this list:

Kia Cerato S

2.0-litre CVVT engine (115kW)
5-speed manual gearbox
Optional 4-speed Sportsmatic automatic gearbox
Manual air-conditioning
15" steel wheels with 195/65 R15 tyres
Power, heated door mirrors
Power windows (front & rear)
Dual SRS front airbags
Front side SRS airbags
Curtain (full-length) SRS airbags
Active front headrests
Keyless remote central locking
4-wheel disc brakes with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), EBD (Electronic Brake force”¨Distribution) and Brake Assist
MP3 compatible CD player with Power Bass
Auxiliary input (for external audio device)
USB audio input with iPod® compatibility
Repeater lamps on door mirrors
Speed-sensing auto door locks
Tricot cloth trim
Map lamp with sunglass holder