The Star: June 20, 2019
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IN A GLOBAL market<br />
hell-bent on buying sport<br />
utility vehicles, there’s a lot<br />
to be said for the traditional<br />
family sedan and liftback/<br />
hatchback.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are plenty of bargains<br />
to be had in that part<br />
of the market, and although<br />
the segment has diminished<br />
a lot in recent years,<br />
there is still good choice,<br />
especially mid-size models.<br />
Personally, I’m a bit of a<br />
sedan fan, and I’m pleased<br />
to report there are still<br />
some crackers coming out<br />
of Asia.<br />
One of the very progressive<br />
Korean companies<br />
still offering sedans and<br />
liftbacks is Kia, and their<br />
mid-size model – the<br />
Cerato – has just entered a<br />
new generation.<br />
Effectively, there are six<br />
models in the range, LX,<br />
EX, GT Line and GT; the<br />
LX and EX are available in<br />
both body styles, the GT<br />
Line and GT are liftbackonly<br />
variants.<br />
I’m scheduled into the<br />
turbocharged 1.6-litre GT<br />
later in the year, however,<br />
this evaluation focuses on<br />
the GT Line that is powered<br />
by a naturally-aspirated<br />
2-litre engine which,<br />
incidentally, is pretty much<br />
a carryover from the previous<br />
generation.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Cerato GT Line is<br />
priced at $39,990, taking<br />
into account the range<br />
starts at $31,990 for the LX<br />
and ends at $41,990 for the<br />
GT.<br />
<strong>The</strong> GT Line gets a hefty<br />
range of specification,<br />
leather trim with heated<br />
and cooling seats, satellite<br />
navigation, Apple Car Play<br />
and Android Auto, smart<br />
cruise control and touch<br />
screen control system are<br />
all included, plus there is a<br />
high level of kit for safety.<br />
Fitment aside, what the<br />
Cerato does in the first<br />
instance is to provide an<br />
inviting driving experience,<br />
one which is smooth<br />
and relates to comfortable<br />
travel.<br />
It is also a car which<br />
won’t cost a lot of terms of<br />
usage. Kia rate the engine<br />
with a 7.4l/100km (38mpg)<br />
combined cycle average,<br />
and that wasn’t too far<br />
distant from the 8l/100km<br />
(35mpg) figure constantly<br />
showing on the fuel usage<br />
readout. It also displays<br />
a 5.5l/100km (51mpg)<br />
instantaneous figure when<br />
travelling at 100km/h (engine<br />
speed <strong>20</strong>50rpm).<br />
On the subject of figures,<br />
the engine is rated with a<br />
1<strong>20</strong>kW (6<strong>20</strong>0rpm) power<br />
output, that’s a hearty figure<br />
for a 1999cc engine, and it<br />
also gets a useful 192Nm of<br />
torque available just above<br />
mid-range in the rev band<br />
at 4000rpm.<br />
It is a lively engine and<br />
lets you know when it is<br />
working hard but even<br />
though it is quite audible<br />
it isn’t overbearing. <strong>The</strong><br />
benefit is a fully responsive<br />
throttle pedal through the<br />
entire rev range, it is constantly<br />
eager.<br />
Power is transferred<br />
through a six-speed<br />
automatic gearbox to the<br />
front wheels, there are no<br />
surprises there, but to say<br />
the transmission is a beauty<br />
in terms of sophistication.<br />
Interestingly, there are no<br />
paddle shifters in the GT<br />
Line, but manual shifts can<br />
be made from the main<br />
gear lever.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are also three drive<br />
modes – eco, comfort and<br />
smart, the latter switching<br />
to sport mode if throttle<br />
percentage is high. I<br />
used smart mode mostly,<br />
it recognises each driver’s<br />
style and adjusts the engine<br />
management protocols to<br />
suit.<br />
In terms of acceleration,<br />
a GT Line buyer can expect<br />
a standstill to 100km/h<br />
time of 9sec, and it will<br />
power strongly through a<br />
highway overtake in 5.2sec.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se aren’t as quick as<br />
what you’ll get out of the<br />
41<br />
Kia expands GT Line<br />
into Cerato range<br />
Motoring<br />
Ross Kiddie<br />
KIA CERATO GT LINE: Sporty variant amidst<br />
comprehensive sedan and hatchback line-up.<br />
• Price – Kia Cerato<br />
GT Line, $39,990<br />
• Dimensions –<br />
Length, 4510mm;<br />
width, 1800mm;<br />
height, 1445mm<br />
• Configuration<br />
– Four-cylinder,<br />
front-wheel-drive,<br />
1999cc, 112kW,<br />
192Nm, six-speed<br />
automatic.<br />
• Performance –<br />
0-100km/h, 9.4sec<br />
• Fuel usage –<br />
7.4l/100km<br />
GT proper, but they are<br />
enough to satisfy the buyer<br />
who doesn’t want outright<br />
performance.<br />
I took the test car on<br />
my standard inland loop,<br />
incorporating a run up<br />
and down the Waimakariri<br />
Gorge incline. It cruises the<br />
long straights with quiet<br />
motion, and also takes on a<br />
sporty feel when presented<br />
with a corner or two. I<br />
pushed the test car in both<br />
directions in and out of the<br />
gorge, the chassis worked<br />
well, and that considering<br />
the rear suspension in the<br />
Cerato is a simplistic torsion<br />
beam type.<br />
Ordinarily, there’s<br />
some suspension movement<br />
restriction in nonindependent<br />
systems, but<br />
body movement was well<br />
contained, and uneven<br />
road surfaces didn’t present<br />
any surprises, the spring<br />
and damper rates are set<br />
towards controlled absorption.<br />
Steering feel is sharp,<br />
and directional accuracy<br />
is decisive. A lot of that<br />
has to do with the quality<br />
of the rubber, the Kumho<br />
tyres (225/45 x 17in) have<br />
high grip properties and are<br />
quiet on most surfaces.<br />
I’m buoyed by Kia’s continuation<br />
of the Cerato line,<br />
I guess the company could<br />
have decided to abandon<br />
the concept, but I can safely<br />
say those who do find their<br />
way into the hatch or sedan<br />
will find it a well-built,<br />
capable car that does very<br />
little wrong.<br />
It needs to be tempting,<br />
car makers that are still<br />
plying that part of the<br />
market have some amazing<br />
models that are hugely<br />
competitive. <strong>The</strong> Mazda 3<br />
is one of those that has also<br />
just undergone a complete<br />
transformation, it is there<br />
to keep Cerato honest,<br />
it’s just as well, then, that<br />
the latter has the goods to<br />
compete.<br />
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