28 Reviews

Review
This is a review from someone who drove this car for almost a year already.

I was driving a Vios previously and was looking at the sedan for my family. At the start, i was comparing the stonic and the cerato as my budget was anything below 80k. After test driving the cerato and stonic, the stonic's 1 litre turbo was pretty impressive as compared to the cerato where the pick up was not very good especially with roads that has elevation. It really feels like the car is trying very hard to push itself.

As this car is fairly new, i can't comment much regarding reliability. I hope kia will be the same as their peers from japan in terms of reliability.

I ended up taking the cerato GT Line as it has everything fitted from Korea. Especially the ventilated seats (i always use it), at such a price point you will not get features like these from other brands. With the sports rims and body kit, it is really worth it for the extra 10k that i paid. I ended up paying alot more than my budget but i am really satisfied with it.

A few issues i have with the car though:
1: the car isn't really fuel economy for me with 10.8km/litre with almost 9000km driven. And to clarify, i am not even a heavy footer. So i am pretty disappointed in this area.
2: you always have to leave the temperature at 22 degree Celsius as anything above that will be quite warm. (the mechanics mention that this car has the heater function therefore they can't help it.)
3: the pick up is very lackluster at times. I understand that it is only a 1.6 litre, but at times, i feel like it is lesser than that. I feel like my vios picks up slightly faster than that and my vios was a 10 year old car.

What I like
Sporty look
Ventilated Seats at this price point
sunroof (rarely use, but looks pretty good at night)
electronic seats
Full LED lights
LED design looks very modern

What I do not like
lackluster engine and pick up
climate control must be 22 degree or below
no electronic seats for passenger

Review
Having owned the Kia Cerato SX for close to a year, I'm here to give a humble owner's experience.

The Kia Cerato's latest iteration pays homage to its bigger brother - the Kia Stinger, as could be seen in its design cues. I am personally attracted to the aggressive styling cues on the exterior, the young and sporty look of the interior (the 'floating' 8.0" ' touchscreen infotainment system got me sold) coupled with a few high tech features such as wireless charging, Apple Carplay and Android Auto was something that sweetened up the entire package.

To add on, things like ventilated car seats, only available in continental makes, are the first to be introduced in this vehicle. Knockdown rear seats are available in the 'SX' trim and above and to spoil you with even more goodies, the car is equipped with DRL (Daytime Running Lights), smart trunk system, cruise control and different speed modes to suit your day-to-day driving style.

As a driver bonus, you even have your own 'conti-like' electronic seat with memory function for you to lock it between yourself and your driver No. 2, never again would you need to fumble for the right seating adjustment if you should you T-Loan your car to that desperate sibling of yours itching to show off this ride to your, maybe soon to be 'sister in law'.

Back then, C&C was selling only the 'L', 'SX' and 'GT Line' model and of course, since I wanted a fully assembled car in Kimchi land, it's simply a no-brainer. To pay an extra $8k to bump from SX to GT-Line when the parts are fixed locally? No way! I'll probably dive into more details along the way, but in a nutshell; Would I still buy it if I had to go back in time to decide on this car? For a car with that much features and at such a price-point, in a heartbeat - a resounding 'Yes!'

What I like
The Kia Cerato as mentioned above, are filled with lots of eye-candy features. Since 2018, these variants 'L', 'EX', 'SX' and eventually 'GT-Line" are spec-ed out in with the same engine and gearbox, so the only price difference is just the OMV that you get for the additional accessories, and airbags + sound system, which can be seen from the 'EX' and 'SX' trim level. If the sound system is not a concern, I'd attest to pay a little bit more to make sure that my family gets to travel in style; and in safety as well, since the SX and GT-Line variants comes with six airbags.

Besides that, the car itself is just aesthetically pleasing from every angle! Splash any colour on it (mine is in grey - layman terms for easier reference), and the Kia's front grille will still look as if it's pouncing out to devour the overpriced, Made in Thailand Corolla Altis or that 1.6L Civic fanboy. Never before have the exterior facade won the hearts and minds of the young at heart. Oh of course, don't go with any outrageous pink with Hello Kitty wrap or some weird baby blue paint, unless you don't mind the stares.

Having driven this car once to Genting Highlands (after running it in for three months), you'd feel that the weight of the car is seemingly obvious; because this car weighs a whopping 1.2 tonnes (though it dieted 75kg) and is equipped with a dinosaur tech Gamma 1.6MPi engine coupled with a 6-speed gearbox, the ride, if driven like a gentleman, will put all four passengers to bliss along the North South Highway. I could manage a full range, on high cruising speeds with a full range of close to 680km; that's averaging out to about 13.5km/l. Not really the most impressive, but the NVH (Noise Vehicle Harshness) of this car is great, considering I myself could listen to 'live concerts' with minimal disturbance on such a long trip.

Then comes the price - would you pay an extra $10k for a Made in Thailand, sushi-branded car or an authentic Kimchi, made in Kimchi car?

What I do not like
In Singapore, these 'smart features - infotainment such as Apple CarPlay' come into play, but because of our typical 70% CBD, 30% highway in this small island state, our Fuel Economy suffers greatly here. I used it largely for Amazon Deliveries (because of COVID economy, need to do 2nd job :( ), I could clock and average of about 12.5km/l. Though that's not exactly a huge drop, our petrol prices here could really add up if not careful.

Did I mention about the weight over here as well? Though it's a reliable and proven, 10-year old tech, you can really feel the engine struggle, the need to even plan for overtaking and hillclimbing Genting is always on your mind. Though the 6-speed gearbox helps in alleviating the perils of city driving, getting from standstill to 60km/h is embarrassing when powering off from traffic lights compared with your Made in Thailand, Sushi branded brethrens.

In Singapore where everything is 'high cost of living', you wouldn't want to add on a never ending compounding list of costs to it. Having bought an agent car for the very first time, minor issues such as engine vibration after run-in, weird aircon temps (sometimes a 23 deg c feels warm, and other days it feels alright), with the mechanic saying that because of the car's design with an inbuilt heater, to get the car running at full ac mode, I have to get the temps down to 21 deg c, it's utter rubbish. I still live with the '23 deg c' dilema and I don't see this as an issue with a Made in Thailand, Sushi branded car (probably because they are low-spec-ed, without 'heater'). I still worry whether such issues may become something major down the road...

Besides FC, the above are nitty gritty issues that you can turn a blind eye to; if you can live with it.

Lastly, the lack of driving assistance (active cruise control, blind spot detection) is definitely a turn off! All these however, you can always DIY, besides the active cruise control!

Review
I write this review after driving the car for more than 1500km. My last car was a Subaru Forester XT(2.0). Similarly to all cars under 1.6, there is not much to talk about on power and pickup. The Sports mode does not make much difference on the pick up. The interior design is sleek as compare to similar 1.6 Korean or Japanese car; Wirelss charging, Apple Car Play and Andriod Auto, rear aircon, spacious boot space. Rear seat is spacious and comfortable. The paintwork is mediocre as there are spots with paint chipping rather easily. I would prefer for ceramic coating to be done to protect the paintwork. Headlight fog up during raining days and a search on car forum indicate this is a known problem. C&C service center offered to replace some part to suck out the moisture. I do not have time to do this corrective work during the 1k servicing and will enquiry and have it done in the coming 10k servicing. Overall, this car is value for money when compared to similar Japanese car like the Civic or Altis which easily cost 10-20k more. The ride is comfortable for family of 4 or 5 with small kids/teens.
Take away, there is such thing as cheap and good(with all high end parts)! I'm more than happy with the reasonable priced and yet sleek and stylish ride.

What I like
-Interior design is sleek compare to Altis, Avante, Civic
- Wireless charging
-Large Infotainment screen
-Interior space and leg room is better than similar 1.6 car
-Smart trunk that auto sense owner and auto open
-Good handling and small turning radius
-Suspension is not too hard

What I do not like
-Mediocre sound system.
-Only 2 airbag for EX model
-Paintwork could be better
-Headlight fogged up during raining days

Review
Current owner of Kia Cerato GT line. It comes with the body kit for a sportier look. It also has alot of features which other cars on it's price range does not have. The GT version also comes with a cool looking sunroof. The ride is quiet and very smooth. Handling and turning is good. FC im getting is about 10km/litre. Not exactly the best but not the worst either. The seats are very comfortable and also has ventilation option which is great for Singapore weather. Very large 508L boot space.

Only negative point is that engine available for Singapore, is still the old NA 1.6L MPI engine. Other country Kia's GT comes with the newer Turbocharged engine. It would have been perfect if it comes fitted with the new engine.

Some owners are complaining of foggy headlights area, but this can be solved easily.

What I like
[GT LINE variant]
Rear Aircon vents for passengers
Smooth handling
Head Unit comes with Android/Apple carplay
Sporty looking exterior
Large boot space

What I do not like
Old MPi Engine

Review
Bought in Dec'18 and within a month,the car almost stall on PIE.Few months later the steering turning has noise.Replaced new steering column and less than a year,noise came back. Now it affected the shaft bracket n waiting for part fr korea to be replaced.Distributor Staff told me that Sin is aware of this problem which The korea plant has told them but yet they are still bringing in this model! Guys,Please do your homework before you get into that New Kia Cerato car for test drive. My friend shared the same issues and told me that I have made a mistake in buying that Kia Cerato which I agreed. Now stranded. Please don't make the same mistake as me?. Stay away from this car if you have a choice because you do not want to buy a new car and within months, it's back into the workshop! It is very frustrating because you bought a brand new car and not a used car!

What I like
The look and a little spacious enough for back seat passenger.

What I do not like
Poor pick up and lack power. Never overtake on slope.
Aircon control panel layout and wireless charger is too close to one another. Once you put or remove your phone from the charger, your hand Is likely to hit the aircon control panel just above and outside air will rush into the car without you knowing it.Worst is that the aircon setting change and every 15 mins, the outside air will come enter the car.

Review
I bought the Kia Cerato (EX) A in March 2019 this year. I reckoned that I would write a review of the car after driving it for some time only. As I used my car only as a weekend car, the review came about after 8 months of use.

I used to drive a Honda City 1.5 V (A) which is a money for value car for 10 years till it's scrapping date. I went to a car fare during that period at the Singapore Expo. As there was no car testing at the car fare so I have to make the decision of my purchase based on the information from the display, brochure, sales person, pricing, discount and freebies on that day.

I wasn't considering buying the Honda City again as the car was a bit squeezy for my grown-up children, even though the price was close to that of the Kia Cerato. I might not be solely buying on impulse, but both my wife and I were mesmerized by the look of the newly launched Kia Cerato at the exhibition. Its spacious interior, huge boot and bigger car size also make our head turn. We were looking for a car that fits our budget, and the Kia Cerato sedan fit our needs well. All the Kia passenger cars also come with a 10-year engine warranty which is to us an assurance for the Korean brand's confidence in its quality.

The pickup of the Kia Cerato is definitely faster than my former Honda City and the transmission are smooth and steady once on the move. Being a non-aggressive driver who valued saving petrol on good driving habits more than speeding and overtaking unnecessarily, the car was giving me good mileage.

Overtaking in necessary situations by the Kia Cerato is not an issue as with its (D-CVVT) automatic transmission, it comes with three driving modes: Comfort, Eco or Sport mode to suit your preferences and driving conditions.
Comfort was felt by my family members with the car quietness and cool air condition with the additional air con vent also facing the back seats.

The Apple Car Play and Android Auto were a hit with my teenage children as they fiddle continuously with the sound system infotainment whenever they are inside my car.

What I like
- Nice spacious Interior and large exterior size, huge boot, rear air con and comfort
- All premium features as in more expensive cars
- Safety and security features like hot-stamped steel and Advanced High-Strength Steel materials used in the car body, air bags, smart key and remote boot release.
- Good handling and smooth transmission
- Overall value for money with generous free car service credits
- Helpful sales person and efficient workshop service.

What I do not like
- Still not used to the left and right wipes which is different from Japanese cars
- Paintwork can be improved by providing ceramic coating from the start and not by appointment later as our cars gathered scratches from daily driving
- Better trade in of old cars (I sold my old car myself at a better price after renewing it for 5 years COE)
- price slightly more expensive than its sister company car Hyandai Avante

Review
Test drove the car recently. The looks of the car interor and exterior as well as the features was better than expected!

What I like
The honey comb front grill look is slick looking
The add on external looks for the GT line is pretty impressive
Sunroof!
Driver memory seats!
Ventilated seats for our hot climate!

What I do not like
Car lacks the power needed for its looks. Wish that Kia had a car that slots between this and that of the much pricier Kia Stinger
The back of the front seats have a hard plasticy surface cover which makes the rear passenger knees uncomfortable
Still uses traditional handbrake which makes the console feel small and narrow
Overall handling can be improved considering this is GT line

Review
Finally collected my GT Line model after a 6-month wait. To me it was alright and in fact perfectly great timing as I started looking for a new replacement car to my Honda Accord since Feb 2019. Placed my order in end March and the car arrived end Sep just nice when I'm scrapping the Honda.

So far I'm pretty impressed by the features the comfort & quietness of the car. Test drove A3 and Skoda Octavia and the feel was actually not as good as CERATO. Plus the features of Cerato are way better.

Performance wise nothing to shout about. It's just a NA 1.6L engine. Time tested to be reliable. Absolutely suitable for drivers who aren't going to rev too much and wanna race on the boring roads here.

To me, comfort, styling, features come first and Cerato GT line fits the bill perfectly. Plus is Cat A COE, neutral VES and low road tax. Fantastic choice.

What I like
Styling
Features like smart trunk, wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, sunroof, D shape sporty steering wheel, beautiful daytime running lights, nice rims (I dun even need to change it to anything sportier), ventilated seats to cool your butts and back on a hot day, large infotainment screen

Simple, uncluttered and sleek dashboard
Keyless entry
Cat A COE price
Reliable engine (normal 1.6L but if it is turbo engine then in Singapore it will be Cat B COE and also future high maintenance costs)
17" factory rims
Collapsible back seats for extra stowage

What I do not like
Mediocre sound system (lack of bass)
Manual handbrake (best is electronic)
No aircon inside glove compartment and centre console

Review
Bear in mind, this review does not account the reliability of the car, but with 5 years unlimited mileage warranty and 10 years engine warranty (up to 200k mileage), you can buy with a little more confidence.

I test drove the GT Line variant and I must say it provides a good value for the money. There is nothing over the top but good enough for someone who is looking for a point A to B car that has a stylish exterior and a nice interior for the price.

The driving experience is good - you won't be the last off the line at a traffic light and while it feels a little underpowered and sluggish due to the CVT and 128bhp, I'm sure the CVT will beat out the DCT in long term reliability. The steering wheel is sharp enough at this price range and the pedals are responsive.

If you want to save about 6-8k, you can definitely consider the EX variant but GT Line is my personal recommendation if you consider the safety aspects (GT Line has 6 airbags and front sensors whilst EX only has 2 airbags with no front sensors).

Overall, a solid car for someone who is looking to own their first car and beyond.

What I like
Great value for the price
Solid exterior styling and great interior features
Huge boot space
Comfortable rear seats

What I do not like
I don't like that Kia would compromise on safety features to cut cost for the EX - lesser airbags for passengers.

Review
I had previously drove Altis , Civic1.6L and 1.6L Cruze. I was shopping around for new car due to COE expiring. Went to test drive Mazda, Altis , Civic 1.6L, Avante and Cerato 2019, before making decision. Lastly I have narrow my picks to either Avante and Cerato. Due odd and to many sharp coroners design of the Avante, I ended up with Cerato, which looks smoother and sexy in design.
Just got my Cerato SX 1 month ago. The drive is good and much better road comes with a touch of conti feel. It has all quality looks of nice luxury cars around. Handling when comes to turning around the curve, specially exiting the highways. The pick up from road junction is surprising much better than the older K3s and current stock 2019 1.6 i-VTEC (A) Honda Civic that I have test drive before going for the 2019 Cerato SX. The interior is looks much better the Honda 1.6 Civic. Whereas the 1.6L Civic looks a little plastic.Leg room is almost the same as the 1.6L Civic.
The engine is quiet and smooth. Unless you Rev above 3000rpm, than you hear a roaring sound. It feel impressive and confidence on road. Previously , I have problems with 1.6 Cruze pick up was pretty bad. Now I have much confidence of over-taking. Of course, it is not the fastest car in it's category, but is decent nice car to have. Although Avante having a new 2016 engine drop in, I did not feel the differences in terms of pick up speed and transmissions.
The car also comes with warning alarm, if you do not fully release the hand break.

What I like
- Design quality is better compared to Avante and Altis
- Drive is pretty much similar to Avante in terms of pick up speed.
- Fuel consumption is better than my previous Cruze. Currently clocking average 12.5 - 13km/L(City60%/40% Highway)
- Interior space and leg room is larger than Avante and Altis
- Wireless charging
- Sound system is better then Altis and Cruze.
- 2 Climate controls. Aircon power is decent and right of the cabin even in a hot sunny day. Not overpowering which have to rise your voice during conversation.
- Infotainment screen is bigger than Avante and Cruze
- welcome light on exterior door handles.
- Smooth and sexy design.
- lights on the driver and passenger sun shade.

What I do not like
- Road noise due to the low profile tyres it comes with.To reduce the road noise by changing to higher profile tyres.
- Although the size is more or less the same, the front exterior looks smaller than 1.6L Cruze and 1.6 Civic.
- 2 tones interior colour not available.
- Leak of lane departure sensors.
- It will be good , if it comes with 1.4T like the Cruze 1.4T.
- More expensive than Avante's top range1.6 Elite (A), but value for money, if you compare with 1.6L Civic and Altis.

Review
Test drove the cerato before deciding to purchase the Avante but it was not due to the car being sucky but rather having to deal with C&C is really a headache. You gotta drive a hard bargain with them to waive the loan/trade in requirements and you might not even get it. Delivery time is ridiculously long, just read the comments in the forum and you will know what I'm referring to. Do a simple calculation and you will realize you are paying much more for the Cerato at the end of the day with the accumulated interest and rubbish trade in value from C&C.

There was an online warehouse sale in early 2019 and made a deposit for the display unit which was about 1k or 2k off the list price. Went down to the showroom and the SE told me the following which was a major joke:

1) Waiting time is around 3 months despite the car is ready stock
2) No touch up will be done, selling as is
3) Rubbish trade in value for my old ride
4) Price on the website was wrong and they were not going to honor the deal unless I paid the difference
5) Took 1 month to get back my deposit

With this kind of service from C&C, pretty much explains why Cerato sales are worse than KMC/Borneo/KAH. However, people who care only about aesthetics are still purchasing the cerato despite having to pay an overall higher price. To whoever that bought the showroom display units, hope they did some touch ups for you as I saw that the rear seats were damaged and scratches on the dashboard.

What I like
- Nicer aesthetics as compared to Avante
- Drive is pretty much similar to Avante but definitely better than K3
- Fuel consumption should be better than the older K3 and there seems to be improvements in the tuning when I test drove
- Interior space feels larger than Avante
- Dashboard looks futuristic and premium

What I do not like
- No traction control unless you pay more for the highest trim (I asked SE about this and he told me nothing major but the car might be unsafe if you decide to drive around bends at higher speeds or wet surfaces, WHAT? you gotta be kidding me)
- 2 airbags in Cerato vs 6 airbags in Avante
- Almost impossible to find a decent SE from C&C Alexandra branch (proven in the mcf thread as well)

Review
Tried out this "Baby" Stinger at C&C on a hot saturday afternoon. Made me smile but not for long. First look and feel was impressive. After the drive.....Depressive. Still, I would recommend this rather than the Avante. Just for it's sexy looks.

What I like
-design. reminds me a lot of Audi and it's bigger sibling,the Stinger
-comfortable front seats
-GT line is the one to get
-many safety features that you can find only on higher end cars
-ventilated cool seats

What I do not like
-over priced. embarrassing cheap plastics at this price
-air conditioning is very weak
-lack of power from it's old engine. only 1 engine option
-noisy interior. poor insulation
-poor fuel consumption
-reliability still a notch below the Japanese

Review
Delivery of Kia Cerato can be more than 4-5 months.. Nearly hitting the expiry of TCOE if you get it in the first or second round of bidding.

Sales agents cannot be trusted at all..

do consider other brands if you do not want to go through a cycle of displeasure with Cycle & Carriage

What I like
Good Car

What I do not like
a Worst Agent to deal with

Review
The new 2018 Cerato is undoubtedly the best value for a family sedan, IMO. It has a spacious interior which feels bigger than the Corolla Altis and Civic. The exterior design looks sharp and modern, likely to stand the test of time just like the 2009 Cerato Forte which still looks good today. The interior design has an air of European quality about it. The build quality is very decent, probably not up to the standard of the Civic or Altis but you are paying quite a bit less. The SX version has all the bells & whistles even some of its competitors lack - ventilated seats, wireless charging pad etc.

The only letdown is the carried over 1.6L NA Gamma Engine from the previous generation. The engine is touted to have 128bhp but it does not feel as punchy as the figure would suggest. The 6 speed auto is smooth shifting and should prove reliable. It was a misstep not to put a small capacity turbocharged engine in this car which would have made the drive even more enjoyable.

What I like
- Looks: inside and out!
- Value for money
- Premium features in the SX
- Spacious interior

What I do not like
- Old carried over 1.6L engine which is rather inefficient

Review
Bought the Kia Cerato SX then waited a long 4 months for them to clear the prelaunch backlog but boy was it worth it... The interior is unbeatable in this price class both in design and quality. Exterior is unique and in my opinion statement making. It has elements of Jaguar, Mustang, Audi and of course the Kia Stinger all of which are beautiful cars.

Yes it is not the most powerful car in the world but it pushes the limit for Cat A. I would happily trade in my 3-month-old cat A model to get the GT turbo if they brought it in, that's how sold I am on this car.

What I like
- I did not realise how awesome ventilated seats were
- Kids love the sunroof more than me (I thought it was a waste of money in the SX trim)
- 17" rims/wheels
- Unique look
- Large size for this price category

What I do not like
- Lacks TPMS
- Stock wheels could be better

Review
Owned an EX trim for a week, I didn't choose SX because of moon roof. So far enjoy very much on the handling and the comfort level.

This is my third brand new car and first 1600 cc car, the first car was Vios and second was City. The latter was ended 22 months ownership for the Cerato. There are some reasons to triggered the change and one of which is after tested drive the Cerato, I feel a lot better than my City in terms of comfort level especially crossing road hump and handling uneven road.

My own opinion, the Cerato is worth buying for this price range.

What I like
- Internal and External design
- Feeling luxury
- Handling
- Suspension softness
- Features
- Rear aircon
- 4 points DRL

What I do not like
- Good car with poor insulation
- Stock tire could be better
- Slow engine response

Review
Well did not test driven this car in the show room as I have already driven a KIA car almost 10 Years with the 1st Generation Forte EX variant, Therefore believe it should be good as I bought the EX variant (3rd Generation) again

Just done collection last 3 weeks. As I have driven it , well it really feels good and improved during the acceleration compared to my previous Forte no doubt many feedback on its poor acceleration, the quiet insulation inside the cabin is good. The features inside consider an upgrade for me though it is an EX variant, with key less entry, leather upholstery, Multimedia screen, Drive mode and best of all the Smart Truck as I am always using the trunk most often for my work purpose, don't need to search for my key to open the trunk.

It is going to be accompany me for the next 7 to 8 years..

What I like
Smart Truck, Car design in term interior and exterior

What I do not like
Well .... nothing that I feel not good except felt that the car should put in the lane departure warning it will be great

Review
Scored well for both interior and exterior aesthetics. Engine performance are decent with reasonable FC. However, both the audio system and sound insulation performed way below expectations. Tyres provided are also very noisy. Services of sales staffs are unsatisfactory with quite a number of complains in forums - and unfortunately, I also met with one that provided below par service.

Audio System - Although stock HU and speakers cannot never match up to aftermarket systems, the set that comes with Cerato produces FLAT audio and could not even compare with other Asian makes (not comparing with conti!). Have to either change out the HU or source for DSP that are good in matching with stock HU (such as Rainbow 1.8 or Esatto Comado) to deliver decent audio. Minimally, have to change out the stock speakers with entry level aftermarket speakers to get some decency out from it.

Sound insulation - The tyres are very noisy to begin with. Change them! I'm also very disappointed that this car is very noisy, especially with road noise. Certainly fared worse than its other Asian counterparts (not comparing with conti!). Luckily there are also aftermarket solutions to it. After I applied soundproofing, the noise level dropped significantly and is now a more comfortable ride. Just go for established soundproofing like Soundguard or Dynamat to avoid disappointment.

Soft & meek car horn - Got to try it for yourself. I'm not confident this car horn cam seek sufficient attention on the road esp if it's to avoid accidents. I suggest replacing it for safety considerations. It only cost a few tens of dollars.

Conclusion: This car remains a great buy at this price point and certainly a great looking car. There are several major disappointments (stated above), but luckily they all can be improved with aftermarket solutions. So be prepared to spend another 2K on top of the buying price if you want to have a comfortable and enjoyable ride.

What I like
Good price point
Good looking car
Decent engine performance
Large boot space

What I do not like
Noisy tyres
Audio system (HU and speakers) performing below basic expectations
Noisy car
Soft and meek car horn

Review
Over the years, KIA has (in my opinion) made a significant progress in capturing the attention of Singapore car buyers with more reliable and all inclusive vehicles at reasonable prices. The first vehicle i drove was a KIA Spectra (sedan) which was a down-to-earth, easy-to-finance mode of transport. Following that, i had the opportunity to try out the Rio and Picanto which retained the underpowering specs of the spectra. Despite so, the affordable prices at the introductory stage attracted buyers who were in search for a practical transport.

There are 2 functionalities that I look for in a vehicle. Space and Performance.
For the 2018/19 cerato model, a 1.73m driver's seat configuration is able to accommodate a 1.8+m tall passenger at the back with comfortable legroom for all 3 passengers. At 1591cc, the advertised 126bhp output is a pleasant surprise as the under power traits of an early day KIA is no longer evident. To complement the engine further, the noise insulation is the best when compared to the likes of Altis, Mazda 3 and City. Altis came in close but for the 7-16k discount (depending on the variant), Cerato is definitely the deal of 2018.

Moving on to the point of features, I categorize smart trunk, 16/17-inch rims, GPS, auto climate aircon, electric driver seat and side mirror indicator as luxury features while keyless entry/start, retractable mirrors and remote boot release as good-to-have features. Leather seats, steering controls and isofix are essentials.

Fuel consumption at 15/L for non-hybrid is acceptable to me given that my existing car drinks 17/L for a 1.5L, 105bhp engine.

Moving on for my mazda 2 (2010), I pledged my monthly repayment with KIA for the Cerato L model that comprised of the essentials plus solar film, front and back recording. The earlier L variant of Cerato did not come with in-build multimedia system, in- car camera (front and back) and leather seats. I'm truly glad that KIA included all these features in the new base model to the delight of mid-range sedan buyers.

What I like
Quiet interior when driving (no competitive with noise when having a conversation with passengers)
Powerful and responsive engine (NS-highway compatible)
Spacious for a family of 5
Affordability

What I do not like
Left Signals, Right Wipers. I'm still trying to get used to it.

Review
First time buying new car so when to look around. Initially really like the new avante But after I saw the new cerato my heart just melted. When to test drive it and find the drive really quiet and handling stable just that engine pick up abit not as responsive but the exterior and interior design make up for the engine weak performance but also maybe because I'm on comfort mode(this car got sport mode but never really try whack it). Overall really love this car so immediately booked a unit.

Was deciding between the Ex or Sx trim but in the end go with the SX because of the 6 airbag, higher omv, electric seat and wireless charging.

What I like
Exterior design
Interior design
8" headunit
Led Headlight and taillight
Most of it

What I do not like
Pick up abit sluggish and left hand side signal only.

Review
It is considered one of the most stylish cars on the road. The initial pickup is not ideal and need a little rev on the engine to help push the car during acceleration. Overtaking car can be challenging sometimes due to the slow acceleration, so need to be cautious. Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connection for phone and also hands free speaker on the roof are good in car features. The boot is pretty spacious for family with young kids to store all the stuff during outings. Aircon vent at the back is wonderful to cool the air for backseat passengers, especially during hot days too. Overall quite a comfy budget family sedan car to own.

Review
It is considered one of the most stylish cars on the road. The initial pickup is not ideal and need a little rev on the engine to help push the car during acceleration. Overtaking car can be challenging sometimes due to the slow acceleration, so need to be cautious. Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connection for phone and also hands free speaker on the roof are good in car features. The boot is pretty spacious for family with young kids to store all the stuff during outings. Aircon vent at the back is wonderful to cool the air for backseat passengers, especially during hot days too. Overall quite a comfy budget family sedan car to own.

Review
I have driven my SX Cerato nearly 2.5 months.
Totally no regret to purchase this car.
Even though the fuel consumption is higher than my last YR2014 Altis.
It is somewhere around 12.5km/l (70% Highway)
In term of road holding, it very much better than my last Atlis.
When I pick my children from school, my children will feel asleep in the car.

What I like
Road Holding
Workmanship is better than Altis
Very Spacious
Good pricing

What I do not like
No blind spot detector
No built in navigation or GPSS

Review
As part of a car hunt, I and a group of car enthusiasts went down to the Ubi Kia showroom. A bit of background info, we all are owners of the 2008 registered Audi S5. Since our cars would be expiring soon, we decided to go on a car hunt across the island at different brands. Some of the cars we went to see were the Kia Cerato, Kia Stinger, Kia Carens, Kia Niro, Nissan GT-R, Toyota Vellfire, Toyota Alphard,Mazda 6, Mazda CX9 as well as the Audi SQ5. So we see here the amount of competition the Kia Cerato faced. Although none of us booked the KIA Cerato, I must say the quality of Kia and the design of KIA has improved tremendously sinced the times when i was a child. I personally went for the Audi SQ5 for the power, build quality and size while the rest went for the Kia Stinger, Mazda 6, Mazda CX9 and some went for the Toyota Vellfire. The following that i would be writing would be written in a Continental car driver perspective.

What I like
Design of the car
The car definitely looks much better than its predecessor. This car has more sporty lines flowing through the car as well as nicer looking front grilles, headlights as well as interiors. This car looks pretty similar to the Kia Stinger. This is just like a smaller edition of the Kia stinger. This car incorporates Audi style headlamps, tail lamps and the interior. First impression was really good.
Sporty look of the car
This car comes with the sporty yet elegant lines that a sports car should have. Because of the lines streaming, this car looks more sporty than the previous models.
Features
This car comes with the ventilated seats. This helps especially duuring hot days. During sunny days, our cars can get hot and sometimes the heat of our chairs get unbearable hence the Ventilated seat is really a saviour. It can cool down the seat much faster and maintain the seats coolness. This car also comes with wireless charging which is what my previous car the S5 does not provide. This means that when I charge my handphone, I would not need to connect it to a wire. When there is an absence of wires, this means that the car can look neater and more organised. As an OCD person, this is a feature that I appreciate greatly.

What I do not like
Although the car looks continental inside out, the car does not feel this way. Plastics dominate the car. The door handles feel of cheap quality plastic. This car looks continental but definitely does not drive like one. This car does not have the comfort and pickup of a conti car. This car is also of a Korean quality. Kia has a track record of cars having problems into the 7th year. This makes me question the reliability of this car.

Other than this, this car generally has no other big issues to me. This car is still a good car though as I wrote this in a Conti car guy perspective. If you are looking to upgrade from a Picanto or the old cerato than this is the car to buy.

Review
Test driven the new Cerato EX version during the launch, the new design of both the exterior and interior look pleasing to the eyes. This is especially for the interior straight line design and round air-conditioning vents. The engine was smooth and the drive felt comfortable and quiet. Handling around corners feels stable and easy. Downside is there is lack of engine power and no safety features like lane assist, forward collision warning, etc.

What I like
Design
Comfort
Handling

What I do not like
Engine Power
Lack of safety features