The 2013 Kia Cerato

Price Range N3,330,000-N4,000,000

With news that the 2013 Kia Cerato just burst into the Nigerian Market. We’ve decided to take a look at the 2013 Cerato and see what she’s all about and what we should be looking forward to from her.

 I expect the new Cerato to make credible sales especially in Nigeria. The new looks, new engine, new interior and new options should do most talking for itseIf. These are some of the new interesting things about the 2013 Cerato. If you want a car that’s small, compact and Shylock on gas, the 2013 Cerato shouldn’t be  too far down your priority list.

Introduction.

The Kia Cerato arrives into 2013 freshly redesigned. And these changes aren’t just skin deep, Upgrades on the new Cerato include  a new 1.6L engine, fresh invigorating exterior and interior design, 4-wheel antilock brakes “now standard” and Bluetooth/Ipod Compatibility which are also now standard.  

The thing is, back in 2010 when the Cerato was just introduced, it was easy to fall in love with. It had a cute design with many features that made its price tag astonishing; then things started to decline especially as other car manufacturers began to offer goodies THAT matched and even surpassed the Cerato. Not to worry though, this new Cerato is here with its battle-axe and sledge-hammer ready to bulldoze all competition in its way. What Kia has done with the 2013 Cerato to keep it upto date is to shove in as many more features as the car can possibly take while updating it’s design to those of the new Kia upscale looks we’ve all come to love. The new Cerato actually sort of looks like a mini Optima and nobody can deny that the new Optima is a really good looking car.

Trim Levels and Options

The 2013 Kia Cerato can be divided into the sedan, hatchback and Coupe “or Koup as Kia calls it”. The sedan which is probably going to be the most sold “especially in 9ja” comes in three trim levels, the LX, EX and SX. The four-door hatchback and Koup are only available in EX and SX trim.

The LX trim comes with 15” steel wheels, Bluetooth, Ipod/USB audio interface, air-conditioning, a 4speaker radio with CD player and auxiliary audio jack, a height adjustable driver seat and folding rear passenger seats for increasing available boot space. There are no extra options for the LX trim so all the above is standard.

The EX trim includes all the above with keyless entry, power-folding mirrors, keyless ignition, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a 6 speaker sound system with steering controls, a trip computer, cruise control, and electric power steering. In Nigeria, cruise control and the trip-computer isn’t available except on the EX premium package or “full options’ but 16” alloy wheels are standard.

The Cerato SX adds a more powerful engine, 17-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, automatic headlights, foglights, LED running lights, steering wheel paddle shifters for the automatic transmission, upgraded cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and metal-finish interior trim pieces.   

While we might not be getting the SX trim in Nigeria, the EX premium package “full options”  would be the next available package which features all of the EX options plus a more powerful engine, cruise control, electric power steering and low rolling resistance tires which improve fuel economy.

Performance Options.

Ceratos 2.0 L 4cylinder engine

The 2013 Cerato can be had with three different engine options depending on your region. In Nigeria, the only available engine options are the 1.6Litre 4 cylinder and 2.0Litre 4 cylinder engine with the LX and EX options respectively, an upgrade from the 1.4Litre engine that was the only available option in the 2012 model. In other regions, especially in the US, what you get is the 2.0Litre engine for the LX and EX and/or a 2.4Litre which is available on the SX trim alone.

The 1.6Litre gives 121hp/90kW while the 2.0litre gives 156hp/116kW and the 2.4Litre on the SX bumps up power to 173hp/129kW. All engine options are available with automatic and manual transmission.

Fuel economy ratings for the 1.6litre engine is 28mpg city, 37mpg highway and 31mpg combined which translates to 8.4litres/100km city, 6.4litres/100km highway and 7.6litres/100km combined. For the 2.0litre engine EPA estimates stand at 26mpg/36mpg/29combined which translates to 9ltr/km city, 6.5ltr/km hwy and 8.1ltr/km combined and for the 2.4L 23/32/23mpg.

Safety. “from Edmunds”

Every 2013 Kia Cerato comes standard with antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, a Cerato SX came to a stop from 60 mph in an above-average 118 feet/36meters. An SX hatchback stopped in 122 feet/37.2metres, which is average.

In government crash testing, the Cerato sedan and hatchback received four out of five stars for overall crash protection, frontal protection and side protection. The coupe has not been rated. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Cerato sedan the highest possible rating of "Good" in the frontal-offset, side and roof strength tests.

General Impressions.

For the new Cerato, other reviewers tend to prefer the SX trim especially in terms of power and performance. They say that the 173hp engine is just the right kick needed to turn the compact car into a sports machine. . Reviewers also say this trim also stands out for its sporty handling. “too bad the SX aint available in Nigeria”. However, some reviewers warn that models with this setup have a bumpy ride, and as a result, they suggest that shoppers looking for a commuter car choose one of the two lower trims.

More than anything else, reviewers appreciate the 2013 Cerato’s versatile, practical and well-made cabin. The Kia Forte is available in sedan, coupe and hatchback body styles, and like most models in the class, its cabin is comfortable enough for four.

The 2013 Kia Cerato is by the average commuter standards a manageable all rounder car. Its averagely good looking, averagely comfortable, averagely spacious and averagely economic. On the economy part, you could sacrifice performance for fuel efficiency with the 1.6ltr, but that would mean slow Granny driving or you can up the antics a little with its average 2litre 156hp/121kW engine which grants for better acceleration at the expense of fuel economy.

Used Models.

I wouldn’t suggest you get any of the older Cerato’s apart from the 2012 model. All the other models are just awful with their sluggish engines and poor performance. Plus Kia’s of the old days weren’t exactly signature for reliability especially because of their cheap materials and poor build quality. Thankfully, nowadays Kia has gotten its game right and its already catching up to its European rivals.  A good Nigerian used 2010 model should average at N1.5Mil/$10,000 

and a 2007 model should be less than N1Mill/$6000

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