The Cerato gets upped while Kia brings down the drive away prices of under $20k
Kia Motors Australia has revised their range of Cerato hatches and sedans for the 2017 model year, each now coming with updated styling inside and out as well as some new tech and tweaks to make it more comfortable but nimbler on the road.
Chief Operating Officer of Kia Motors Australia, Damien Meredith, said: “Cerato’s place in the Kia family is unquestioned and with the improvements the model upgrade brings, it presents a truly compelling argument for value, safety, quality and practicality.”
The most significant change coming to the MY2017 Cerato in Australia will be the introduction of Kia’s all-aluminium 2.0-litre MPI four-cylinder petrol engine that generates 112kW and 192Nm of torque, which has now become Cerato’s sole engine option that Kia boasts having a 7.1-litre/100km claimed fuel consumption figure. That, together with, their 7 year warranty, does make a strong case for the Cerato from a pragmatic standpoint.
That engine can be paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic which in the base S trim, interestingly costs the same (drive away) regardless of transmission choice.
Staying on the Cerato S, buyers will get a good amount of standard kit such as 16-inch steel wheels, projector headlamps, power mirrors, power windows, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors and a Bluetooth-compatible audio system. They can also opt for an AV Pack for an additional $500 that adds a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support and automatic headlamps.
Moving up the range is Cerato S Premium which is most noticeable from the outside by its 16-inch alloy wheels. It’s otherwise quite similar to the S (with the AV Pack) but does include better interior materials and satellite navigation.
The Cerato Si sits above that (priced at $28,990 drive away) and comes with a plusher leather and chrome-trimmed interior, automatic windows, keyless entry and ignition, rear seat air conditioning vents, as well as safety features such as blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warning.
At the top of the range is the Cerato SLi (priced at $32,490) which has all the features that comes with the Si but adds 17-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, HIID headlamps, sunroof, dual-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, power adjustable driver’s seat, aluminium pedals, and shift paddles.
New Kia Ceratos equipped with an automatic transmission will also get to enjoy the new Drive Mode Select system for which there are three options: Normal, Eco, and Sport.
For more on Kia vehicles, including pricing and specification, check out our Showroom.
