Fresh Kia Cerato from $19,990 drive-away
Style, technology and dynamic improvements headline Kia's revised small hatch and sedan rangeKia has released an upgraded MY17 Cerato hatch and sedan range, priced from $19,990 drive-away.
The revised Cerato features freshened exterior and interior styling, new comfort, convenience and safety features, and what Kia says is 'further enhancement' of its localised ride and handling tune.
Set to again compete with popular small cars like the Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Hyundai i30 hatch and Elantra sedan, the 2017 Cerato continues to come with the Korean manufacturer's seven-year warranty, capped-price servicing and roadside assistance.
Most significantly, the revised four-grade line-up is now powered exclusively by an all-aluminium 112kW/192Nm 2.0-litre multi-point four-cylinder petrol engine. Kia claims a 7.1L/100km ADR Combined cycle fuel economy figure.
Depending on the variant, the Cerato is available with the choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions, both of which will be priced from $19,990 drive-away.
The Cerato S is distinguished by 16-inch steel wheels (with matching spare) and projector beam headlights. Inside it is equipped with power windows and mirrors, remote central locking, cruise control, front and rear acoustic parking sensors, a 3.5-inch TFT LCD instrument cluster, 60:40-split folding rear seats and AM/FM/CD player with Bluetooth telephony with audio streaming.
An optional tech package adds a 7.0-inch touch-screen audio system with reversing camera, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, and dusk-sensing headlights for an additional $500.
Stepping up to the Cerato S Premium brings 16-inch alloys (again with matching spare) dusk-sensing headlights, the 7.0-inch touch-screen infotainment system with reversing camera, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity and sat-nav, and soft-touch interior surfaces for $24,990 drive-away.
Meanwhile, the Cerato Si adds leather-trimmed seats, rear-seat ventilation outlets, auto power windows, keyless entry and push-button ignition, electric folding mirrors, illuminated vanity mirrors, chrome accented door-handles and window surrounds and Aeroblade wipers.
Priced from $28,990 drive-away, the Si model also adds electronic driver aids including blind-spot monitoring, lane-change and rear cross-traffic alert.
Finally, the flagship Cerato SLi comes with 17-inch alloys (with matching spare), alloy pedals, paddle shifters, dual-zone climate-control, LED DRLs, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated/ventilated front seats, sunroof and HID headlights in addition to those features listed for the Si.
Priced from $32,490 drive-away, the top-spec Cerato model also adds lane-departure and forward-collision warning systems.
All Cerato grades are equipped with safety equipment including six airbags, anti-lock brakes with emergency brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution, stability and traction control, and hill-start assist.
The MY17 Cerato range is distinguished by a restyled front-end with updated black trim on the 'Tiger Nose' grille, reshaped headlights, bumper and foglights, and a re-profiled bonnet. Sedan models also receive a new rear bumper and tail-light design, although both the hatch and sedan are unchanged dimensionally.
New interior materials, sunglasses holder and metallic trim garnishes are said to give the cabin a 'more premium ambience', while the redesigned gear selector improves driver ergonomics. Depending on the grade, the Cerato is offered with black cloth (S and S Premium) or black leather upholstery (Si and SLi).
Kia has improved its locally-tuned suspension set-up with stiffer front springs, improved damper compliance and upgraded damper valving technology. The Cerato's electrically-assisted steering system is also revised, Kia saying the system's faster processor will improve driver confidence.
Automatic Cerato drivers will also benefit from a new Drive Mode Select system capable of adapting the level of steering assistance through three modes: Normal, Eco and Sport.
"For Kia Motors Australia, [the] Cerato is a key plank in our sales strategy, and a leader for the sub-$20,000 pricing structure of our small car garage," said Kia Motors Australia COO, Damien Meredith.
"With a drive-away price of $19,990 for the S with auto, [the] Cerato represents outstanding value; and that equation is only enhanced by the security and peace of mind of a seven-year warranty, seven-year capped-price servicing and seven-year roadside assistance package."
Now in its third generation, more than three million examples of the Kia Cerato have been sold since its debut in 2003.
The Cerato currently ranks sixth in Australia's small-car sales segment with 3465 units sold year to date. It is outsold by the Corolla (12,784), Mazda3 (12,733), Hyundai i30 (12,654), Volkswagen Golf (6844) and Holden Cruze (3880).
Visit motoring.com.au again soon for our first Australian drive of the 2017 Kia Cerato range.
2017 Kia Cerato pricing (drive-away):
Cerato S man -- $19,990
Cerato S auto -- $19,990
Cerato S Premium auto -- $24,990
Cerato Si auto -- $28,990
Cerato SLi auto -- $32,490
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