New Kia XCeed facelift gets £22,995 price tag

The Kia’s XCeed crossover has been facelifted for 2022 bringing a fresher exterior design, more kit and a new ‘GT-Line S’ trim level. Order books are open and Kia expects first deliveries by the end of September.

The XCeed accounts for 51 per cent of Ceed sales and 10 per cent of Kia’s total UK sales so it’s no surprise the Korean firm has chosen to update its big-selling family crossover to keep it competitive against rivals like the Citroen C4 and Mazda CX-30.

Design tweaks are subtle and broadly follow those seen on the facelifted Ceed hatchback revealed last year. The XCeed features new LED headlights and a revised front grille, which has given the car a sportier tint.

The silver skid plate on the lower front bumper, plus new air curtains that guide air down the sides of the car (possible because the foglights are now integrated into headlights) help here, as does the option of chunky 18-inch alloys and a new, racier GT-Line trim level.

A 44mm increase in ground clearance over the standard Ceed hatch gives the crossover a more off-road-inspired look, while at the rear, you get slimmer LED light clusters and a body-coloured lower diffuser.

The XCeed lineup now consists of ‘2’, ‘3’ and ‘GT-Line S’ trim levels with GT-Line S replacing the old range-topping ‘4’ model. 

The entry-level 2 starts from £22,995 and comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, an eight-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, and 4.2-inch driver instrument cluster. Inside, there’s also a reversing camera system, USB-C and USB-A ports, cruise control and speed limiter, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, plus safety systems such as collision avoidance assist and pedestrian/cyclist recognition. 

Above this there’s the ‘3’ yours from £25,495. The exterior features 18-inch wheels, privacy glass and LED indicator lights on the door mirrors. Inside, there’s a 10.25-inch touchscreen, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, along with front seats that are heated and have electrical lumbar adjustment. 

The range-topping GT-Line S starts from £29,995. We don’t see the same dual-screen setup from the Niro and Sportage SUVs here, but there is a 12.3-inch digital dash with configurable themes linked to the car’s drive modes. It’s joined by the 10.25-inch central touchscreen. The XCeed doesn’t inherit Kia’s Multi-Mode panel, so you still get physical controls for audio and climate control. 

The GT-Line S also offers a specific body kit, bespoke 18-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof with an automatic electric blind, black leather and suede seats that are heated front and rear, a powered tailgate, an upgraded JBL sound system and a wireless phone charger. Safety systems such as blind-spot-collision warning and speed-limit warning are included as standard on the GT-Line S.

Storage and room inside the facelifted XCeed should be identical to its predecessor, with the 426-litre boot rising to 1,378 litres with the split-folding rear seats down. 

The UK won’t take the new mild-hybrid model; instead, we get the same powertrains that featured on the pre-facelift model. It’s a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol producing 158bhp and 253Nm of torque for a 0-60mph time of around 8.7 seconds when mated to the standard six-speed manual gearbox. 

Above this there’s the plug-in hybrid variant, consisting of a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a 8.9kWh battery and an electric motor for 139bhp and 265Nm of torque. The plug-in hybrid comes with a six-speed double-clutch automatic. Kia claims the PHEV has an all-electric range of up to 30 miles and charging takes around two hours and 15 minutes from a standard three-pin socket.

The XCeed’s setup was fine-tuned in Europe. It is the only Ceed variant to feature hydraulic bump stops on its front suspension, which is said to help provide a compliant ride. Its springs are seven per cent softer than the standard Ceed upfront and four per cent softer at the rear to help boost comfort, while the power steering has been tailored to deliver alert initial response to inputs. 

Steering weight, throttle response and, where the XCeed is fitted with an automatic transmission, gear shift response can all be adjusted as part of Kia’s Drive Mode system, with a choice of Eco, Normal and Sport.

Click here for our in-depth review of the all-new Kia Niro…