Kia XCeed MHEV, scenes

And the stars look very different today David Bowie (Space Oddity, 1969)

Ishida awaits the arrival of sunset under a maple tree clinging to his sword with his back leaning against its frozen trunk. Ishida then thinks about what his grandfather told him about him: he can always trust the patience of the trees. But Ishida is impatient. His teacher always threatened him. “Ishida! When they ambush you and end your life I will drag your body right here in front of the door and bury you. But I won’t put your name. On the tombstone it will say: Impatient.» Ishida looks at the stream, which looks at the sky breaking the reflection of the clouds in its murky waters while he kisses the banks splashing the flowers that dot the meadow. Ishida slowly draws his sword and watches the clouds reflected in his shining blade. The clouds do not break on the sword, while the sky that soaks them is reddening. The time is near. And Ishida’s impatience increases as the sun goes down behind the treetops of the forest. A forest that shows a tongue in the form of a path from whose passers-by the maple hides Ishida. And the shadow of both merged into one lengthens towards the stream and melts when touching the waters with the rest of the light. Ishida gnashes impatience with the edge of his teeth. His brow muscles clench as memories of him fan the cold grip of vengeance in his heart.

And Ishida’s heart races as beads of sweat appear, defying the evening chill that begins to run through the bark of the maple. As if a mystical and colossal cook had decided to season the landscape to give it flavor, the snow begins to fall, some white flakes, some golden flakes from the last rays of the sun, descending with extreme care over the world in sepulchral silence. Snow crystals dot Ishida’s black mane and begin to accumulate on her lap where her now sheathed sword rests. So cold that the flakes settle on the bas-relief of her adorning the dragon that she writhes on the sheath without melting. Waiting patients. But Ishida is not a patient man. A noise alerts him and he squats down behind the maple tree. He hears the voice of his teacher yelling “Wait!” Two shadows are spat out of the woods and stagger down the path. Ishida unsheaths and listens once more to his teacher “Don’t be hasty!” He can already hear the alcohol-numbed voices laughing and choking. He comes out from behind the maple like a spring, sword drawn. The dragon rests on the grass that is beginning to be covered with snow. “Do not do it!” He listens for the last time in his head. But the master no longer exists and those shadows will pay for it.

Within Kia’s extensive range of passenger cars, the Xceed model occupies a very peculiar place since its body is halfway between an SUV and a passenger car with a sporty design but with the proportions of a crossover. It is a model derived from the Ceed that we already had the opportunity to test in its previous generation but that since 2022 brings some aesthetic and equipment changes that serve as a slight update for a model that is very successful within the range.

One of the assets that it shares with other models in the Korean manufacturer’s catalog is that of having a wide range of engines that, together with the different finishes and equipment, means that the XCeed proposal opens up many possibilities for buyers, some of which are practically non-existent in the competence. This is the case of the model that we were able to test, which has a Diesel engine that nevertheless sports a zero label thanks to its microhybrid mechanics.

Compared to the previous generation, the front has some changes that, however, do not stray from the aesthetics with sporty airs that the previous generation sported. The first change that stands out is precisely that of the logo that is located on the hood just above the upper ventilation grill. The new design replaces the shield with a black background that dominated the hood of the previous version and takes up a little more space on the hood.

retouched design

The headlights have the same design although functionally they have been updated with LED emitters with a different distribution. The vent is identical with the same silver trim on top and bottom. They change the design of the lower grille, which has larger and hexagonal-shaped elements with moldings of different shape and color, and the decorations of the bumper on the sides of it that give a sportier touch to this front part. The moldings have also been changed on the sides, now with a vertical design, which house the position lights.

The design of the side of the XCeed does not differ from that of the previous version of the Korean model with that line with sporty winks but with SUV shapes. New to this GT version, which was previously unavailable for the Xceed, sports newly designed 18-inch alloy wheels with pentagonal elements, a series of black plastic side moldings on the windows and tinted glass for the rear windows.

In the back, the configuration and shape of the gate is the same as in the previous version, although in this new one it shows the updated logo that we have already mentioned in the center. A transparent cover with a hexagonal matrix has been placed in the light clusters and in the lower part of the bumper the trims and the elements that finish off the bumper with black plastic moldings change.

Interior with few changes

Inside, the new XCeed does not present very big changes compared to the previous version either, with an eye on practicality and functionality rather than appearance. In this GT version there are some details that change such as the upholstery, the seats are the same as the previous version, and some auctions in addition to the presence of the name of the version on the steering wheel, which in this case is flattened at the bottom to give it a sportier look.

As we already mentioned in the test of the previous version of the XCeed, the driving position is more typical of a car, it has good visibility and the seats are comfortable and enveloping. Controls are close at hand and intuitive and overall driver ergonomics are good with the infotainment screen positioned high to keep an eye on the road and various buttons to access various functions without need to enter the menus.

In this version we find a space to place the mobile phone that has wireless charging. Underneath another space has been arranged to store small objects that has a sliding lid, in this space there are the connectors for charging and connection with the information system compatible with Android Auto and Apple Car Play as well as the classic 12-volt charging for the cars.

comfortable back

In the rear, habitability is the same as in the previous version, since the bodywork does not change its shape. Although the ride height in this rear is lower than an SUV of similar size, the headroom is sufficient for 6-foot adults. Legroom is very good on the other hand.

To contribute to the comfort of the rear seats in the central tunnel we find two air vents and a USB connector that serve the passengers. Somewhat scarce in this part of the back are the spaces to store objects since we only found a pocket in the doors in which a liter bottle can fit and little else.

good trunk

The trunk of this XCeed is quite spacious and offers regular space for storing objects. It has space on the sides behind the wheel arches and on the left side also a strap that allows you to fix the load that we place in that place. The total volume of the trunk is 380 liters and if we fold down the rear row seats we can reach a total of 1,332 liters.

Before the dynamic test we look at the mechanics of this version of XCeed. As we already anticipated, it is a diesel engine to which, in this case, a 48V electric motor has been added that provides power at specific moments of operation but cannot move the car by itself in what has come to be called the microhybrid drive.

diesel microhybrid

The 1,600 cc engine delivers a power of 136 horsepower and a fairly high torque figure, as is usual in turbodiesel mechanics, of 280 Nm between 1,500 and 3,000 revolutions. It is a rather peculiar mechanical solution since micro-hybrid systems are usually associated mainly with gasoline engines.

In general, we can say that it is a motorization in which the vibrations typical of this type of engine are not too noticeable, even when cold. It performs with ease in urban routes with a good response and smoothness of operation to which the electric motor contributes when starting at traffic lights and in other situations where determined acceleration is required.

Comfortable rather than sporty

On the road the engine is calmer than nervous and although it is very elastic and allows good recoveries, it lacks some verve, even if we use the manual gearbox to lower the ratios and squeeze the power available. It seemed to us that it works nicely on the motorway at constant speeds and in this regard it is a comfortable and recommendable car if we are going to do many kilometers on this type of journey.

On more tacky roads it does not respond badly, although at the exit of the curves we have to resort to the change to be able to do it with some energy. It is a well-planted car but in which comfort has prevailed over precision on rougher terrain since the suspension is somewhat soft to chain curves at high speed. Remarkable, as in its predecessor, the height from the ground that allows some excursions off the asphalt without danger of rubbing below.

conclusions

Although the XCeed does not exactly fit into a certain category and falls between a car and an SUV, the truth is that it is an interesting solution as a compromise between space and sensations more typical of a lower body. It is not a car with the air of a sports car, but the aesthetics that Kia designers have achieved does attract attention due to its many details with racing inspiration.

We liked the balance of the engine, which is calmer than dynamic but is recommended both for long trips and for urban journeys due to how comfortable it is to drive and travel on it. It has a good trunk and adjusted consumption and of course all the advantages that the ECO label that looks on its windshield can provide us.