The necessary cracks and folds make the Kia Celato stand out in its appearance and functional division.
In the past, it was natural that Korean brands competed with each other instead of Japanese brands. Objectively, Korean and Japanese tend to have more similar pricing, features, and specifications.
However, by today’s standards, the situation is slightly different. The improvement of the Korean car is so great that it can be easily compared with its Japanese counterpart. Therefore, it is not surprising that Kia Cellratu faces fierce competition. You have the popular Toyota Altis, the sporty Honda Civic and the modern, aesthetically pleasing Hyundai Avante.
The newly designed logo, grille, headlights and bumper are now on the facelifted Seratu
But let’s get started, shall we? The car you see here is the first model to be decorated with the Kia new logo as it strives to revitalize its image by becoming a symbol of innovation, moving further into the mainstream.
It will definitely show up on its sheet metal. From the front, the Korean sedan features elegant new LED headlights with “dotted” LED daytime running lights and an improved grille that now spans the width of the bonnet.
The same goes for the rear, with the Kia Celato featuring new taillights across the trunk, trunk lid and redesigned bumper, which would mistake the car for something sportier and more advanced.
0-100km/h in 11.6 seconds
Of course, it won’t be as sporty and premium as Stinger, but it will still stay in good shape.
Powered by the same engine as its predecessor – that is, the 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine provides 126bhp and 155Nm of torque to the front wheels – the car manages to maintain speed on the highway. Yes, overtaking is done in a more wobbly rather than agitated way, but in a very mature and safe way due to the excellent vision around. This is a car that does not fail as a sedan, and it should transport you and passengers safely.
It is equipped with driver assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control and forward collision avoidance assist, safety features that are only available on more expensive and luxurious models from brands such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. It’s simply impressive to know that Kia has them now.
The engine remains the same – a 1.6-litre engine capable of producing 126bhp and 155Nm of torque
Plus, you get the usual blind spot monitoring system as well as lane-keeping assist, but what’s exceptionally good is that the car comes with a huge 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen that projects a clear, sleek, and eye-catching display.
Thankfully, despite all the pointless touch-sensitive controls we’ve recently gotten from our new car, the Cerato still comes with physical knobs and buttons to control the things you need to handle every day, such as air conditioning controls, fan speed, and air circulation.
Apple CarPlay is available for the Kia Cerato
What’s more, the standard infotainment system in our test car was also equipped with must-have features such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Not only that, but the car is equipped with practical everyday features such as wireless charging, ventilated front seats (thank God) and a new electric parking brake button with automatic parking (previously equipped with a handbrake).
There are also important components, such as enough head and legroom for a total of 5 passengers, and an extraordinary 502 litres of luggage space to easily fit your bags, shoes, suitcases and market aunt trolleys.
The car is well equipped and beautifully designed
All in all, Kia has done a great job of improving the Cyratu. It certainly feels more like a brand new car than a facelift. Its packaging is better and more stylish than before, but most importantly, the car is still competitively priced.
The Cerato GT Line is cheaper than the Toyota Altis and Honda Civic, while coming with better technical and safety features. It may cost a few thousand dollars more than a modern Avante, but it is still better equipped than its Korean counterpart.
I guess while the Kia Celatu’s power is a bit low, like other cars in this segment, there’s no doubt that you can still get a lot of cars for the money you pay. If you’re looking for a family car with great performance, this might be the best option right now.
