Usually, the letters SW are used to mark station wagons, standing for Station Wagon. But for the Kia Cee`d, this abbreviation has acquired a different meaning — Sporty Wagon. And it must be admitted that the car does look sporty on the outside. The wagon is built on an extended hatchback platform, which allowed the body to be stretched and its lines to gain more dynamism. The rear also looks decent: a slightly sloping roofline makes the car visually more taut and aggressive. The taillights mounted on the pillars complete this look, and although such a solution has long been seen in other brands, it still looks striking. However, the sloping pillar that divides the tailgate glass in two is a debatable design choice. It is clear that engineers did this to increase body rigidity, but without it, in our opinion, the silhouette would be even more harmonious. Though that is a matter of taste.
But the fifth door's opening axis shifted 225 mm toward the center of the car is a truly successful engineering solution that cannot be argued with. Thanks to it, the loading opening has become noticeably wider, which is extremely useful for a wagon. Moreover, the door's kinematics allow it to be opened even when the car is parked close to a wall. As for the luggage compartment itself, compared to the hatchback, it has grown by 200 liters and now stands at 534 liters. Some may think this is not enough, but the volume can be easily increased by folding the rear seat backs.
Under the luggage compartment floor in the Cee`d wagon, there is a convenient organizer for various small items. It can easily hold a tow rope, first aid kit, tools, rags, and a bunch of other necessary things. Even two five-liter canisters, for example, with windshield washer fluid, fit without any problems in the deep underfloor area. And what about the spare tire? A fair question — if something has increased, then something has decreased. But space was found for it too, though instead of a full-size wheel, there is a space-saver spare. But what order you can achieve in the trunk: you open the door — it seems empty, but in reality, the bins are packed to the brim. Beautiful!
Last time, we spoke quite favorably about the Cee`d's suspension. Fully independent, multi-link, it gave the car excellent handling and high stability. The only thing that worried us then was that it seemed too stiff for our roads. We cannot say that about the SW. The wagon, heavier due to its increased size, demonstrated that very balance between handling and comfort that can be considered optimal. Even on serious bumps, the car behaves quite decently. However, on country roads, one should be careful — the ground clearance is only 155 mm.
Last time, we drove a version with a manual gearbox and the most powerful two-liter engine. Now we had a four-speed automatic paired with a 1.6-liter engine. Honestly, the 122 horsepower of this unit is quite enough not to feel deprived. The car accelerates briskly, confidently maintains a high pace, does not hesitate during shifts, and overall behaves admirably, but... but it clearly does not live up to the title of Sporty Wagon. I recall that on the hatchback with the 145-horsepower two-liter, there was much more excitement. And if we remember that the lineup also includes weaker engines, such as the 90-horsepower diesel, then the question arises about the legitimacy of such a loud name for this version. However, everything falls into place if we recall the words of Jean-Charles Lievens, Vice President of Kia Motors in Europe. According to him, the wagon received a sonorous name only because it did not become slower than the hatchback. That's the whole story. They were being a bit disingenuous, in general.
Still, the Kia Cee`d SW turned out to be no worse, and in a number of parameters even better than the hatchback. First of all, this concerns ride smoothness and luggage capacity. Which, in turn, should attract even more buyers to it. And if we remember the seven-year warranty...
Richly Equipped
Preparing the Cee`d for the European market, the Koreans tried their best and included almost everything in the base trim. The list of standard equipment includes about 60 items, most of which are active and passive safety systems. They also did not forget about the comfort of the driver and passengers. Even power windows are already standard equipment.
Driving
A dynamic and quite predictable car. With fairly clear steering thanks to the variable power steering and excellent brakes.
Interior
Thoughtful ergonomics, high quality of trim materials, stylistically refined design. All controls are in sight and easily accessible. A spacious trunk. The well-designed organizer deserves special praise.
Comfort
Excellent sound insulation, comfortable seats, serious standard audio system. Rich standard equipment.
Safety
Standard: 4 side and two front airbags, ABS, EBD, active headrests, pretensioner seat belts.
Price
Attractive for the middle class, for which this car is intended, especially in the segment of classmates. Although it could be lower.
Advantages and Disadvantages
+ Predictable handling, effective brakes, comfortable interior.
- Slight sluggishness of the automatic transmission during acceleration, inflated price.
Specifications
Make and model — Kia Cee`d SW
Dimensions — 4470/1790/1525 mm
Engine — petrol, 1591 cm3, 122 hp/6200 rpm
Transmission — automatic, 4-speed
Dynamics — max 187 km/h; 11.4 s to 100 km/h
Competitors — Ford Focus, VW Golf.
Our Opinion
Given all the above, the Kia Cee`d can confidently be called a quite competitive car. Rich equipment and a high level of execution allow it to compete on equal terms with such prominent representatives of the class as the Ford Focus or Mazda3. And with the advent of the wagon, its prospects in our market have become even brighter.