Goodbye Kia Cee'd SW - Introduction

A year with the Kia Cee'd estate has proved that you really can save your pennies and still enjoy running a practical, cheaper alternative brand.

Many of us have been trading down to value brands over the past year, consoling ourselves that products are essentially the same just with cheaper packaging. Whether it's swapping champagne for prosecco, or growing your own veg, it's cool to be thrifty.

The Kia Cee'd couldn't be a more appropriate car for a credit crunch. Kia may be one of the less famous brands, and the packaging isn't the most luxurious, but at its core this is a thoroughly sound product.

We opted for the GS model with the lower-powered 89bhp 1.6-litre diesel engine. The LS model has 113bhp, but costs nearly £1000 more and we were willing to forgo the cruise control and leather seats in the interest of economy.