Item: Used Kia Cerato Saloon 2004 - 2007
Author: What Car? Team

What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

Saloon

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

CERATO

It's safe, well equipped and practical, but driving it is a let-down

Used Kia Cerato Saloon 2004 - 2007

Despite its undoubted extra performance and the ability to crack 60mph in 9.0sec, the 2.0-litre isn't really worth it. Insurance gets bumped up to group 9, while fuel economy gets ground down to an official 37.7 mpg, and in real-world driving conditions that's going to work out closer to 30mpg.

As for the rest of the range, it doesn't matter if you go saloon or hatchback, petrol or diesel, SE or LX, insurance is going to be the same - group 7. The 1.5-litre diesel comes with an impressive claimed 57.6mpg, while the 1.5-litre petrol still manages an acceptable 40.4mpg. The driving range is good on all models, thanks to a 12-gallon fuel tank.

On average, the Cerato works out a little less expensive to service than rivals such as the Chevrolet Kalos and the Hyundai Matrix, and like these two, it only needs servicing every 10,000 miles.

It's safe, well equipped and practical, but driving it is a let-down

Obviously, the five-door hatchback is more practical than this booted saloon, but if you want the most powerful engine, you have no choice but to go for the saloon. The 141bhp 2.0-litre petrol is only available in four-door format.

With variable valve timing, it's a flexible performer, but not terribly economical. The remaining choices are a 109bhp diesel and a 104bhp 1.6-litre petrol, which is the one we recommend.

There's no need to worry about lousy equipment levels. Even if you plump for the entry-level GS, you still get air-con, remote central locking, electric front windows and a CD player, which is pretty good. And the trim we'd recommend.

Don't worry too much about LX trim, because the biggest gain there is alloy wheels. Meanwhile, the 2.0 SE flagship will allow you to cruise the mean streets in climate controlled and leather upholstered luxury.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.

The Skoda Scala is a relative newcomer, but it's&nbsp;already carved out a name for itself in this segment.&nbsp;If you're looking for a moderately priced car that combines a supple ride, neat handling, a spacious interior and a capacious boot&nbsp;it's well worth a look.&nbsp;Alternatively, if you're looking for entertaining handling then the&nbsp;BMW 1 Series may well be for you. It's great to drive, rides well&nbsp;and also comes with a top-notch interior, featuring one of our very favourite infotainment systems.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Toyota Corolla&nbsp;is another great choice. This latest version of one of the world's best-selling cars of all time can be had with a choice of two different petrol-electric hybrid engines, both of which should mean&nbsp;potentially lower fuel bills. It's comfortable, well equipped and should be very reliable, too.&nbsp;

Family

Great things are expected from Kia in the future, but don't be fooled into thinking that the manufacturer is there quite yet. The JD Power survey repeatedly demonstrates that there is still work to be done.

Few specific faults have been highlighted on the Cerato yet, but do check for clutch problems. If the pedal feels anything less than smooth and fluid in its action, then step away. Also, ensure that you give the five-speed manual a thorough trial. If the gearbox refuses to engage first or reverse gears smoothly when cold, there could be an underlying - and expensive to fix - reason.

Engines that sound unduly noisy on start-up are best avoided, and even if all sounds well, make sure the cooling system is working properly before purchasing.

The Cerato replaced the Shuma in May 2004. Inside the contemporary cabin, the layout is neat and tidy, and build quality is of a reasonable standard, but the materials are far from the most expensive around.

Finding a decent driving position shouldn't be too difficult because the steering column and driver's seat are height adjustable. You can accommodate four adults in reasonable comfort, although they'll have more headroom in the back of the hatch than this saloon. Both models get 60/40 split folding rear seats and decent boot space.

Three engines are available - two petrols, a 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre, along with a 1.5-litre diesel. None is outstanding. The handling is nothing special, either. Vague steering and large amounts of body roll mean the Cerato is a long way off the class leaders. As long as the road surface is smooth, ride comfort should be good enough, though.

Used Kia Cerato Saloon 2004 - 2007 review

The most reliable new and used cars revealed >>

Ford Fiesta

Toyota Yaris

Mini Hatch

Hyundai Kona

Vauxhall Corsa

VW Tiguan

Nissan Qashqai

/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey/n23397

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used Kia Cerato saloon?