Kia XCeed review

We reckon you should be able to get comfortable easily enough in the Kia XCeed. You can move the steering wheel up, down, fore and aft by a good amount, and the driver’s seat is comfortable on a long trip. It adjusts for height on all versions and only the entry-level 2 trim misses out on adjustable lumbar support.

The analogue speedo and rev counter are simple to read and supplemented by a 4.2in digital screen, which adds additional information including the trip data. In the top-level 4 trim and PHEV, you get a 12.3in screen and digital instruments. These are also clear but don't really offer much advantage over the normal dials. The digital instruments in the Volkswagen Golf, for instance, can display the sat-nav map to make following directions easier. 

It’s not all bad news, though. Every XCeed has a rear-view camera to help with manoeuvring, 3 trim adds rear parking sensors and 4 trim adds sensors at the front as well. And the standard LED headlights deliver a bright, white light at night to help you see more clearly at night.

The 8.0in touchscreen that comes with the entry-level 2 trim is mounted high on the dash so you can see it easily. It has Bluetooth, a DAB radio and Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto smartphone mirroring. The system’s reasonably responsive and the menus easy to work through, but we prefer a physical interface, like the rotary controller in the BMW 1 Series and Mazda 3; they’re easier to use while driving than a touchscreen.