2019 Kia Cerato Review – Why You Should Buy?

The nice people at Kia Motors Australia have been generous with the suite of vehicles they’ve provided me for review over the last 12 months and this vehicle is no exception. The 2019 Kia Cerato Hatch, the subject of my opinion piece is arguably just sensational.

Kia entered the Australian market a long time ago now – it’s celebrating it’s 31st year in 2019. And the broad variety of vehicles are gaining more and more fans as the years go by. And it’s no surprise that the rise and rise of Kia coincided with the introduction of their 7-year warranty back in late 2014.

Kia chose to do that based not only on the need to sell more cars in our market but more importantly that they knew the reliability of their product would suit and attract their potential customers.

What is it? The Kia Cerato, available in hatch and sedan is a small 4cyl vehicle, according to Australia’s classification, but in my opinion, slots nicely into the medium category too

Four or five doors allow easy access. And gives affordability, space and lots of features

Competitors? – Pretty hard to gauge its competitors but you could compare Kia Cerato with Volkswagen Golf, Mitsubishi Lancer, Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, Renault Megane, Hyundai i30, Honda Civic and Holden Astra to name but a few. The Kia wins for me

How Much?. The Kia Cerato range starts at $19,990 Drive Away for the S model in manual transmission topping out with the Sports Auto, currently for $24,190 drive away. (Finishes March 31st 2019, but I expect it to continue into April)

Kia Australia – A Bit More Info Kia has announced that it will stop selling its three lowest-volume cars to make life easier for its dealers, confirming the demise of its Rondo people-mover, Soul hatchback and Optima sedan.

The Soul EV electric car is on the radar for a 2020/21 launch, following in the wheel tracks of the confirmed Niro EV that’s arriving in January next year. No surprise that Kia will launch the new model at the 2020 Australian Open Tennis Grand Slam to some fanfare to rival the Hyundai Kona EV and Nissan Leaf. A Raffa edition perhaps to start?

At The Front

Is the the Schreyer grille becoming a bit aged? I would have thought that with the new Kia Cerato we’d see a modest update. But heck, BMW keep their grille design so why change? The Kia Cerato Sport hatch is a good looking car all around. The Cerato range is fitted with a 2.0-litre Multi-Point Fuel Injected engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission. Plenty of get up and go for city and highway use. The transmission is smooth as you’d expect.

If a salesperson is explaining an unfamiliar vehicle correctly, they’ll start at the front. The Kia Cerato Hatch produces 120kW of power and 000Nm of Torque. What does this mean? Simply that the power and torque are more than sufficient to take the vehicle around the suburbs, onto the highway and not get the prospective customer into any trouble. The Kia salesperson will explain that the engine is based on the 2.0-litre engine used in other Kia and Hyundai vehicles and that it’s been a reliable engine for ages. They’ll go onto explain that the new transmission is a 6-speed automatic, and is well mated to the 2.0 engine.

You’ll see that the headlights are dusk sensing (auto on and off) with Halogen daytime running lights and fitted with a rear fog light. Parking sensors are standard front and rear as is a reverse camera with guidelines. And a salesperson with a bit of nous will also tell you that bonnet and headlight protectors, carpet mats and a load area mat is available as a genuine accessory and that they’d recommend those items to maintain the condition of your new vehicle.

Down the Side

Looking at the side profile of the Kia Cerato hatch, the upgraded design gives it more of a BMW X4 look – pleasant to the eye. As I’ve said previously, some designers forget about the viewing appeal of price range cars, but Kia is an exception. Walking around it, there really isn’t any area of the car that could be better. Big tick to the designers at Kia.

From a safety perspective, there are a number of items that must feature in a modern motor vehicle. Since 1978, the following items have been progressively introduced. A lot of older cars on the road don’t have all or even some of the essential safety items fitted. So if you’re considering a cheaper older vehicle as your second car, perhaps you should think again.

ABS Brakes – Anti Lock Braking system assists in keeping the vehicle under control when the vehicle brakes hard

Electronic Stability Control – Electronic stability control (ESC), also referred to as electronic stability program (ESP) or dynamic stability control (DSC), is a computerized technology that improves a vehicle’s stability by detecting and reducing loss of traction (skidding).

Electronic Brakeforce Distribution – Electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD or EBFD) or electronic brakeforce limitation (EBL) is an automobile brake technology that automatically varies the amount of force applied to each of a vehicle’s wheels, based on road conditions, speed, loading, etc.

Traction Control – Traction Control systems optimise grip and stability of the car on the road during acceleration by measuring wheel rotation. It stops wheel spin by reducing engine power or temporarily applying the brakes to that wheel, allowing the car to accelerate smoothly, even on slippery surfaces.

Emergency Brake Assist – Emergency brake assist (EBA) or brake assist (BA or BAS) is a generic term for an automobile braking technology that increases braking pressure in an emergency.

6 SRS Airbags – Dual Front, Side and Curtain Air Bags protect the driver and passengers from serious injury in the event of an accident

Reverse Camera – Provides rear vision when reversing the vehicle. For those towing also aids the alignment of the tow bar/ball and gooseneck of the towed unit.

Side Anti-Intrusion Beams in the doors – Reduces the potential of injury for a side impact.

Engine Immobilizer – Stops your vehicle from being taken by unauthorized people. No Key, No Start and this will also assist with reduced comprehensive insurance premiums with some insurers

Taken directly from the Kia website is a list of important active and passive safety features for this Kia Cerato Sport. If you’d like to view the same specifications for the other models – just click on this link. Kia Specifications

Towing

Towing Capacity unbraked 610kg with a braked capacity of 1,100kg.  The maximum towball download capacity is 75kg. If you want to tow anything at all, you should check carefully with your dealer, tow bar supplier and/or the company you’re buying the towed item from. Besides being illegal to tow over the set weights, you can also have an issue with your insurance company in the event of an accident if you’re over capacity.

Dimensions and Power

Cerato produces 112kw of power and provides 192Nm of torque. In simple English, that’s the capacity of the drivetrain to get you away from a standing start easily. Sure, it’s no sports car, but if you wanted something really sporty, you’d invest in a twin-turbo Kia Stinger.

The Cerato has plenty of get up and go, even with a full load of passengers, that you’ll be comfortable around the city as well as on the highway. Would I use it on a trip to say Sydney or Melbourne? Sure would.

And the really wonderful thing about both this car and other petrol-powered Kia’s is that they’ve been designed to run on regular unleaded petrol and can use E-10 too. And that says a lot when you consider that 95 Ron premium unleaded fuel is about 10c per litre more expensive than unleaded.

At the Back

This new model Kia Cerato Hatch has plenty of room for luggage, groceries, a pram or sports equipment and has the flexibility of fold-down rear seats to accommodate that unplanned shopping expedition

If you’re buying a small or medium passenger car, this will suit perfectly. And as an aside, space is as or more flexible than some SUV’s. It’s just designed really well.

Rear Passenger Compartment

Carrying 5 to the shops or down the coast? Kia Cerato allows the whole family to travel in comfort. Height adjustable headrests for the front seat belts allows the driver to keep control. Rear seatbelts are lap/sash. The rear seat is a split-fold system with a centre armrest when only 2 are in the back. Rear seat passengers get 2 good size cup holders

Drivers Side and Drivers Seat

I’m really comfortable with the overall size and shape of the Kia Cerato Sport Hatch.

It’s got that look that won’t age for a while and inside the driver and front passenger are well catered for.

The driver’s area of the vehicle is specifically designed to provide maximum comfort. The 8″ infotainment system provides important information, Apple Car Play/ Android Auto and Bluetooth streaming. The driver’s seat is supportive, providing a comfortable environment for long distance driving. The air conditioning works a treat and the cabin is also fitted with a fine-particle pollen filter.

ANCAP – Safety Rating

I’m a bit non-plussed nowadays about the ANCAP rating system. The Kia Cerato Hatch was tested in mid-2018 and achieved a 5-star rating.

Arguing the result? – I think that Kia produces very safe cars and this one deserves a 5-star rating, but I am suggesting that ANCAP and the manufacturers need to show the year of testing a lot more clearly. ANCAP suggests 2019, but it was tested in 2018. What does that mean or suggest?

Green Vehicle Guide

I have no doubt that the published figures on the Green Vehicle Guide website are overstated. But by how much? The new worldwide real-world testing regime hasn’t been published for many brands – seems that the Europeans are on the job, but not so much elsewhere.

So, typically, I take some readings on the cars that I test and review.

With the Kia Cerato, I achieved 6.6 litres per 100km during my week with the car. The driving, I covered about 500 kilometres,  was principally highway between Redcliffe and Peachester (near Maleny on the Sunshine Coast hinterland) and local roads around the Redcliffe Peninsula.

So I’m calculating that the fuel consumption figure published by the Federal Government is about 12% out. And that’s not so bad compared to other cars I’ve tested.

Take real care when you’re reviewing these published numbers. Laboratory testing is way off the mark when it comes to fuel economy. Neither of the results above uses real-time data nor do they include a ‘load’ of people or equipment. So how do you find out what sort of economy you’ll get in your particular circumstance? Ask someone that’s already driving a Kia Cerato – this model or even the older one. You’ll find plenty of them online – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram people will happily provide their experience with not only fuel consumption, but the history with their own car.

Insurance – Kia Cerato Sport Hatch

I generally use RACQ Insurance to give you a guide as to what you’ll pay for your annual comprehensive car insurance. Conditions are:

• A male driver over 60 years of age, having held a license for over 10 years
• Bronze member of RACQ with 2 other insurance policies
• Has paid cash for the car for private use with the car parked in a garage overnight.
• The driver resides in postcode 4017
• The car is fitted with an engine immobilizer
• Nil at fault claim in the last 3 years, with no license suspensions
• Rating 1 currently having held that rating 1 for 10 years or more
• No driver under 25 will use the vehicle.

The premium quoted online by RACQ Insurance for Private Use – No Finance is $369.85 with a $750 excess. Variations from the information above may result in different outcomes. Check online with RACQ Insurance for your own particular quote.

Where to Buy – Dealers

My test vehicle was supplied by Kia Motors Australia. No financial incentives were paid to me for this review. If you’re in the market to buy a Kia Cerato Sport Hatch or any other Kia for that matter, pick your dealer carefully. When I want to check out the ‘worthiness’ of a dealer, I Google ‘Kia Dealers Brisbane” where the city is the one that you live in or around and the brand is that particular one you’re interested in.

I only list dealers who have achieved a minimum of 5 reviews with Google and then only those with 4 stars or higher.

From a South East Queensland perspective here’s the dealers I’d visit:

Northside            Brendale Kia                              4.6 Stars from 53 Reviews

Southside            Motorama Kia                   4.7 Stars from 192 Reviews

Eastside               Keema Bayside Kia                    4.7 Stars from 25 Reviews

Westside              Toowong Kia                               4.6 Stars from 139 Reviews

Gold Coast           Von Bibra Kia                              4.8 Stars from 38 Reviews

Sunshine Coast   Cricks Noosa Kia                         4.3 Stars from 9 Reviews

(Google Stars and review numbers effective 10th March 2019)M

Bob Aldons here, the owner and founder of The Car Guy, and Car Business, reviewing cars, reporting on car industry matters, car tech, Formula 1, buying #anynewcarcheaper and the world at large.

I’ve spent the last forty-one years immersed in the automotive industry from salesman to the owner of a 7 brand multi-franchise dealership. I know cars.

Find One

If you’re hunting around for a great price on your next new car, you should call me, the auto expert, from Car Business.

My company, a Brisbane Car Broker, Car Buyers Agent or Car Buyers Advocate based on the north side of Brisbane, will return your inquiry within 24 hours and make the process of buying a new car easy and stress-free.

Are you tired of salesperson tricks? I protect you from the pressure exerted by car dealer’s salespeople. There isn’t any obligation – just a pretty significant saving.

You’re where? Seriously, my services are available for you in any Australian state and territory: from Darwin to Hobart, Cairns to Perth.  Car Broker Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, and Darwin – I’m available when you need me to be.

Whether you’re a retail customer, a small company or a large national fleet, I’ll go to work and get that price down. Lower new car prices are my goal. So you’ll get the best prices from me rather than hoping you can do it by yourself.

If I can’t get you the best new car price, better than you can get yourself from a car dealer, I won’t charge you any fee. No Saving, No Fee. – that’s what you should expect from a car buying expert.

Car Business WILL save you money on your next new car purchase – guaranteed

Australian Road Safety FoundationThe Australian Road Safety Foundation is a not-for-profit organization whose charter is to reduce serious accidents on our roads through training and education.

Car Business donates to the ARSF for every car we sell. If you’d like to support this worthwhile foundation, donate to the cause, become a member today or just buy your next new car from Car Business.

People Also Ask

Car Buyers always seem to need answers on a vast number of topics about their cars.

There are a few questions that I’m asked regularly, so to save you a phone call, check out my “People Also Ask” questions and answers below.

If you question isn’t listed, I’m happy for you to call me on 0418 748 498 or send an email to [email protected]

My advice is free.

Q: Why Should I deal with a Car Broker rather than just going to a dealer?

A: It’s the goal and actually the job of a car salesperson to make as much money for his dealership as he possibly can. And that applies to the car, finance (finance and insurance), and aftermarket sales (tint, paint, interior, rust).

It’s the role of a car broker or car buyer’s agent to buy the same car at the lowest possible price. Your broker will get prices from at least 5 dealers or more, get independent finance and insurance quotes and then only recommend the car protection you actually need rather than the products the dealer wants to sell you. Dealers, on average, make around $3800 on a car sale. An astute broker will get that margin down to around $1800, saving you about $2000 on your vehicle purchase

Q: Should I take Finance and Insurance through a car dealer?

A: Generally no. An average car dealer relies on the car buyer to be exhausted after the trauma and stress of actually buying a car. They depend on their finance manager to make an average profit of $1100 for EVERY car buyer coming into their dealership. The income per finance contract rests around $3000 per contract. In recent times, the ACCC (Australian Consumer and Competition Commission) has looked closely at the way that finance companies and their dealers sell to consumers. Recently, on a voluntary basis, finance companies have reduced the flex rate (the maximum rate allowed to be charged over the base rate for particular consumers) to 4%, down from 8%.

There is still need to be wary of some of the non-standard lenders. For those in our community who have fallen on hard times, have bad credit or are on Centrelink benefits, some lenders are still allowed to charge exorbitant interest rates, upwards of 25%.

Q: It’s a fact that dealers, forced by their manufacturers charge very high prices for genuine spare parts. Recently I needed to purchase a set of head bolts for a 2008 Alfa Romeo Sedan. Price quoted by my local dealer was $294. I picked them up from the UK for $115 including freight to Australia. I expect to receive them in the same time as the local dealer would take to get them from Melbourne.

A: It’s not the dealer’s fault on this occasion. Typically a dealer makes around 20% profit on genuine spare parts sales. It’s the manufacturer/Importer who is charged prices higher than dealers in overseas markets can buy at. Shop around. To determine whether you can buy the part you need, you’ll first need the part number. Get your VIN, ring the local dealer and ask for the part number. They may oblige and if they do, just search on the net through Google. You’ll be amazed. There’ll even be local suppliers who are able to provide a genuine part for you at around overseas prices. For Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Isuzu Ute and Volkswagen, visit my site www.genuinespares.com.au

Q: If you have a larger vehicle, with a lot of glass area, the chances are that you’ll want or need window tinting. At the point of sale, dealers will want to charge you up to $795 to tint the windows of your car. Again, you’ll want to avoid the stress and pressure of negotiating anymore and just sign where you’re asked.

A: Window tinting can be obtained for around $400 through Car Business. My company has arrangements with local tint shops to do just that price – $400. Don’t be overcharged. $400 is the price to pay for the average vehicle

Q: How do I pick the right car for my needs?

A: Typically, car buyers will have a general idea of what sort of car they want to buy. However, in a market like ours with nearly 60 brands and thousands of models, historical ownership doesn’t have to be maintained.  Find an honest buyer’s agent and have a chat to them about your requirements. My company, Car Business, offers this service to our customers without any obligation. You can fill out the lifestyle form, by clicking and a representative of Car Business will contact you to discuss your needs. We use the R J Pound Comparative new Vehicle Price Guide to assist buyers to understand the alternatives. It may not be the one you’re thinking about right now.

Q: I need some accessories for my new car, but I’m not sure that I’m getting the best price from the dealer

A: Accessories are another area that dealers make a lot of their profit. Apart from the window tinting, paint and interior protection and rust proofing, a typical salesperson will run through a long list of accessories. Even the manufacturer has copious amounts of accessories in their new car brochure.

Don’t feel obligated to buy any accessories you want through the dealer. I suggest to a lot of my customers to phone the spare parts department of the same dealer and ask for a quote on the accessories they want. You might be surprised at a price. The other way is to search on the internet. There are lots of retailers who buy the same parts you want from overseas suppliers (even ones that supply the manufacturer directly) and will offer them at a substantially better price. All you have to do it fit them up, but generally it’s a pretty easy thing to do for the home handyman

Q: If I sell my car privately will I get a better price?

A: It is sometimes possible to achieve a higher price with a private sale however this reduces significantly if your vehicle is not presented correctly and is no longer under warranty. The private buyer today is looking to receive the same benefits they would by purchasing from a Dealer and expect huge reductions in price if they believe they are disadvantaged. Add to this the cost of preparing your vehicle to the same standards as Motor Dealers. Look at such items as Safety Certificates, Service, Tyres, Windscreen, Chips and Scratches, Detailing, and Advertising along with the need to be accessible and available at all times including weekends when prospective buyers will want to inspect your vehicle. It may not be the wise choice to have people you do not know, coming to your home.

Once the costs and time involved are assessed,  most people choose to trade their present vehicle or to use a professional Car Buying Service to ensure they get a good price without the expense or hassle.

Q: Do you allow and/or recommend RACQ Inspections on second-hand cars?

A: Yes, we welcome the RACQ Inspection Process in our business and recognize the need for such an independent examination. Once completed we will discuss the report with you and facilitate any repairs that are deemed necessary. You can arrange for the RACQ to visit our business. We can arrange for them to inspect your choice of vehicle and have them send the report directly to you if you prefer.

Q: Why are dealers so expensive for service in comparison to other service centres?

A: Dealers service and maintain vehicles as set out by the manufacturer’s recommendations to protect your new car warranty. They will generally be willing to match other service providers as long as they are comparing “like for like”.

Your individual circumstances can be taken into account regarding changing some filters and coolants etc. They also have factory trained technicians and have the support of specialized equipment and of course the proper factory support. There are many other reasons such as resale value, and when it comes to trade-in price, car retailers always look at maintained service books and especially if a dealer has serviced them.

On the other hand, if you’re carefully managing your money, we can arrange a log book service at one of our preferred providers.

Do I need to return my vehicle to the selling dealer for service?

The simple answer is NO!

Whilst dealers may suggest or insist that your new car is brought back to their service department, the reality is:

1. You can take your car to any of the brand’s service centres for routine or warranty service. Brand X warranty is covered by the manufacturer, not by the dealer. So if there’s a more convenient location to have your car serviced, take it there.
2. Dealers may suggest that you have to have your car serviced at the franchised dealer to maintain your warranty. Again that’s a falsehood. You can have your car serviced by any qualified mechanic or technician, provided that they follow the service guidelines for your vehicle as specified by the manufacturer
   1. They should use as a minimum the oil grade specified by the manufacturer and also parts that are of the same quality standard. You shouldn’t use inferior parts. Whilst I would suggest using the manufacturer’s parts, there are similarly high-quality non-genuine parts available on the market. Things like brake pads, brake rotors, air and oil filters, spark plugs and the like are often cheaper and as good quality as those supplied but the manufacturer

How often should I check my Tyre Pressures?

Personally, I check my tyre pressures monthly. I have a tyre gauge purchased from Repco that I rely on to check the pressures in my tyres. Arguably, it’s probably better to check your tyre pressures every second time that you fill your fuel tank. High volume petrol centres have good quality air pumps and it only takes a few minutes to do that after you’ve got your fill.

What should I do if my car breaks down at night?

Firstly, I’m suggesting that you be in a roadside assistance program such as provided by the RACQ.

If you’ve purchased a new car, you’ll have coverage under your new car warranty. Kia Motors Australia provides 7 years of roadside assistance in coordination with their warranty. Hyundai and Ford have a 5-year program.

Mitsubishi only provides roadside assistance after the first year provided you’re having your services done at one of their dealerships.

If you run out of roadside assistance, best sign up with RACQ or your state motoring body. (NRMA, RACV, etc.) It’s far from sensible to break down on a dark or unit road and then have to do repairs yourself. This is particularly for younger drivers.

A phone call from inside a locked car is preferable to having to find a phone booth or a ‘friendly neighbour’ to call for help

If you’d like to discuss anything to do with purchase, trade-in, private sale, service, warranty issues or just have a conversation about the motor industry in Australia, please give me a call on 0418 748 498 or email to [email protected]