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By Jonathan Crouch

Kia's trendy XCeed compact family SUV gets an update. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 84

Kia's XCeed has proved useful for this Korean maker in giving the brand yet another option to meet the needs of buyers seeking a stylish, well-equipped compact SUV. Hence the care taken in creating this updated version, which has a revised trim line-up and a more efficient choice of powertrains. You might feel that this bulging segment doesn't really need any further options but Kia was determined that the Ceed family should offer one and has engineered this smart Crossover contender with characteristic thoroughness.

Backgroundword count: 130

It's easy to see why Kia is offering this XCeed compact SUV; sales of Crossover models like this are going through the roof just at present. It's less easy to see where it fits within the Korean maker's model line-up. After all, at much the same price point as more affordable XCeed variants, Kia has its Stonic small Crossover. And plusher XCeed derivatives overlap with the brand's Niro SUV hybrids and some versions of the company's mid-sized Sportage SUV. What is clear is that the Xceed, launched in 2019, has been a strong seller for the Korean brand, accounting for over 10% of its overall sales. It got a mid-term facelift in 2022, then a further update in mid-2025 which has created the car we're going to look at here.

Driving Experienceword count: 279

It's all change with XCeed powertrains as part of this update. Out go the 1.5 T-GDI petrol and 1.6 Plug-in Hybrid units (and the 1.6-litre CRDi diesel is long gone). In place of all these, the line-up's now primarily based around a more efficient 1.0-litre three cylinder T-GDI petrol unit with 113bhp and the benefit of 48V mild hybrid electrified assistance. This produces 113bhp and 200Nm of torque and is available with a choice of either 6-speed manual or 7DCT auto transmission. Considerably less efficient is the only other powerplant available, the unelectrified 1.6-litre T-GDI 177bhp petrol unit exclusively offered with the top 'GT-Line S' variant, which has to be had with 7DCT auto transmission. That makes 62mph in 8.5s en route to 130mph. Across the XCeed line-up, not much has changed with regard to ride and handling, though over the last few years with this XCeed, Kia says it's improved the ride over poorer surfaces by adding front hydraulic rebound stoppers. These rubber bump-stops float in hydraulic fluid, absorbing even large suspension shocks with a smooth and progressive response, preventing the body from bouncing as the suspension settles itself after rapid compression. Softer spring rates help in this area too. At the time of the previous XCeed update, Kia took the opportunity to try and improve steering feel, tuning the power steering motor to deliver a quicker initial response to driver inputs. As before, there's a 'Drive Mode Select' system with 'Eco', 'Normal' and 'Sport' settings so that drivers can fine-tune steering weight, throttle response and (on auto variants) gear shift speeds. And as usual, all XCeeds get lane keep assist and forward collision warning fitted as standard.

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