test drives

“There’s no push button start,” the delivery driver informs me, rather down in the mouth, as he leaves the Kia Ceed GT on the driveway.

I instantly warm to the GT, a five-door family-sized hatch. This is my type of car, with its traditional key ignition and six speed manual gearbox. There is an electric handbrake though. Turn the ignition and there’s a nice little roar from the exhaust.

As the name suggests this is a sporty little number, a boy racer’s delight. Now, a good car feels like an extension of the motorist and I feel this with the GT. Once I’ve adjusted the seat there’s a good driving position with the steering wheel being just the right distance away from me. The manual gearbox feels just a little bit further forward than usual but I’m not complaining because it all adds to the experience. This is engaging driving that I’ve been missing of late. The bite of the clutch is a little challenging on occasions, simply because it’s a brand new car and I’m used to a more worn one in my wife’s Vauxhall Corsa.

“It’s a 25 plate,” announces my son Henry (9) as he arrives back from school. “I’m so excited,” he adds as he sits in it. He loves his cars.

Little boys seem to be drawn to car keys (with our old car and its primitive key fob we don’t need to worry about keeping it away from the children) but with the Kia, Henry discovers that when he unlocks the car from the key fob there is a button that he can press to open all the windows, which is handy on a hot day. Initially we all think this is rather flash and clever. However, when Caroline puts her arm through the window and Henry, sitting in the back now still holding the key fob, pushes the button for the windows to go back up, we are introduced to an unwelcome danger and the terrible thought that she could have lost an arm if she hadn’t been quick. So Henry and I conduct a little test to see whether in fact the window would keep going up if an object was in the way. We use a stick to test what happens and the window goes all the way up and then back down. I wouldn’t want to replace the stick with my arm.

Power folding wing mirrors, all round electric windows, heated front seats and steering wheel, a sat nav and a decent stereo are all included.

The Ceed’s 0 to 60mph time is under 10 seconds but due to the car being quite low to the ground, coupled with the roar of the exhaust, it does feel much quicker. There’s a top speed of over 120mph. Overall it returns more than 40mpg over the duration of the test where there have been a variety of speeds. I drive it on the school run and take it down the motorway to Horndean for Henry’s Saturday football match.

Externally, its design reminds me of a Mercedes A250 and it feels well put together with the motorist feeling safe in the knowledge that it comes with Kia’s famous seven year warranty. Its striking design gives the car an air of substance. The alloy wheels are striking, too and we notice that they catch the sunlight very nicely.

Facts at a glance

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By Tim Saunders

A comfortable driving position is vital and it’s almost spot-on in the Toyota Corolla HEV hatchback. The heated black upholstered driver’s seat feels as if it’s sculpted around my body; it is both comfortable and supportive. This of course is especially important and much appreciated when you have a temperamental back like me.
This self-charging hybrid uses both electric and petrol to drive and is Toyota’s fifth generation hybrid system. Simple to drive, it is fitted with an automatic gearbox, and if selecting the B function instead of D, it will automatically click into ev mode whenever the opportunity arises – upto speeds of 54mph (on the motorway) during our test, which is pretty impressive. When ev mode kicks in it is satisfying, especially when crawling through town as you realise that the air pedestrians are breathing is just that little bit cleaner thanks to the Toyota. Reaching faster roads and pushing the accelerator to the floor sees the 1.8-litre Corolla effortlessly propel to the national speed limit. And this is in eco mode, it’s possible to select standard mode, which is sure to be quicker but less efficient. There’s a cruise control, too for the motorway. Over 60mpg is achieved over the course of the test and it covers more than 400 miles on its 43 litre tank. The Corolla easily accommodates five occupants and there is a good size boot. “But it is a bit squashed in the back,” says Heidi (12).
Externally, the ever so slightly frog-like Corolla with its bulging wheel arches is stylish and certainly eye-catching with its two tone paint job; metallic green body and black roof. Rear privacy glass enhances its side profile, which is nothing short of pleasing to the eye. “I think it resembles an owl at the front because of the shape of the headlights,” muses eldest daughter Harriett (14), who has a growing penchant for design.
The multimedia centre is home to an easy to use sat nav complete with English speaking voice, which is welcome when so many are American. There’s a useful reversing camera, too. The system can be operated by voice command that son Henry (9) tries but it doesn’t seem to understand him, which he finds amusing. Its DAB function allows us to listen to our favourite ‘80s radio station.
The black interior is well put together incorporating electric windows, heated front seats and power folding wing mirrors, all of which add a little touch of luxury.
I put it through its paces on jaunts to Highcliffe in Dorset and Farnborough in Hampshire both of which require some motorway driving as well as time on smaller more enjoyable roads. On one occasion we find ourselves stuck behind a very slow and timid learner driver. Of course, it’s important to leave as much room as possible behind such a motorist in case of sudden braking, which I do and am then able to safely overtake up a hill; the Corolla not breaking a sweat.