Kia Ceed Sportswagon: NI EXPLORER test drives...

It’s easy to see why the Ceed family of Kia cars has been winning awards recently...

Our first taste of the model was with the hatchback version a few months back, followed by the eye-catching and all-new 201bhp ProCeed ‘shooting brake’ (a hatchback and sleek coupe style crossover - check it out here).

Now it was time to try the Ceed ‘Sportswagon’ model... 

Not as large as it’s Kia Optima Sportswagon sibling, but boasting equally modern shape and style...



...the Ceed Sportswagon combines the benefits of a hatchback with the extra space of an estate car. Same idea as the likes of the VW Golf Estate or Ford Focus Estate, as a quick comparison.

This model is a Ceed Sportswagon ‘2’, a 1.6 CRDi ISG manual – the diesel engine getting up to 58.9 mpg combined.

For us though, space is the number one feature we look for in a vehicle, followed closely by looks and features which make the drive all the better.

While we loved the Ceed hatchback and the space was definitely sufficient, the Sportswagon gave us ‘that room to breathe’. i.e. a growing German Shepherd had more than enough space in the back to move about in the boot.

On the outside, it’s a great looking car too. Somehow, Kia have managed to replicate the stylish rear of the hatchback onto the Sportswagon, despite the extra space upgrade inside.

Inside, all looks as impressively modern and timeless as we’ve seen in other Kias so far.



While this demo model had all the options for connecting phones or music devices, with DAB and plenty of other tools like cruise control, air con and lane assist, the one thing it didn’t have was sat nav. We didn’t realise how much we used it until it wasn’t there!



Thankfully though, it IS available as one of the many options when customising (one of the friendly team at Downeys can show you ALL the specs).

Kia has impressed us again. Scout The (growing) Adventure Dog definitely didn't want to see it go back...



Thanks Downeys! 

Oh and while we were out on the road around Newtownards, we found this interesting viewpoint of Scrabo Tower. 🙌 📸