Starting from today, the new second-generation Sportwagon version of the Kia Ceed goes on sale in the UK, offering those looking for a mid-size estate car an attractive, well-built and affordable choice. Basically an elongated Ceed hatchback, the Sportwagon comes with a choice of two engines and four trim grades.

Good news is, Kia says that despite being a long estate car the Sportwagon has the driving characteristics of the hatchback model, which is widely regarded as the best-handling Kia ever! The car will be satisfying to drive, while being as practical as a car of this size should be.

Ceed Sportwagon offers 528 litres of space in the boot, expandable to 1642 litres up to the roof with the 60:40 split rear seats folded flat. Whats more, the car comes with an under-floor storage compartment and side load areas, a retractable luggage cover, load-securing net hooks, a boot light and a 12-volt boot-mounted power socket. The wagon also has a payload of up to 500kg and can tow a braked trailer of 1500kg.

As for the engines, you get a 1.4 CRDi engine with 89 bhp and 220 Nm of torque as the entry-level model, and a 1.6 CRDi developing 126bhp and 260 Nm of torque. Both transmissions, including the automatic offered with the 1.6-litre engine, are six-speed units, while manual-gearbox models are fitted with Kia’s Intelligent Stop & Go (ISG) fuel-saving, emissions-reducing engine stop/start technology.

In terms of fuel economy, the 1.4 liter engine manages 67.3mpg and has CO₂ emissions as low as 109g/km, while the 1.6 delivers 64.2mpg and 16 g//km. That makes the Ceed Sportwagon very attractive for business users, because those CO2 figures a Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) taxation rate of 15 per cent in 2012-13.

Pricing:

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Features and equipments: Kia Cee’d Sportwagon comes with four easy to understand trim levels of 1,2,3 and 4. Here’s what you get with each grade:

All models from the ‘1’ feature a comprehensive list of standard equipment, including luggage area under-floor tray and side tray, a retractable and removable load cover, a boot light and a rear 12-volt power socket and roof rails. Also standard are electrically adjustable heated door mirrors, tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment and a height-adjustable driver’s seat, air conditioning, steering wheel-mounted controls, front electric windows with auto up and down function, daytime running lights, remote central locking, cooled glovebox, flat-folding 60:40 split rear seats, ambient front lighting, an iPod-compatible audio system with radio and CD player, USB port and Bluetooth connectivity, ESC and VSM, HAC (Hill-start Assist Control), six airbags, speed-sensitive auto door locking and alloy wheels on all 1.6-litre versions.

cee’d Sportswagon ‘2’ adds cornering lights, LED daytime running lights and rear combination lamps, electrically folding and heated door mirrors with LED indicators and kerbside lights, leather trim on the steering wheel, gearshifter and handbrake, greater use of chrome highlights, a rear centre armrest, all-round electric windows, luggage net, cruise control with speed limiter, reversing sensors and the Flex Steer function. 

cee’d Sportswagon ‘3’ has in addition privacy glass, automatic headlights with a ‘follow-me-home’ function, rain-sensing front wipers with de-icing elements, a height-adjustable front passenger’s seat, electric lumbar support on both front seats, black and silver seat cloth, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, dual-zone automatic air conditioning with two-step air-flow control and a seven-inch touchscreen satellite navigation with European mapping, UK postcode entry with built-in colour reversing camera.

cee’d Sportswagon ‘4’ introduces the luggage area rail and partition system and barrier net, larger (17-inch) alloys, exterior illumination on the front door handles, black leather seats with contrasting grey inserts and three-stage heating, a heated steering wheel and electronic parking brake, an engine stop/start button and smart entry system,  rear air ventilation, a premium centre console with sliding cover and a speed and multi-function LCD high-definition colour display, while the cee’d ‘4 Tech’ is distinguished by its panoramic sunroof, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory, Parallel Park Assist System including front parking sensors, Lane Departure Warning System and Xenon adaptive front lighting system with automatic levelling.