Review - 2024 Kia Cerato

While buyers continue to flock to similarly-sized small SUV packages, the Cerato range - available in both hatchback and sedan body shapes - tries to snatch buyers back to a segment that used to dominate sales charts.

Just how good is the latest MY24 Kia Cerato then, and how well can it continue to take the fight to its small car rivals and loftier small SUV competitors? Let’s take a closer look to find out.

Kia Cerato Competition

How Much Does It Cost?

The Kia Cerato range, in both sedan and hatchback form, is priced from $27,060 for the entry-level Cerato S, with the Cerato S with Safety Pack priced at $28,060.

Moving to the Cerato Sport brings the price to $29,160 while the Cerato Sport with Safety Pack is priced at $30,160.

The Cerato Sport+ picks up a $32,210 price tag while the range-topping Cerato GT is priced at $36,860. 

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Kia Cerato (SPORT+) Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the Kia Cerato Have?

Kia’s entry-level Cerato S comes riding on a set of 16-inch steel wheels and receives cruise control, automatic headlights with LED daytime running lamps, cloth upholstery, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors, a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster and air conditioning.

You can find the full list of tech included in Kia’s Safety Pack in the safety section below.

Stepping up to the Cerato Sport range adds 17-inch alloys, a leatherette steering wheel and gear lever, illuminated vanity mirrors and some infotainment upgrades we’ll cover in the next section.

The Cerato Sport+ adds dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery with heated front seats, upgraded disc brakes, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, power-folding mirrors and an electric parking brake.

Finally, the Cerato GT picks up a more potent turbocharged engine, 18-inch alloys with upgraded multi-link rear suspension, LED head & tail lights, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front sports seats with leather upholstery, LED ambient lighting, a wireless phone charger and a sports steering wheel.

Connectivity & Infotainment Features

Kia’s entry-level Cerato S comes packaged with an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system which is paired with a six-speaker sound system.

Upgrading to the Cerato Sport range adds a larger 10.25-inch infotainment system that also receives a DAB+ digital radio and satellite navigation upgrade.

Does the Kia Cerato have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity is curiously offered in the entry-level Cerato S with its 8.0-inch infotainment system, but not in the rest of the range.

Stepping up to the Cerato Sport and above, with the 10.25-inch infotainment system means you’ll need to connect your phone via a USB cord to access wired Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.

Is the Kia Cerato Comfortable to Drive?

The driving experience on offer in the Kia Cerato is incredibly user-friendly and relatively comfortable, with the added bonus of a faster, more agile flagship at the top of the range.

Power for the majority of the Cerato range comes supplied by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol unit pushing out 112kW of power and 192Nm of torque to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic.

For buyers looking for a bit more pace, Kia also offers a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol that pushes out a very healthy 150kW of power and 265Nm in the Cerato GT that retains a front-wheel drive layout paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Acceleration in the base petrol engine is particularly modest, though there’s enough power on tap to get you up to speed off a set of traffic lights or while merging at highway speeds.

Upgrading to the GT gives you access to a far more enjoyable engine on the road, though it’s not strictly necessary for the majority of buyers and comes with some drawbacks in terms of overall versatility.

Around town, the Cerato is incredibly user-friendly to drive thanks to its lightweight steering rack and a relatively tight wheelbase that makes it easy to park and navigate tight quarters in traffic.

Kia has also taken the extra steps to tune the Cerato’s suspension package for Australian roads, which means it feels nimble around town while offering a decent amount of support over bumps and while tackling rougher roads.

Opting for the sporty Cerato GT means there’s a lot more performance in the corners thanks to the firm suspension, though the tradeoff here is that the body feels more rigid over bumps, particularly with the larger alloys.

Overall, the Cerato range offers a great mix of comfortable cruising around town with a suspension package that is more than up for the task of long Aussie road trips, though comfort does suffer in the sporty Cerato GT which is something to keep in mind.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Fuel economy figures for the Kia Cerato range are decent for the segment, though it’s far from a segment leader in terms of fuel efficiency.

Opting for the base 2.0-litre petrol means you can expect to see fuel economy figures of 7.4L/100km in both the Cerato hatchback and sedan.

Upgrading to the more powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder drops these figures down to 6.8L/100km in the Cerato GT hatchback, with the Cerato GT sedan sipping 6.9L/100km on a combined cycle.

How Much Fuel Does the Kia Cerato Use in Town?

• Cerato 2.0-litre Petrol City Consumption: 10.4L/100km

• Cerato 1.6-litre Turbo Hatch City Consumption: 8.9L/100km

• Cerato 1.6-litre Turbo Sedan City Consumption: 9.3L/100km 

How Much Fuel Does the Kia Cerato Use on the Highway?

• Cerato 2.0-litre Petrol Highway Consumption: 5.7L/100km

• Cerato 1.6-litre Turbo Hatch Highway Consumption: 5.5L/100km

• Cerato 1.6-litre Turbo Sedan Highway Consumption: 5.5L/100km 

Is it Practical and Spacious?

While it might be officially classified as a small car package, the Cerato range offers far more interior space and practicality than you might expect.

Up front, the Cerato offers a decent amount of forward visibility and headroom thanks to the relatively lofty roofline and slow-lung driving position that is very accommodating for tall drivers.

The cabin layout itself is very familiar and easy to get acquainted with and, while the base model verges on being a little bland, all the switchgear is user-friendly and straightforward.

In terms of storage, the Cerato range has a centre console housing a storage tray behind the gear lever, a pair of cup holders and added storage inside the folding armrest.

There’s a decent-sized glovebox in front of the passenger and a pair of absolutely massive bottle holders that can accommodate large drinks and double as some extra storage options when needed.

Move to the second row and there’s a healthy amount of legroom for taller rear passengers, meaning you won’t hear any complaints from kids sitting in the rear, with a mighty generous amount of space on offer.

The Cerato’s second row also picks up a USB port, rear air vents, a pair of ISOFIX anchors and three top tether mounts to accommodate forward and rear-facing child seats.

All up, the Cerato is a particularly strong performer when it comes to space and practicality, punching well above its weight - well, size - and remaining a rock-solid option for couples and smaller families.

How Big is the Kia Cerato’s Boot?

For a small car, the Kia Cerato has a mighty big boot, particularly in the sedan which offers a healthy premium for cargo space.

The Cerato hatchback has a boot measuring in at a healthy 428L, while the Cerato sedan is the more practical of the pair thanks to its 502L of boot space.

• Cerato Hatchback Boot Space: 428L

• Cerato Sedan Boot Space: 502L

Is it Safe?

Safety equipment is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to the Kia Cerato, with some essential safety kit unfortunately reserved for variants fitted with Kia’s optional safety pack.

As standard, the entry-level Cerato is fitted with lane-keep assistance with lane-centring, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring and driver attention and lead vehicle departure alerts.

Opting for the Cerato with Kia’s Safety Pack adds autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alerts, blind-spot monitoring and safe exit warnings.

The Cerato Sport+ and GT also pick up active rear cross-traffic assistance. 

Does the Kia Cerato Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

A potential drawback of the Kia Cerato is that the entry-level Cerato S without the safety pack wears a four-star ANCAP safety rating, while the rest of the range with the safety pack receives a five-star safety rating.

The base model without the optional safety pack fitted received the following marks from ANCAP from testing in 2019.

• Adult Occupant Protection: 90%

• Child Occupant Protection: 83%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 55%

• Safety Assist: 71%

Kia’s Cerato range with the optional safety pack fitted has received the following ANCAP safety marks. 

• Adult Occupant Protection: 90%

• Child Occupant Protection: 83%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 72%

• Safety Assist: 73%

What Warranty Does the Kia Cerato Come With?

The Kia Cerato comes backed by one of the best warranties available in Australia, with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty on offer for buyers.

There’s also seven years of capped-price servicing available, with 12-month/15,000km service intervals in 2.0-litre petrol models dropping to 12-months/10,000km in the turbocharged Cerato GT range.

Our Verdict: Is the Kia Cerato Worth it?

In its latest form, the Kia Cerato stays true to its original design brief and offers a comfortable and user-friendly pair of sedans and hatchbacks backed by a great value proposition.

Inside, the cabin isn’t the flashiest or most modern package, though there’s a heap more space on offer than you might expect, asserting itself as one of the most practical small cars on the market.

For some variety, the range-topping Cerato GT is a genuine performer on the road, though this does come at the expense of everyday ride comfort.

If you’re looking to upgrade to a new car, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find you the best possible price. 

Five Kia Cerato Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. Two engines available, both front-wheel drive

3. 428L boot in hatchback expands to 502L in sedan

4. 6.8 - 7.4L/100km fuel economy figures

5. ANCAP safety rating drops to four stars without safety pack