2019 Kia Cerato boasts class-leading safety tech from sub-$20k

Alvin Lee June 8, 2018 New Car Price, News 5,121 Views

The all-new 2019 Kia Cerato goes on sale in Australia this week, offering drivers a higher level of comfort, fuel efficiency and advanced driver assistance technologies from a sharp price of $19,990 driveaway.

With the arrival of the all-new third generation, Kia has taken the opportunity to refine the model line-up – deleting the Si and SLi models and replacing them with value-packed Sport and Sport+ grades.

Entrée into the Cerato family will remain the S model with either a 6-speed manual ($19,990 drive away) or 6-speed automatic ($21,490 drive away). Across the range the new Cerato will retain the 4-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol engine with 112kW of power and 192Nm of torque.

The entry-level Cerato S will enter the market with standard Autonomous Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Rear View Camera, front and rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitor and cruise control. Also standard is an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, matched to a 6-speaker DAB digital radio with Bluetooth connectivity.

Stepping up to the Sport at $23,690 drive away adds 17-inch alloys, satellite navigation, premium steering wheel and shift knob, aero blade wipers and sport-patterned cloth-trim seats.

At the top of the model tree the Sport+ ($26,190 drive away) brings AEB Fusion II (pedestrian and cyclist recognition), adaptive cruise control, LED daytime running lights, smart key and push button start, leather trim seat, electric folding door mirrors with automatic folding function, dual-zone climate control air-conditioning and rear air vents.

While the third-generation Cerato retains its sporty and youthful image, it has graduated to a more sophisticated appearance thanks to a number of sleek and dynamic styling cues inspired by the Stinger fastback sport sedan.

Like the Stinger, the Cerato’s short deck lend it an overall fastback-like shape. Creases in the bonnet contribute to the Cerato’s muscular appearance and distinctive design traits on the front fascia. At the rear, similar to the Sportage compact crossover, a sleek horizontal trim piece connects the taillights.

Overall length has increased by 81.3mm to 4640.6mm, allowing for more legroom and additional cargo space. Additional headroom results from increasing the overall height nearly 12.7mm to 1440.2mm, while the overall width has grown to 1798.3mm.

Again drawing inspiration from the Stinger, the interior features a horizontal theme for a sense of openness with clean lines and minimal buttons. Aeronautically inspired spoked circular vents adorn the dash and increased soft-touch points create a comfortable and visually appealing cabin.