Created especially for European consumers, the all-new Kia cee’d five-door hatchback model is already proving to be immensely popular. Now the cee’d family is expanding with the introduction of the SW, which makes its world premiere at the 77th Salon de l’Automobiles in Geneva this week in production form, with a unique extended tailgate for maximum accessibility to the luggage area.
The trio of Kia cee’d models was conceived and created simultaneously, so the new SW has the same in-depth engineering integrity as the hatchback. The SW is a completely individual design featuring fresh panels, its own distinctive styling and a special extended tailgate design that allows easy access to the luggage area.
While the 2,650 mm wheelbase is retained, to boost load carrying ability and versatility, the estate’s overall length is increased by 235 mm, with all of that increase behind the rear wheels, and overall height is increased by 10 mm. Luggage capacity goes up to a total of 534 litres – loaded up to the bottom of the rear windows and including 55 litres of storage in moulded trays beneath the floor, fitted as standard. This is almost 200 litres more than the cee’d hatchback.
With the 60/40 split rear seats folded flat luggage capacity goes up to 1664 litres, 300 litres more than the cee’d hatchback in similar configuration. The cee’d SW’s maximum capacity is 50-to-60 litres more than the Renault Megane and Vauxhall Astra wagons.
Although capacity, practicality and versatility are key areas of consideration for wagon buyers, in today’s highly competitive C-segment styling is also of paramount importance. Thanks to its early conception in the cee’d creative process, the SW has ‘stand-alone’ good looks despite a degree of commonality with other cee’d models.
From the nose to the B-pillars, hatchback and wagon share common components – even the rear side doors are the same – but the wagon has distinctive ‘Z’ shape rear pillars and ‘L’ shaped rear light clusters which, together with the increased length, give the wagon a very different appearance.
All new tailgate
The tailgate on the cee’d SW is all-new, unique in the C-segment, and designed to give excellent access to the load area. Compared to the cee’d hatchback, the top hinges have been moved forward by 225 mm and the tailgate extended into the roofline by the same amount. Locating the hinges so far forwards changes the arc through which the tailgate swings when being opened. The outswing and upswing are reduced by 72 mm so that users can stand closer to the car and the tailgate can be fully opened, even in restricted parking spaces.
The all-new tailgate design gives the Kia cee’d SW one of the most accessible load areas in the C-segment. The length of the opening is 135 mm greater than the cee’d five-door hatchback and at 965 mm it is the biggest in the class. The depth of the opening is 855 mm (225 mm up on the hatch), so users will find it easy to load cargo without having to bend down when sliding items into the car.
The load area space (with the rear seats upright) measures 1021 mm deep at floor level, 764 mm deep at the window line, 1040 mm wide (between the wheel arches), and 1070 mm wide at the rear of the car.
Wide range of choices with three equipment levels
Standard equipment for the S model includes: six airbags, speed-sensing automatic door locks, active front head restraints and three-point seats belts for all five occupants, air conditioning, central locking, electric front windows, four-speaker audio system and audio controls on the steering wheel, plus an integrated information cluster with trip computer.
Buyers of the GS and LS models benefit from additional or upgraded equipment including: electric door mirrors, cloth/leather seat trim, front fog lamps, keyless entry and anti-theft alarm, centre console with storage and armrest, twin front tweeter speakers and USB, AUX and iPod® connections. Full climate control is added to the LS trim level.
Customers for the seven range-topping TX models will enjoy a cee’d that is also equipped with 16-inch alloys wheels, ESP and BAS, fully automatic air-conditioning, leather pack interior, electric rear windows with auto up/down and safety sensors and a rear centre armrest.
One of the safest C-segment cars
Every cee’d SW has a powerful all-disc braking system featuring ABS anti-lock with EBD electronic brake force distribution. The LS model is equipped with ESP (electronic stability control) as an option, together with TCS (all-speed traction control) and BAS (emergency brake assist).
All five seats have manually adjustable head restraints and three-point seatbelts as standard. Integrated ‘active’ head restraints will be standard on both the front seats of all models. During a rear impact, these head restraints move forwards to reduce the risk of whiplash injuries to the neck or back.
Every cee’d will be equipped with six airbags as standard – dual front airbags, front side airbags and full-length front and rear curtain airbags, protecting the occupants in both seat rows.
Revolutionary Kia 7-Year Warranty
In Europe, the new Kia cee’d SW will come with the same extended warranty package as the hatchback cee’d models – as standard.
In fact, every Kia in the cee’d family marketed by Kia Motors Europe will benefit from a 7-year / 100,000-mile new car warranty. The ‘best’ new vehicle warranty ever offered in Europe, the Kia warranty will be free and transferable to subsequent owners.
Thanks to the high quality of vehicles coming from Kia’s brand-new facility in Slovakia, Kia is demonstrating its commitment to maximum customer satisfaction and lowered costs of vehicle ownership, by offering this revolutionary warranty. Kia views this warranty as an important long-term customer relations measure. It comprises five years bumper-to-bumper cover on the entire car and an additional two years cover on the powertrain.
Pre-launch orders point to a Big Success
“When we launched the Kia cee’d hatchback we knew it was going to be Kia’s best-ever challenger for C-segment honours in the European marketplace. We were confident it would revolutionise Kia’s fortunes in this sector.
After the first press drives in late 2006, media reaction was overwhelmingly positive and before cee’d was on sale across Europe in January, Kia had received more than 17,000 pre-orders for its newcomer.
“The Kia cee’d is a Kia that looks better, feels better and drives better. I think it really is a great car and the challenge for our dealer network will be getting people to try it for themselves. Once consumers have seen it, touched it, sampled its performance and learned about our 7-year warranty, they will surely be convinced that a decision to buy this car is indeed the right choice,” concluded Jean-Charles Lievens.