Category: Small Family 
Price Range: No data available
Frugal, cheap, smooth stop/start system, low emissions, available in all three Cee'd models.
Noisy diesel, gutless performance, flat unsupportive seating, dull handling.
Sensible value-for-money 'green' city car with some space and low running costs.
The 'Eco' badge has value now. Manufacturers, desperate not to get left behind, have followed BMW's Efficient Dynamics range like sheep. If you want to be taken seriously you have to have 'green' models in your showroom, because motoring with a conscience is now a given, rather than a novelty.
Kia is the latest to climb aboard the bandwagon with its EcoDynamics range. It carries the best of the fuel-saving technology: stop/start, low resistance tyres and a new lightweight six-speed gearbox are all included.
According to Kia its ISG (Intelligent Stop and Go) system will result in up to 15% fuel savings when driving in busy city centres, but just 6% on the combined cycle. Clearly, fuel economy is dependent on how hard you drive, but in our test run in Liverpool city centre the amount of time spent stationary does give credence to that claim (see running costs).
EcoDynamics is available on the Cee'd hatch, the Pro_cee'd and the SW versions but limited to the 1.6-litre CRD 89bhp engines and only on the 2 spec models (the Cee'd range comes in 1, 2 and 3 trims).
The sporty three-door EcoDynamics Pro_cee'd is, surprisingly, the cheapest of the three - it costs £13,895, the Cee'd £14,195 and the SW £14,995.
In some respects the EcoDynamics range makes little sense since the standard 89bhp 1.6 CRDi Cee'd costs £12,895 - £1,300 cheaper than the Cee'd EcoDynamics. You'll have to travel many many miles a year to make that pay off.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Kia Cee'd
wrote on 29 09 2007
wrote on 13 09 2007