The latest model to join the Kia Ceed line-up, alongside the new five-door hatchback, the Sportswagon and ProCeed ‘shooting brake’, is the all-new XCeed. In fact, the full story of the Ceed’s three-generation evolution will be revealed in a limited-run book, due to be released later this year, that shows how the all-new Kia XCeed and ProCeed came to life.
Gregory Guillaume, Vice President of Design for Kia Motors Europe, oversaw the design of the new Ceed range, a process in which the brand considered a range of options to replace the previous three-door and awkwardly-named pro_cee’d hatchback.
He says: “While creating the next ProCeed, we realised that there could be a fourth body type within the Ceed line-up. This became the Kia XCeed. The beauty of the project was that we never originally set out to create a crossover!”
Stylish and modern in design, the XCeed is a sportier alternative to traditional SUVs. More athletic in appearance than its taller rivals, the new model offers something different to the other versions of the Ceed family. The only body panels carried over from the five-door hatchback are the front doors, the XCeed possessing a different stance to its stablemates.
Its ‘cab-rearward’ silhouette and fastback tailgate lend the design a coupé-like twist that is matched by a relatively long bonnet. While the wheelbase remains the same as other models in the Ceed line-up (2,650mm), the Kia XCeed’s front and rear overhangs are extended over the five-door hatchback model by 25mm at the front and 60mm at the rear. XCeed’s elevated ride height and body also present a similar, robust image that attracts buyers to other Kia SUVs. Increasing the ride height by up to 42mm over the regular Ceed and adding wheel arch and side sill cladding, as well as silver roof rails, lend the car a more rugged, crossover appeal.
The XCeed is elevated but it is not an SUV. It offers a higher seating position but is more coupé-like. In fact, it is a solution for those people not wanting a larger, more imposing SUV, particularly in cities. For an ageing population, this is like manna from car-making heaven. The raised hip entry-point to the seats, while not as elevated as that of a Kia Sportage, makes for easier entry and egress, while also providing a more commanding view of the road ahead. Yet, Kia would not be Kia without factoring-in a sportier driving experience, which drivers of all ages will appreciate.
Much the same attitude contributed to the development of the XCeed’s cabin. Carrying over the same contemporary architecture of the Ceed, a driver-orientated centre console allied to the application of additional colours create a more youthful style. The digital displays and multi-level connectivity, let alone the fresher body colours, add vibrancy and currency to a Kia that should not have been.
