Facelifted Kia Cerato pricing and features

The 2022 Kia Cerato mid-size hatchback and sedan has received a raft of visual and technical upgrades, and the Korean automaker has also unveiled the price of its range-topping GT.

Priced from $36,990 drive away, the top-shelf GT will take the competition to rivals in the segment such as the Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Corolla, and Hyundai i30.

The facelifted third-generation Cerato, which has been in production since 2018, also has the task of bearing the Korean marques' completely new logo.

The refresh brings with it revised looks both front and rear for the hatchback. The Cerato’s front fascia receives the biggest makeover, featuring a new headlight design, grille, bumper, and fog light surrounds.

Cerato now represents Kia’s most popular selling car of all time in Australia, surpassing the Rio earlier in 2021. All told, since its initial unveiling in 2003, Kia has sold no less than 155,000 examples of the moniker.

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Pricing and model range

Like the car it replaces, the updated Cerato will be available in four model variants – S, Sport, Sport+, and GT.

The S and Sport iterations can also be optioned with a Safety Pack for an additional $1000. Prices listed are for both the sedan and hatchback body styles and are drive-away:

• 2022 Kia Cerato S – $25,990
• 2022 Kia Cerato S Safety – $27,490
• 2022 Kia Cerato Sport – $27,990
• 2022 Kia Cerato Sport Safety – $29,490
• 2022 Kia Cerato Sport + – $31,690
• 2022 Kia Cerato GT – $36,990

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Engines, transmissions, and fuel economy

Kia has decided not to change up its engine offerings with the refreshed Cerato. However, the automaker has scrapped the six-speed manual gearbox option from the model’s line-up.

For all variants barring the GT, the new Cerato will feature Kia’s tried and tested naturally-aspirated (N/A) 2.0-litre four-cylinder multi-point injection (MPI) petrol engine.

The N/A four-pot produces 112kW and 192Nm and sends power through a six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission to the front wheels.

On the ADR combined cycle, fuel economy is rated at 7.4L/100km, regardless of body style.

The range-topping GT is powered by Hyundai’s Gamma 1.6T-GDI turbocharged four-cylinder petrol motor.

Power is rated at punchy 150kW and 265Nm, with drive also being sent to the front wheels. However, the GT utilises Hyundai’s own seven-speed dual-clutch transmission rather than the six-speed auto.

Despite the extra oomph, the GT is actually the most economical car in the range, with a combined fuel economy rating of 6.8L/100km for the hatch and 6.9L/100km for the sedan.

All variants are fitted with a 50-litre petrol tank.

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Features

The entry-level Cerato S features:

• Dusk sensing auto headlights
• 8-inch infotainment display
• Wired and wireless Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay
• 4.2-inch TFT LCD driver’s dash cluster
• Rear air vents
• Rear window defroster
• Three USB ports
• Six-speaker sound system
• Drive mode select (normal/eco/sport/smart)
• Manual climate control
• Keyless entry
• Cloth seats
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Manual speed limiter.

The Cerato Sport adds:

• 17-inch alloy with 225/45 R17 tyres
• 10.25-inch infotainment display
• Wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• DAB digital radio
• Sounds of nature
• Satellite navigation
• Sport patterned cloth seats
• Auto-reverse wipers (hatch variant)
• Driver auto up/down window with safety function
• Illuminated vanity mirrors
• Premium steering wheel and gear knob.

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The Sport+ adds:

• 284mm solid rear discs
• Electronic parking brake with auto-hold
• Smart key and push-button start
• Dual-zone climate control
• Heated front seats
• Smart boot auto release (sedan variant).

The top-shelf GT adds:

• 305mm ventilated front disc brakes
• Sports tuned suspension
• 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 225/40/R18 tyres
• GT body kit
• Dual exhaust
• High gloss black door mirrors
• LED front fog lamps
• Rear LED stoplight
• LED rear fog lamp (sedan variant)
• Sunroof
• Leather interior
• Powered, heated, and cooled front seats
• JBL Premium eight-speaker sound system
• Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters
• Wireless charging
• Brushed metal sports pedals
• Flat bottom sports steering wheel.

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Safety

When the current-generation Kia Cerato was tested by ANCAP back in 2019, it received a five-star safety rating, including a 90 per cent adult occupant protection rating.

Standard safety features across the range include:

• Leading vehicle departure
• Lane follow assist
• Driver attention alert
• Rear occupant alert
• High beam assist
• Six airbags
• Lane keep assist
• Lane departure warning
• AEB with pedestrian detection
• Rearview monitor with dynamic guidelines.

The Cerato Sport+ and GT gain additional safety features, including:

• Blindspot collision avoidance assist
• Rear-cross traffic collision avoidance assist
• Safe exit warning
• Blindspot detection
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• AEB with cyclist detection
• Adaptive cruise control.

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Dimensions and towing capacity

The Kia Cerato hatch is 4510mm long, 1800mm wide, 1445mm tall (1440mm GT variant), and has a wheelbase measuring 2700mm.

The Cerato sedan is 4640mm long, 1800mm wide, 1445mm tall (1440mm GT variant), and has a wheelbase also measuring 2700mm.

Braked towing capacity for all variants is rated at 1100 kilograms.

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Warranty and servicing

Like all Kia products, the updated Cerato comes with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and 12 months of roadside assistance.

All Kia products also enjoy seven years of capped price servicing.

Availability

WhichCar has confirmed with a spokesperson for Kia Australia the 2022 Kia Cerato is on sale right now in dealerships across the country.