2023 Kia XCeed facelift revealed, not for Australia

UPDATE, July 19: Kia XCeed facelift revealed for Europe

The updated 2023 Kia XCeed crossover has debuted in Europe – but Australia will miss out.

Slotting between the Stonic and shorter-wheelbase Sportage in Kia’s European SUV line-up, the XCeed has received a mid-life update with design tweaks and a flagship GT-Line trim.

Locally, the gap between these models is filled by the Seltos, which is due for a facelift later this year without electrified powertrains.

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Similar to the Stonic’s relation with the smaller Rio, the XCeed is a lifted version of the Ceed hatchback, with a unique body, a 44-millimetre higher ride height, and plastic body cladding.

Following the revised Ceed revealed last year, the XCeed gains redesigned LED headlights, a reshaped grille, front bumper and air intakes, and Kia’s latest corporate badging.

At the rear, the XCeed features slimmer LED tail-lights, with hexagonal-shaped units on the GT-Line trim.

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In addition, there are new 18-inch alloy wheels and a body-coloured rear diffuser, with an ‘exhaust-look’ design.

Kia has improved technology, with the existing 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.25-inch infotainment system supplemented by wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB-C ports, and improvements to the Kia Connect suite.

Kia’s connected service refinements include customisable user profiles and a sports feature to display live scores and highlights.

Kia Connect debuted in Australia on the second-generation Niro GT-Line, with upcoming models to feature the service, which uses an embedded SIM connected to the Optus 4G network.

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GT-Line variants pick up a ‘D-cut’ sports steering wheel, black headlining, a perforated leather gear shifter and sports seats.

Kia has retained the XCeed powertrains, with 48-volt mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid options.

The plug-in hybrid consists of a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine matched with an 8.9kWh battery and electric motor, for a combined power output of 104kW and a claimed electric-only driving range of 50 kilometres.

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The story to here

July 15: Kia has teased its upcoming update of the XCeed crossover, although the model will remain unavailable for Australian buyers.

A European-market only offering, the XCeed is a crossover version of the regular Ceed (first made famous on Top Gear as the Reasonably-Priced Car), with the facelift set to pull the high-riding hatch in line with its conventional counterpart.

For the first time in the model's history, Kia will attach its GT-Line nameplate to the flagship grade, following in the footsteps of its other model offerings.

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Powertrain options will include a pair of electrified engines, with choices of a 48-volt mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) offered to buyers – the latter of which is lifted from the upcoming Niro PHEV.

Unfortunately for any keen Australian buyers, Kia's local arm has ruled out the XCeed for our market, not wanting the Slovakian-made model to take sales away from its Seltos, itself due for an upgrade in the near future.

The 'Ceed' name has only been used in Australia once before when the short-lived pro_cee'd (which reads like a secure password) was sold here between 2014 and 2015 – less than 750 units found homes.